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The Mandarin duck — a.k.a. the Hot Duck — who landed in Central Park and captivated social media last year has been seen little as of late.

In its absence, could a beaver that was seen on Monday splashing in the Hudson River off the Upper West Side become New York City’s next animal darling?

Centuries ago, the furry rodents ran rampant in and around the region, generating immense wealth for those who dealt in pelts.

But greed and development — what could be more New York? — virtually eliminated the animals from the state. And even when their population later rebounded, the creatures never returned to being regular habitants of the city.