08. little hands.

via thedailywhat:

Sad News of the Day: Milo, the 12-year-old sea otter who gained Internet stardom after being filmed holding hands with his female companion Nyac, has passed away.

Milo was undergoing chemotherapy for lymphoma at the Vancouver Aquarium, but sadly succumbed to the disease earlier this week.

“He was the very first live sea otter diagnosed with lymphoma,” said Aquarium veterinarian Dr. Martin Haulena. “He was also the very first sea otter that I’m aware of that had chemotherapy.”

Bodies of wild otters recovered after death have tested positively for lymphoma, but Milo was the first living otter to be diagnosed with it.

“He was one of our emblematic animals who was loved by staff, volunteers, members and people worldwide,” said the aquarium in a statement. “Our team—especially those who worked closely with Milo during the past months to provide specialized care while he was receiving treatment — are saddened by his death, but take solace in his peaceful departure.”

Nyac, Milo’s significant otter, arrived at the aquarium in 1989 following the Exxon Valdez oil spill. She passed away in 2008 from chronic lymphatic leukemia at age 20.