The Earth
Vancouver Aquarium and Aquarium du Québec Team Up to Expand Care for Rescued Sea Otters
Vancouver Aquarium will transfer rescued sea otters Hardy, Mak, Quatse and Taz to Aquarium du Québec in June, expanding Canada’s capacity for care.
A new partnership between two of Canada’s best-known aquariums is about to change what sea otter rescue and long-term care can look like nationwide.
On May 7, the Vancouver Aquarium announced it will transfer four rescued sea otters—Hardy, Mak, Quatse, and Taz—to the Aquarium du Québec in early June. The move supports the opening of Aquarium du Québec’s new sea otter habitat and creates much-needed capacity at the Vancouver Aquarium for future rescue cases.
Why this transfer matters
The Vancouver Aquarium works alongside the Vancouver Aquarium Marine Mammal Rescue Society (VAMMR) to rescue and rehabilitate hundreds of marine animals each year across the Pacific Northwest. The goal for every patient is release back into the ocean—but not every animal can return to the wild.
In this case, the aquarium says its sea otters were rescued as orphaned pups and later deemed non-releasable by Canadian and U.S. government agencies. Without the chance to develop key survival skills, many orphaned otters can’t safely hunt, avoid predators, or navigate the risks of coastal life on their own.
By expanding sea otter care to Eastern Canada, the collaboration increases the country’s overall ability to provide specialized, long-term support for rescued otters—especially those that cannot be released.
Creating space for the next rescue
The Vancouver Aquarium notes it is currently the only aquarium in Canada with a sea otter habitat, which means its capacity is limited even as rescue needs continue.
“Our aquarium’s otter habitat provides a safe and enriching home—but it also has limits,” said Mackenzie Neale, Animal Care Director at the Vancouver Aquarium. “This transfer creates much-needed space for when the next otter needs our help.”
That “next otter” is not hypothetical. VAMMR responds to more than 300 marine animal emergencies each year, including rescues of sick, injured, or orphaned animals and the disentanglement of sea lions trapped by marine debris.
A new educational opportunity in Québec
For the Aquarium du Québec, welcoming sea otters is both a conservation milestone and a major visitor experience upgrade—especially for families and students in Eastern Canada who may never have seen sea otters up close.
“The Aquarium du Quebec is thrilled to introduce sea otters to visitors in Eastern Canada,” said Nathalie Julien Boucher, director of Aquarium du Québec. She added that because the animals were rescued from the wild, the habitat will offer “a fantastic educational opportunity while continuing our conservation mission,” as part of the aquarium’s Louphoque project.
Catch them before they head east
The Vancouver Aquarium is inviting guests to visit Hardy, Mak, Quatse, and Taz before May 31. Throughout May, the four otters will be on public display during weekend (Saturday and Sunday) operating hours.
If you can’t make it to Stanley Park, the aquarium says viewers can still follow their journey on the Sea Otter Cam.
What to watch for
- Early June transfer: Four otters move from Vancouver to Québec City.
- Expanded national capacity: More space in Vancouver for future rescues; new habitat in Québec for long-term care.
- Conservation storytelling: Two aquariums amplifying public education about sea otters and coastal ecosystems.
About the rescue work behind the scenes
The Vancouver Aquarium opened in 1956 and has connected more than 50 million people to ocean life. It is accredited by major animal care and conservation organizations, and it’s also Humane Conservation Certified by American Humane.
The Vancouver Aquarium Marine Mammal Rescue Society (VAMMR) operates Canada’s only dedicated marine mammal rescue facility. It is an independent registered charity that works in partnership with the Vancouver Aquarium, and donations support rescue, rehabilitation, and release efforts. Learn more at www.vammr.org.
Source: Vancouver Aquarium press release via CNW (May 7, 2026).
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