PORT TOWNSEND — After Monday’s announcement of the new name for a sea otter pup at the Seattle Aquarium, Nancy Cherry Eifert of Port Townsend replaced the cards next to her photographs at Gallery 9.
Instead of “Aniak and Pup,” the labels now say, “Aniak and Sekiu.”
Sekiu was chosen over four other names, most from the North Olympic Peninsula.
Marketing and mammal-team staff members suggested the following options for the new pup: Sequim, Sekiu, Shi Shi, Elwha and Willapa — the latter being a wildlife refuge near Ilwaco while all the others are of place names on the Peninsula.
The name was selected through an Internet vote that was taken from Feb. 7 to Friday.
More than 15,000 votes were cast, with the name “Sekiu “winning by a landslide” with more than 6,000 votes, said Tim Kuniholm, the aquarium’s director of publicity.
The aquarium is not providing the vote tallies for the other names, Kuniholm said.
Sekiu was born on Jan. 17 in the aquarium, and her delivery was a surprise, Eifert said.
“Sea otters are born under water and don’t always make it,” Eifert said.
“That she was born, it was a surprise and that she has survived is kind of a miracle,” the Port Townsend photographer said.
After Sekiu was born, Eifert traveled to the aquarium and shot her pictures through glass, since only aquarium personnel are allowed inside.
The glare was severe and she was lucky the pictures came out so well, she said.
Five of Eifert’s pictures — of Sekiu, Aniak and Lootas (Aniak’s mother) — are on display and for sale at Gallery 9 at 1012 Water St. in Port Townsend.
The pictures are on display through March 31.
Eifert prints each copy digitally and does her own framing, limiting output to 125 copies.
“If I do any more, I get sick of them,” she said.
Eifert said she planned to take another trip to the aquarium soon to take pictures of Sekiu at six weeks.
At that age, otters start diving and that has the potential of creating some interesting shots, she said.
Eifert, who has built her reputation as a nature photographer, has lived in Port Townsend for about 20 years with her husband, artist Larry Eifert.
Gallery 9 is open every day from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
The smaller pictures are $140 and the larger $240.
The otter prints are available at the gallery or directly from www.nancycherryeifert.com.
For more information about the aquarium, see www.SeattleAquarium.org.
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Jefferson County Reporter Charlie Bermant can be reached at 360-385-2335 or charlie.bermant@peninsuladailynews.com.
