Widowed otters from different sanctuaries found love and moved in together during lockdown, thanks to the internet

• After two otters living in separate otter sanctuaries each lost their partners, they found each other and have since coupled up.
• Pumpkin and Harris are both Asian short-clawed otters, according to a press release SEA LIFE Scarborough animal sanctuary shared with Insider via email.
• Harris moved from The Cornish Seal Sanctuary to the Scarborough facility where visitors can see him and Pumpkin together.

Pumpkin and Harris, two Asian short-clawed otters, found love - with a little help from the internet.

According to a press release from SEA LIFE Scarborough sanctuary in England shared with Insider, Pumpkin and Harris's respective partners, Eric and Apricot, both died.

Caretakers looking after both otters separately reached out to their networks of sanctuaries and animal care centers to find an otter that would be a good match for theirs. SEA LIFE happened to get in touch with The Cornish Seal Sanctuary (a facility in the Cornish village of Gweek, where Harris was living) and connected the furry creatures - discovering their shared breed made for a perfect match.

According to the press release, introducing two Asian short-clawed otters can be a difficult task

"To ensure the best chance of a new pairing getting off on the right foot, it's best to introduce a new male into a female's territory so that the male more easily submits to the female on first meeting," the Scarborough sanctuary noted.

But the pair are reportedly getting along perfectly.

"We are absolutely delighted that Pumpkin and Harris are getting on so well and he has settled in so quickly," Tamara Cooper, curator at The Cornish Seal Sanctuary said. "He is very much missed here at the Sanctuary but after everything Pumpkin and Harris have been through with losing their partners, it is the perfect fairytale ending for them to have found love again."

Asian short-clawed otters, like a number of other species, are generally monogamous and typically stay with one mate for most of their lives, according to the Loveland Living Planet Aquarium.

Harris will continue to keep in touch with the human and otter friends he left back in Cornwall through WhatsApp

A representative for SEA LIFE told Insider via email that their animal care team will keep in touch with the team at The Cornish Seal Sanctuary, sending pictures and updates on Harris through the messaging app.

"The animals really do become part of the family so he will be very much missed by the team at Gweek," the representative told Insider.

SEA LIFE Scarborough aquarium reopened to the public, following COVID-19 safety precautions, on Wednesday.

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