An otter-ly incredible tale and other animal yarns that grabbed headlines in 2018

A koi-eating otter stole the show this past year when it cameto animal stories in B.C., but there were others of a far more serious nature.

Exotic animals went missing in unexpected places, a virus threatened rabbits, crows dive-bombed Vancouver residents, and a femalekiller whaletook her dead baby on a tour of grief for an estimated 1,600 kilometres.

Still, gripping interest in stories involving the natural world around us is heartening for people like Nick Page, the Vancouver Park Board's biologist.

"This kind of idea that we're more disconnected from nature than we were in the past seems not to be borne out by our fascination for wildlife in our daily lives," he said.

Grand Theft Otter

Surely, this proved to be true when in late November a riverotter showed up at the Dr. Sun Yat-SenClassical Chinese Garden in downtown Vancouver and began eating koi symbols of fortune and prosperity.

• River otter in Vancouver park steals fish and hearts

The mammal managed to devour 11 of the fish before the remainder were relocated to the Vancouver Aquarium. With the food source gone, the otter appears to have moved on.

The story created distinct camps between the fish and the otter, while Page says the outcome ultimately benefited both animals.

"From the otter's point of viewit's a very urbanized area. There's a lot of road traffic," he said."Over the long term, it would probably be hit by a car."

• As koi fall victim to an otter, Chinese community sees loss of cultural symbol
• No sign of marauding otter as surviving koi wait to return to Sun Yat-Sen garden

Whale wails

Not all stories involving animals in 2018 ended as well, however.

The plight of the southern resident killer whales was further highlighted with two heart-wrenching stories involving young whales that died.

In August, a female killer whale known as J-35 put on what scientists call an unprecedented show of grief with her calf that died soon after it was born in July.

For 17 days, the mother refused to it let go,pushing the carcass along or holding its tail in her teeth in waters off the West Coast.

• Killer whale lets her dead newborn go after carrying body for 17 days

Meanwhile, in September another killer whale calf known as J-50was declared dead after weeks of concern from scientists and the public in both the U.S. and Canada.

Images had shown the female whale had lost body weight and was ailing. Attempts to treat the whale with antibiotics were unsuccessful.

• Ailing orca J50 declared dead by scientists

The two deaths, both from the same family group, are a stark reminder that southern resident killer whales, which swim through busy shipping lanes in Canadian and U.S. waters are endangered and down to 75 animals.

There have been no successful births since 2015.

Threatened caribou

Scientists also took desperate steps in 2018 to prevent caribou from B.C.'s most southerly herds from disappearing completely.

• In final effort to revive herds, 6 remaining caribou to be relocated to rearing pen

The South Selkirk caribou are being killed off by climate change, habitat destruction, logging, highways and especially, predators.

Biologists captured the six remaining animals near Nelson and relocated them to a rearing pen near Revelstoke in an effort to increase their numbers.

Despite the bleak outlook for some species, biologist Nick Page wants people to be encouraged that biodiversity is flourishing in other areas, including cities.

• Bird-lovers take over Vancouver

For example, some whales are being seen in places where they haven't been seen for decades.

• Sperm whale spotted in B.C. strait for 1st time in decades

"It sort of shows to me that, you know,biodiversity is very resilient," he said.

Page says the best way to advocate for animals is to go outside and observe them and learn about them.

Just don't get in between a doe and her fawn.

• Oh deer: The surprising source of many of B.C.'s aggressive wildlife reports