Highlight: Joey's First Birthday Party on June 23rd!

Happy Birthday, Joey! 🎈🎁🥳🎉
(Here's a recording of his "birthday party" from the live stream this morning!)
About one year ago, this tiny male sea otter pup was born somewhere near Kyuquot, British Columbia. Just a few days later, Joey found himself in need of rescue; he had become an orphan after his mother was discovered deceased. Following his admission to the rescue centre in early July, Joey recovered quickly. But without his mother to teach him how to survive, he was deemed non-releasable by the federal government and moved to the Vancouver Aquarium, now his forever home.
At the rescue centre, we have saved countless animals' lives over the years. But no animal has gotten as much attention as this little sea otter. Millions of people from around the world watched Joey as he grew up. They watched as he was bottle-fed and saw him fight wars with the towels that lined his crib. They were there when he greedily gobbled down his first pieces of clam and encountered the biggest ice cube ever made. They witnessed his first dive, and they could barely contain their excitement when Joey met another sea otter for the first time.
All that seems so long ago, but for Joey, now barely a year old, the adventure is far from over ─ and interest in his and his fellow rescued otters' daily lives is only increasing. Joey and his friends continue to inspire. More than 2 million people watched our live broadcast from the Vancouver Aquarium in the last 30 days on Twitch alone. And if you have never encountered our sea otter live stream, check it out today. And don't forget to leave a few birthday wishes for Joey in the chat!
/ marinemammalrescue

[@Nikki-tx6kh]

Happy Birthday Joey. I can't believe you're the same wee baby I found by chance a year ago.

[@nxau120]

Joey has friends now, and no towel in sight. He is definitely a big boy now.

[@tigerthems]

I can't tell which one is Joey but Happy Birthday Joey. Love ya.

[@interestedlearner4159]

I could be wrong, and please correct me if I am, but I think Joey is the otter whose first on his own with the cake at 1:36

[@kristinhuffman9383]

If you watch the trainers taking video with their phones you will see it is Joey they are filming

[@jamdog9993]

Happy birthday Joey bubba, you’ve been such a bright spot in an otherwise very dark time and it’s been a privilege to watch you grow from a wiggly, vocal baby learning to swim in the big boy pool into a fluffy and healthy Meepster. Thank you MMRC and VanAqua for giving him a second chance at life 💙🦦

[@OpalineAndTheBean]

Happy 1 year birthday to our sweet birthday boy! who will always forever be our little baby bean 🥰 We love you Joey! Best pawty ever! Beautiful cake and so much fun today! Thank you MMRC and VanAqua ❤️ You are all greatly appreciated with everything you do! 😘

[@jicky-mazuki]

hiya Opaline

[@OpalineAndTheBean]

@@jicky-mazuki😘 Hellooooo there my sweet friend! ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

[@Meeesa]

Hey! Come find us on twitch! ♥️

[@Meeesa]

www.twitch.tv/marinemammalrescue

[@HelenandLolly]

Hi Opaline, hope you’re well. Do you know when they are going to bring Joeys live feed back on? Many thanks 🤗

[@LostHorizon52]

Happy Birthday Joey, our precious baby boy .. You may be a bit bigger now, but you will ALWAYS be our Baby .. We Love you, Sweetheart 💕💕💕💕

[@OpalineAndTheBean]

Aww 🥰

[@LostHorizon52]

@@OpalineAndTheBean 💕💕💕

[@janiceharvey648]

Dear Joey - You and your pals in the Vanaqua pools brighten every day of our lives, and we love celebrating each otter's birthday when it comes along. Thanks to everyone who makes this possible!

[@OpalineAndTheBean]

💜🥰🤗

[@lis8814]

Our Handsome Joey all grown up. Happy Birthday big boy. Much love your way.🎉🎂🍾🥳🦑🦐🦞🦞🐙

[@allthebest1277]

Happy Birthday Joe-Joe. We love you so much! Sweet Baby boy. Thank you to the VanAqua for having taken care of Joey - for all the camera work, for all the assistance with him, for the appearances in the chat rooms. You guys rock!

[@evamarek5205]

Happy birthday, Joey! You’re such a handsome big boy! Please know how much you're loved! You'll always be our precious baby Joey. God bless!!! you!!!

[@kathleenkisner958]

🎂🎉 Happy Birthday, sweet little Joey, many more...stay safe and healthy 🎂🎂🎂❤️❤️❤️

[@AniFam]

Happy birthday, Joey~🎂🥳🎈👏 You have been a great joy to many people~

[@petticoatsfroufrou4644]

Thank you so much to Joey's keepers for taking such good care of him and for creating this fantastic birthday pawty! Watching Joey and his happy family always warms my heart.

[@furryjackal]

Happy birthday, Joey! 🦦🎂 you’ve come a long way, little guy! And grown up so much!🎂🦦

[@kellebelle]

Awww happy birthday Joey! It's a great celebration for the rescue and all the caregivers who have spent so much time with him and the other animals in the rescue. Congrats to all of you, too!

[@dicksonhead94]

Happy birthday precious Joey! Thank you for adding some light to the past year. Love you!

[@TuckerSP2011]

I think that he knew it was for him! Happy Birthday darling Joey!!!! Oh how I love you!!!! 😘😘😘

[@zayedtokie552]

Happy Birthday to my love Joye. Hope to see you someday and treat you with lots toys, lots of care, lots of love, lots of food, just lots of everything...

[@barbarasmith2693]

Awww! Baby Joey is a big boy now. So cute!🎂Happy Birthday Handsome Joey!

[@roblynclemmons6104]

too cute! left the "cake" but more interested in knocking down the HB sign 🤣😂

[@Tori_Jane]

Happy birthday, Joey!!! I cannot believe you're the big ONE! 🎉🥳❤️

[@HypatiaAmazing]

Happy birthday, my dear floofy sea sausage Joey! 🥳

[@opheliawinfrey9501]

Ice ice, Joey! 🧊 A very meepy birthday to you, little (not so little) one. 👑🦦❤️🎈🎉🎂

[@oldchristine562]

Thank you Joey for giving us joy during the one of the darkness days of the nation the pandemic 😷

[@traciefuqua5035]

Absolutely the truth.

[@Tokyo_Rose.]

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JOEY!! 🎂🎉🎈 You helped us get through the long lockdowns!! Bless you fuzzy babyboy ❤❤❤❤😙😘😚

[@patroberts5449]

Happy Birthday to best Otter Pop out there!! For all the wonderful work you do at Van Aqua and MMRC you are all our sea angels!!

[@helenpruzan6970]

Those really are some party animals!!!Happy Birthday little meeper!!!🥳💖🥳

[@tamarrosenberg-walker7599]

Happy birthday handsome Joey you are growing to fast. We live you in Boston, Massachusetts hope your birthday was amazing. 💖💖

[@shadygildread7251]

Happy Birthday Joey 🎂 and many more to come 😀. So wonderful to see you enjoying your big day 🎉 with friends. I, like many others adore watching you grow up before our eyes. Again.... Happy Birthday 🎉🎁

[@davycrockett8076]

Happy BDay you little Angel! I still can't believe it's been already 1 year since I started to watch your videos, when you still were a tiny pup!❤😍 Love, kisses and hugs from Italy!🇮🇹🇮🇹🇮🇹

[@paulasmith4561]

Our baby has grown up 🎂😃❤️🥳

[@jicky-mazuki]

Happy Birthday to the best otter boi Joey!!! Thanks to the wonderful staff, carers, docs, volunteers (online and offline) for the last year of joy and getting us thru these strange and tough days.

[@eabrantes26]

Happy Birthday, Joey!!! 🎉 You’ve gotten so big, enjoy all the yummy clam and fishy treats! 🦦🦐🦪🦦

[@lunalupus63]

Happy Birthday, baby boy! Can't believe you're already a year old, look at you, such a big boy now ❤️

[@AreteSr]

Such fun! Taking the cake for a swim, and demolishing the last bit of icing at last ... what a BLAST, Joey, for you, your pals, helpers, and fans out here -- love you to bits!

[@chloerobinson2069]

Happy Birthday, Joey!! I truly enjoyed watching you grow!!

[@lindaday8313]

Happy Birthday, Joey! Thank you for sharing your wiggles and giggles, paws and flips with us. Watching you grow, make friends and learn how to otter was the daily highlight of an otherwise very dark year.

[@skyknighteman7022]

Birthday Ice Party! What a way to celebrate! Happy birthday to Joey and may he continue to grow stronger every day.

[@fluffy5985]

Happy Birthday Joey. I love you and your friends!

[@McPoshSquatch]

Oh my God! So stinking cute and adorable. When the door opened they all piled in like a bunch of excited kids. Haha. I am jealous that you get to be surrounded by and work with these amazing little critters. Happy Birthday Joey!!!!!

[@KarnivorousKeyz]

Happy birthday Joey! For all the joy and love you and your friends have given the world, you deserve only the freshest of clams!

[@fc7777fc]

Happy birthday Joey!! He’s come so far in a year!

[@brendaaugustine4925]

Happy 1st birthday, precious baby boy! And hope you have lots and lots more birthdays!❤

[@michelelauritzen1867]

❤️❤️❤️🥳 we have loved seeing you grow Prince Joey! You were something to distract from the hard times last year. Had to check in and see the pup ! Now it’s the pawcifer gotta see! ❤️❤️❤️

[@pulchadi1441]

Aww happy birthday joey.. you will always be that tiny little puff ball in my eyes…

[@lindasemilof1024]

Happy Birthday Joey. I fell in love with you at first site. You are the first thing I see on my computer in the morning and the last I see at night. You helped me through a very difficult year. Love you and hope some day I can travel to Van Couver Aquarium and meet you in person.

[@dianalewis3482]

Happy Birthday, Mr Joseph!! Thanks to you, your friends and all your caretakers for bringing some much needed floof to the world! My, those teefs are sooo big, now! Great pawty! It really took the cake!

[@bigmetoo7459]

Happy birthday Joey. Bless you have good health and very happy otter boy. my love to all sea otters in the world.

[@Pixel2523]

Happy Birthday Joey! You were a rare shining part of 2020. Thank you for the joy you provide. And thank you to all that brought you into our lives. ❤️ 🦦

[@raymi9436]

Happy birthday 🎂 Joey! I’m so happy you have such a beautiful staff that takes care of you. It’s so nice to see you grow from day one. We love 💕 you!

[@Dumballa]

Happy Birthday sweetness 🥰🎂🎉

[@mml01]

OMG they are having so much fun. So precious seeing them so happy. Absolutely love this. Happy birthday Joey and many more to come. Special thanks to eveyone involved in his care, your amazing.💙🌞

[@lucyvanpelt6470]

Happy birthday baby Joey ! Im so grateful he was able to make it to his first year thanks to all the staff at Vanaqua! 😊😊😊♥️♥️

[@nickthaskater]

Thank you for giving Joey a wonderful life ❤

[@arenazona1017]

I hope you had a wonderful birthday, ya little floof! Aaand that no ice got stuck on your furs. (For the sake of the ears of your trainers, caress..,people of Vancouver!) I presume it is Joey trying to take the cake off the plate…all I could think was “cmon! You can do! “Strong stubby arms!”

[@Wayne_Schlagel]

Happy birthday Joey my otter. We share same birthday.

[@OpalineAndTheBean]

Oh that is so cool! Happy Birthday! 🥰

[@Wayne_Schlagel]

@@OpalineAndTheBean Well thank You. 😊

[@CrystalLynn1988]

Happy Birthday 🎈🎉 I hope you had a great day

[@nunyabiz-]

And wishing you and all the "otters" on earth many, many more ! 🧡🌞

[@Wayne_Schlagel]

@@CrystalLynn1988 Thanks. 😊

[@alison__16]

Happy 1st Birthday Joey!💕🦀🐙🎂🎁🎆

[@klg9549]

Happy Birthday Joey!! I'd give you all the hugs if I could!

[@mcfireballs3491]

Hahaha lovely bunch of hooligans 😘

[@Barbara-ee4jj]

1 year of tenderness 😍🦦 Joey

[@kirstywilliamson6016]

🎂 Happy Birthday Joey 🎂 ❤ Love and Hugs from Australia ❤ 🙋‍♀️🇦🇺🙋‍♀️🇦🇺🙋‍♀️🇦🇺🙋‍♀️🇦🇺🙋‍♀️🇦🇺

[@KolossalYouth]

Awwww, our baby is all grown up. 🥺❤ Happy birthday, Joey!

[@dixienormiss8192]

So sweet! A party with his friends!!💙💙💙💙💙💙💙

[@cjp592]

Hip hip hooray!!! Happy birthday, Joey🥰

[@TheLavenderLover]

Happy Birthday Joey!! 🎈 What an adorable party! 🎉

[@jamsbasketball9676]

Lovely! The nice waves are relaxing but have preferred the chaos of meeping and banging ice.

[@silverlily2389]

Yay! Happy meepday, Jojo! 🥰🎂💕🙏🦦

[@Unknownshadeofwhite]

This is the BEST

[@lizzie7223]

Happy belated birthday, Joey, and many many more.

[@annielovesu1]

Happy birthday king Joseph

[@nunyabiz-]

Histerically heartwarming ! 😂🧡 Just what we need ! 🥳 You're all a party every day ! 🤗

[@sharonanderson524]

Sweet Joey! Love you little buddy, HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

[@RandiPoitras]

Happy birthday sir chonky! 🥰

[@bettyboop1524]

Happy Birthday Joey, thank you for getting us through 2020 with joy, laughter and hope. Love Ya!

[@HAKUTSURU0516]

Happy Birthday Joey❤️ LOVE YOU!!!!

[@silverlily2389]

Awww Joey still chases after his hoomans so sweet

[@MarrisaPlays]

AWWW he should have gotten a towel for his birthday. Still the cutest wiggle monster ever!

[@Pancakes4din]

Happy Birthday little one.

[@NinaBaby210]

Sea Otter on the right: That one friend who actually reads the Birthday Card!😂😂 Happy belated-Birthday Buddy! With ya handsome self!🖤🖤🖤🖤

[@anniebananie7887]

Happy birthday Joey!! ❤❤❤❤❤

[@katieriley7909]

Happy Birthday Big Boy!

[@rodrigorojas9565]

Happy Birthday Joey!!! you are the best meeper :)

[@RatOfTheWoods]

Dude my brother Joey's birthday is in a few days!

[@ShadowDisorder]

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JOEY!!!! ❤️🎉

[@lucied2725]

Happy birthday Joey ❤️

[@kamrynbrownlee9544]

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, JOEY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@amscott98391]

Happy birthday little dude!

[@greatloverofmusic1]

Happy 1st birthday Joey! We all love you so much!

[@catflyflycat]

Happy birthday Joey!!!Joey is big boy now

[@sharonhines3476]

Happy Birthday 🎂🎉

[@Kim-lc3fv]

Joey's birthday party. ❤🙂❤🎂🎈🎁🎀

[@aditighosh4000]

Happy Birthday Joey! 💕

[@windywoo9825]

Happy Birthday Joey, can’t believe it’s a year since I started watching your cute little baby face ❤️

[@shelleymartin1451]

It took till 13 minutes in for me to finally recognize joey! (And I'm still not positive it's him, but it seems like it.) What an endearing experience it has been to watch him grow up this year! Lol "These are Both My big pieces of ice, they're both Mine!"

[@Sunset13118]

Happy birthday Joey

[@Exasperaties]

I missed watching this yesterday because it was my dogs birthday and he was getting spoiled. Happy birthday Joeyy

[@martinawalsh4426]

Happy birthday Joey!! :)

[@kibyempire1689]

OMG I still remember Joey when he was a little pup

[@CrystalLynn1988]

Happy Birthday Joey 🎂🎉 💕 We love you

[@NuklearToxicator]

Happy belated birthday Joey ❤🇱🇰