Wild Sea Otter Visits Aquarium & Puts on a Rare Show
“Visitors at California’s Monterey Bay Aquarium were treated to a unique show after an expecting wild sea otter took refuge there to give birth...
Officials said they believe she appeared at the aquarium’s Great Tide Pool, which is sheltered by large rocks, to escape stormy seas. Her visit gave guests & staff an incredibly rare & exciting opportunity to witness the miracle of a sea otter birth firsthand...
Sea otters can give birth in water or on land... mom starts grooming her pup right away to help it stay warm & buoyant―a well-groomed sea otter pup is so buoyant it’s practically unsinkable.
Officials added, ‘Our sea otter researchers have been watching wild otters for years & have never seen a birth close up like this. We’re amazed & awed to have had a chance to witness this Monterey Bay conservation success story first hand in our own backyard. Welcome to the world, little otter!’
Sea otter populations were once abundant along the west coast, but they were nearly wiped out for the fur trade by the early 1900s...Today, they are listed as Endangered on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, & California’s population of southern sea otters is listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act.
This otter mom is the second to visit the aquarium since December to give birth & although recovery has been slow, they are continuing to make a comeback. Now the latest birth offers more hope that the number of sea otters will continue to grow.”
Alicia Graef
March 8/2016
care2.com
Cute Critter Pic
Weekly Chuckle
Memorial
Annabelle
July 16/2001
Sweet, sweet Belle. I miss you so very much precious one.
RIP
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