When a five-week-old female sea otter was discovered floundering around in Morro Bay in early January, staff from the Monterey Bay Aquarium’s Sea Otter Research and Conservation (SORAC) program and the California Department of Fish and Game jumped into action with their usual energy and efficiency.
The young otter was crying and desperately trying to climb on adult females, seeking her missing mother. Already occupied with their own pups, the adult otters repeatedly pushed the interloper away. With things looking increasingly desperate, staff decided to rescue the pup and bring her back to the Aquarium.
On February 18, otter number 479—now officially known as “Kit,” after a fictional character in John Steinbecks’ The Wayward Bus—became the youngest otter ever to go on exhibit at the Aquarium.
Visitors can watch 11-week-old Kit and her 9-year-old companion, Mae, as they eat, sleep and play at the Aquarium's sea otter exhibit, or via our live web cam.
The Aquarium’s sea otter program has worked for more than 25 years to understand and conserve the threatened southern sea otter. Normally, stranded pups are reared behind the scenes at the Aquarium by exhibit otters serving as surrogate mothers, with little human interaction. After release, the hope is that these pups will assimilate into the wild population, survive to maturity and produce offspring of their own.
But SORAC can only accommodate a few otters behind the scenes. At the time Kit arrived, all the rooms at the inn were full. That’s when SORAC and Aquarium exhibit staff began to contemplate something we’d never done before: placing an otter pup on exhibit, in public view. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has authorized the Aquarium to manage Kit in the sea otter exhibit, and she will not be released to the wild.
By providing space for one more pup, we’re able to save a young sea otter’s life. But the arrangement also carries another benefit. For thousands of visitors, the whole thing is likely to be very fun to watch.
A sea otter pup may be small, but it requires a lot of work. With Kit destined for the exhibit in a few short weeks, SORAC and exhibit staff started making preparations. First, the exhibit itself had to be modified to allow the pup to go freely into the back of exhibit, out of public view, even at night. This would provide some privacy, and also allow divers to clean the front of the exhibit without disturbing the two otters. Staff schedules were modified to ensure that the most experienced aquarists would be on duty, at least for the first few weeks.
All the usual sea otter activities—called behavioral enrichments—had to be redesigned. Aquarium staff had to ensure that objects placed in the exhibit were safe for small mouths and tiny paws. Feedings schedules were also changed, to match the relentless caloric needs of a growing pup.
The new arrangement is likely to be a learning process for everyone, from Aquarium staff to the otters themselves.
Husbandry staff anticipate that Kit will stay close to the adult females on exhibit and possibly mimic their behavior. This is important, because one day, Kit may be asked to impart that knowledge to a pup of her own. Our three current surrogate otters—while healthy—are growing older.
Should Kit become a surrogate herself, it could result in more stranded pups being reared at the Aquarium and released to the wild, contributing to a critically dwindling wild population and becoming part of SORAC’s long-term study of surrogate-reared pups.
If so, it will be yet another step in helping solve the mystery of the threatened southern sea otter.
The young otter was crying and desperately trying to climb on adult females, seeking her missing mother. Already occupied with their own pups, the adult otters repeatedly pushed the interloper away. With things looking increasingly desperate, staff decided to rescue the pup and bring her back to the Aquarium.
On February 18, otter number 479—now officially known as “Kit,” after a fictional character in John Steinbecks’ The Wayward Bus—became the youngest otter ever to go on exhibit at the Aquarium.
Visitors can watch 11-week-old Kit and her 9-year-old companion, Mae, as they eat, sleep and play at the Aquarium's sea otter exhibit, or via our live web cam.
The Aquarium’s sea otter program has worked for more than 25 years to understand and conserve the threatened southern sea otter. Normally, stranded pups are reared behind the scenes at the Aquarium by exhibit otters serving as surrogate mothers, with little human interaction. After release, the hope is that these pups will assimilate into the wild population, survive to maturity and produce offspring of their own.
But SORAC can only accommodate a few otters behind the scenes. At the time Kit arrived, all the rooms at the inn were full. That’s when SORAC and Aquarium exhibit staff began to contemplate something we’d never done before: placing an otter pup on exhibit, in public view. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has authorized the Aquarium to manage Kit in the sea otter exhibit, and she will not be released to the wild.
By providing space for one more pup, we’re able to save a young sea otter’s life. But the arrangement also carries another benefit. For thousands of visitors, the whole thing is likely to be very fun to watch.
A sea otter pup may be small, but it requires a lot of work. With Kit destined for the exhibit in a few short weeks, SORAC and exhibit staff started making preparations. First, the exhibit itself had to be modified to allow the pup to go freely into the back of exhibit, out of public view, even at night. This would provide some privacy, and also allow divers to clean the front of the exhibit without disturbing the two otters. Staff schedules were modified to ensure that the most experienced aquarists would be on duty, at least for the first few weeks.
All the usual sea otter activities—called behavioral enrichments—had to be redesigned. Aquarium staff had to ensure that objects placed in the exhibit were safe for small mouths and tiny paws. Feedings schedules were also changed, to match the relentless caloric needs of a growing pup.
The new arrangement is likely to be a learning process for everyone, from Aquarium staff to the otters themselves.
Husbandry staff anticipate that Kit will stay close to the adult females on exhibit and possibly mimic their behavior. This is important, because one day, Kit may be asked to impart that knowledge to a pup of her own. Our three current surrogate otters—while healthy—are growing older.
Should Kit become a surrogate herself, it could result in more stranded pups being reared at the Aquarium and released to the wild, contributing to a critically dwindling wild population and becoming part of SORAC’s long-term study of surrogate-reared pups.
If so, it will be yet another step in helping solve the mystery of the threatened southern sea otter.
Wow!! they look really cute and beautiful. I am a animal lover and I am glad to see a sea otter at last in my life! Animal babies need to be protected from humans as well as other creatures also, so proper care should be taken for their survial in this beautiful world. Can you please update the blog with more pictures??
Posted by: חדרי תינוקות | June 30, 2011 at 09:19 AM
Ohm a very lovable animals they are so cute please take well care of animals like that. They are very important in our nature.
Posted by: filipinadesire | October 11, 2010 at 08:53 AM
it is so small ,it needs human to protect them.
Posted by: wholesaledunk | September 24, 2010 at 01:34 AM
They are very cute and beautiful and looking cute. Please update me some more blogs with full of cute pictures.
http://www.squeakphotography.com.au/newborn-photography.htm
Posted by: baby photography | August 30, 2010 at 07:07 AM
Humans or animals babies they all need care and your love to grow up.
Posted by: beco gemini | August 29, 2010 at 01:51 PM
I never saw a sea otter in my entire life. Thanks for sharing this article.
Posted by: Anak Inya | July 12, 2010 at 05:11 AM
Underwater world is watching how! With all the fish and other sea, is boundless! The voice TingHai quietly how wonderful!
Posted by: Rerto Jordans | June 18, 2010 at 08:15 PM
lol- great pic! thanks for the blog.
Posted by: CapitalExhibits | June 13, 2010 at 11:48 AM
Its very funny, I just this morning watched the movie 'Andre', so if you liked this story you should watch it. Ok its a kids movie but it is based on a true story of a seal in Maine in the 60's. OHHHH I really loved it.
Posted by: fetal heart doppler | May 31, 2010 at 05:01 AM
I WANT TO COME SEE KIT!!!!!!!!!!!!!
KIT'S SO CUTE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: Alicia | February 23, 2010 at 04:56 PM
Oh I am so glad there's a new baby at Monterrey Aquarium and whatta cutie! Kit will grow up and live out on the bay again. It's good to see that little face on the newsletter! How could you not smile back?
Posted by: Maite Brown | February 19, 2010 at 03:19 PM
Gosh Kit, you look so adorable. We were just there on Feb 14, so we can't wait to see you on our next visit. Love , Claire, age. 8
Posted by: Martha Klinger | February 19, 2010 at 02:29 PM
Wow, that's really cool. We live in Maryland and came to visit this fall. Because of Kit, I think we will renew our membership for another year just to lend a helping hand to Kit and her new family.
Thanks!
Posted by: C. Icore | February 19, 2010 at 08:49 AM
We saw her today. She is such a cute little thing. We will look forward to seeing her every time we visit the aquarium.
Posted by: Greig | February 18, 2010 at 09:29 PM
Welcome Kit! Our 1 year old daughter can't wait to meet you.
Posted by: andrea | February 18, 2010 at 07:52 PM
Welcome to the MBA, Kit. You're adorable!
Posted by: Little Willow | February 18, 2010 at 06:53 PM
so SO cute!
Posted by: Melissa | February 18, 2010 at 04:16 PM
Good luck with Kit!
Posted by: Mike | February 18, 2010 at 03:09 PM