The sea otters in California's Monterey Bay are crucial to the ecosystem because they are considered to be a 'keystone species'. This is because they eat the urchins that prey upon Monterey Bay's rich kelp forests. The kelp provides food and shelter to many other sea animals, so keeping the urchins in check is important.
Without the sea otters the kelp forests might disappear one day. But for some unknown reason the otter population numbers are also in jeopardy. Scientists have considered some possible reasons such as the rise in shark attacks, water pollution and parasitic infections from their food sources. Because of these lower numbers in otters, everything possible is being done to help them to survive.
So when a newborn otter pup washes up on a local beach, a special team of marine biologists jump into action to save it. The team is headed up by Karl Mayer who is the Animal Care Coordinator for the Sea Otter Research and Conservation (SORAC) program which operates out of the Monterey Bay Aquarium.
Karl and his team are responsible for rescuing every abandoned or injured sea otter in northern California and bringing them back to the Aquarium's medical facility for evaluation. They have rescued 500 sea otters since the rehabilitation program began in 1984.
Recently a three-day old abandoned female otter pup arrives for an exam at the Aquarium. They call her Otter 501. After stabilizing her, the team begins to get her to accept an 'otter milk formula' from a bottle. While feeding her, the handlers are dressed in dark ponchos and welder's hoods. This disguise tries to cover up the human form so the newborn doesn't become attached to them.
here she will raised by Toola, the Aquarium's original surrogate mother otter. In secret roof tanks atop the Aquarium, Toola teaches her young student a series of basic otter lessons: how to dive, how to find food, how to break open and eat whole clams and other shellfish, and how to handle crabs
The little otter must also learn how to groom her fur as it will only keep her warm and dry when it's clean. Once she can eat solid food; swim, rather than just float; and haul herself out of the water, she will be accepted into their surrogate program.
In the program she will raised by Toola, the Aquarium's original surrogate mother otter. Toola teaches the youngster how to dive, how to find food, how to break open and eat whole clams and other shellfish, and how to handle crabs. After five months of training, the young otter is returned to the wild in the hope that she has been provided with enough training to survive and have pups of her own.
All of this is just another day in the lives of Karl and his team who continue their hard work, hoping to make a difference in a world where survival is a long shot at best.
Without the sea otters the kelp forests might disappear one day. But for some unknown reason the otter population numbers are also in jeopardy. Scientists have considered some possible reasons such as the rise in shark attacks, water pollution and parasitic infections from their food sources. Because of these lower numbers in otters, everything possible is being done to help them to survive.
So when a newborn otter pup washes up on a local beach, a special team of marine biologists jump into action to save it. The team is headed up by Karl Mayer who is the Animal Care Coordinator for the Sea Otter Research and Conservation (SORAC) program which operates out of the Monterey Bay Aquarium.
Karl and his team are responsible for rescuing every abandoned or injured sea otter in northern California and bringing them back to the Aquarium's medical facility for evaluation. They have rescued 500 sea otters since the rehabilitation program began in 1984.
Recently a three-day old abandoned female otter pup arrives for an exam at the Aquarium. They call her Otter 501. After stabilizing her, the team begins to get her to accept an 'otter milk formula' from a bottle. While feeding her, the handlers are dressed in dark ponchos and welder's hoods. This disguise tries to cover up the human form so the newborn doesn't become attached to them.
here she will raised by Toola, the Aquarium's original surrogate mother otter. In secret roof tanks atop the Aquarium, Toola teaches her young student a series of basic otter lessons: how to dive, how to find food, how to break open and eat whole clams and other shellfish, and how to handle crabs
The little otter must also learn how to groom her fur as it will only keep her warm and dry when it's clean. Once she can eat solid food; swim, rather than just float; and haul herself out of the water, she will be accepted into their surrogate program.
In the program she will raised by Toola, the Aquarium's original surrogate mother otter. Toola teaches the youngster how to dive, how to find food, how to break open and eat whole clams and other shellfish, and how to handle crabs. After five months of training, the young otter is returned to the wild in the hope that she has been provided with enough training to survive and have pups of her own.
All of this is just another day in the lives of Karl and his team who continue their hard work, hoping to make a difference in a world where survival is a long shot at best.
just fantastic
Awww. I love this and the work they are doing.
What a great thing these people are doing! The Monterey Bay Aquarium is an amazing place, very hands on with the local marine population.
Great work to keep them alive and hope we can solve the delicate issues that cause illness in these pivotal creatures! Seeing the Monterey Bay Aquarium several years ago was inspiring and love the dedication the staff has for their charges.