Pup Mania!

     On September 30, a jogger was on the California coast when they heard a strange noise. Upon closer investigation, it was found to be an orphaned sea otter pup.  After waiting around for the mother, the pup was rescued and taken to the Cetacean InstituteMonterrey Bay Aquarium.  A month later, the pup was adopted out to Chicago's Shedd Aquarium, an institution with plenty of experience in dealing with rescued sea otter pups. When the female pup arrived, she immediately became a star, captivating millions of online viewers with her cuteness, as well as drawing the attention of J.K. Rowling. After spending another month as the clincal-sounding Pup 681, Shedd decided to give her a name.  First off, they opened the vote up to their members, letting them choose between 5 names:

• Cali(for California)
• Ellie(for Elephant Seals, which inhabit the same area where the otter was found)
• Poppy(the State Flower of California)
• Ana(for Ano Nuevo State Park in the same area where she was found)
• Luna(for Half Moon Bay, which is where she was found)

     After several hundred votes from Shedd's members,(as well as an unexpected contribution from J.K. Rowling) the voting went nationwide thanks to a partnership between the Shedd and Good Morning America.  The voting closed on the 11th, and a live reveal was held in front of Shedd's sea otter habitat this past Friday. After a brief chat about sea otters given by the head of Shedd's Marine Mammals Department and an appearance by a giant sea otter mascot, the moment that America had been waiting for arrived when Shedd announced the winning name live on Good Morning America.  After 10,000 votes from the public and 9 days of wondering, Pup 681's name was revealed as...LUNA!  After a few more words and pictures of Luna frolicking around in the main habitat, the ceremony ended and Luna went back behind the scenes.  For those of you who didn't go to the party, your first chance to see Luna on exhibit will come sometime in the Spring of 2015.