Memorable coverage at the Aquarium of the Pacific pairs releasable rescued sea otter pup with surrogate otter mom
By GalaTView.com
Photos by Alfonso de Elías
The goal of the pairing is for the baby otter to learn the survival skills needed to return to the wild
The Aquarium of the Pacific is welcoming a female orphaned sea otter pup, which was rescued off the coast of Santa Cruz County. This baby sea otter is the first surrogate-raised otter at the Aquarium of the Pacific, for potential release back to the wild, as part of a partnership with the Monterey Bay Aquarium Sea Otter Surrogacy Program. The pup is paired with an adult female sea otter at the Aquarium of the Pacific with the goal of being able to learn from her the survival skills needed to be able to return to the wild. These vital skills include foraging for food and grooming their thick fur to thrive in cold water temperatures.
“We’ve been working with our partners at the Aquarium of the Pacific for more than three years to reach this moment, and we’re excited they’re now ready to welcome orphaned pups for surrogacy,” said Jessica Fujii, manager of the Sea Otter Program at Monterey Bay Aquarium. “Sea otters help maintain the health of kelp forests and wetlands on California’s coast. This milestone is advancing our work to help sea otters recover from being hunted to near extinction and help strengthen our coastal ecosystems.”
The surrogacy area at the Aquarium of the Pacific was built behind the scenes of its Molina Animal Care Center and will be able to accommodate three to four rescued sea otter pups each year. The pups will be away from public view to limit human interaction to increase their chances of surviving on their own in the wild. Videos of rescued pups and signage located outside of the surrogacy facility will help educate the Aquarium’s visitors on the surrogacy program and the significance of recovering southern sea otter populations. A grant from the California’s State Coastal Conservancy Sea Otter Recovery Grant Program supported the initial construction of the sea otter surrogacy facility.
The Aquarium of the Pacific also has a public fundraising campaign to support its work with rescued sea otter pups through this program. Anyone interested in getting involved and providing support of this important conservation work can visit pacific.to/saveseaotters and make a gift online or call (562) 951-1701.
Through its Pacific Visions area, visitors to the Aquarium of the Pacific can learn how climate change is impacting the ocean, its inhabitants, and people, along with what can be done to work toward a more sustainable future. The Aquarium also serves as a facility for rehabilitating and releasing sea turtles, raising endangered mountain yellow-legged frogs for release, and spawning and releasing endangered white abalone.
The Aquarium of the Pacific is famous when the lovely trainers stayed with public until every last question as spectator could think of was answered. There were so many exhibits open, including all of the ones where you can touch softly. It was so much fun and everything was so clean and well organized. A major highlight for people who love animals, it is possible to feed the birds.
