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Jin the otter - Source: Wellington Zoo
Jin the Otter, who once famously escaped from Auckland Zoo, has died in Wellington.
She was found dead in her enclosure at Wellington Zoo on Monday morning.
Jin, a short clawed Asiatic otter, made international headlines in 2006 with a 26-day escapade around Auckland's Waitemata Harbour.
Jin escaped by digging through two walls and scaling a 1.8 high barrier around her enclosure.
She swam across to the Chelsea sugar factory on the northern coast, then on to the plush suburb of Devonport, leading one zoo spokeswoman to comment favourably about her taste in real estate.
A tip-off from a yachtie helped bring her days of freedom to an end, after she was spotted at Islington Bay, at the causeway between Rangitoto Island and Motutapu Island.
All up she was estimated to have swum at least 20km
Jin arrived at Wellington Zoo with breeding partner Jala, via a short three-month stay at Christchurch's Willowbank Wildlife Reserve, in November 2007.
For the last six months she had been introduced to a new breeding partner Bud, but was unsuccessful in delivering any pups.
Wellington Zoo said she was feisty animal, always ready to try to nibble at keepers' boots when they were caught unaware.
They said they were mystified over the death, as Jin there had been no signs Jin had been unwell.
A post mortem examination was being held at Massey University to determine the cause of the seven-year-old otter's death.
