Wayward Chinatown otter making a meal of Sun Yat-Sen koi

A wayward otter who moved into the Dr. Sun Yat-SenClassical Chinese Garden in Vancouver is making a meal of the attraction's valuablekoifish.

The animal, identified asa river otter,was first spotted Saturday in a pond shared by the garden and the adjacent public park. Staff say it has eaten at least fiveof the dozen adult koi.

"The kois are part of our team so it's quite devastating for us," said communications director Debbie Cheung. "But at the same time the otter is looking for food, right?We don't want to blame the otter."

Cheung says staff haven't been able to determine if the garden's prize 50-year-old koiMadonna has survived the otter incursion.

"The five bodies we've seen so far isn't her," she said."She's been with us for 20 years and it would be very sad if we lost her."

Vancouver Park Board staff wereon site Tuesday morning installing a trap. If the otter is captured, the plan is to relocate it toStanley Park.

It's not known where the otter came from or how it found its way to the walled-in garden, although Burrard Inlet to the north and False Creek to the south are both less than one kilometre way.

The public is being asked not to feed the otter.

Cheung says staff will look atreplenishing the koi population. They'll also bedevising a wildlife plan for when animals other than ducks and herons come into the garden.