Surrogate Sea Otter Mothers Offer Lifeline to Endangered Pups

The Aquarium of the Pacific recently introduced a pioneering initiative in its history: pairing an orphaned sea otter pup with a surrogate mother. This initiative marks a potential turning point for the southern sea otter, a species that has struggled to recover from near extinction.

Southern sea otters, now a protected species, faced drastic declines due to excessive hunting, reducing their numbers to as few as 50 in 1938. However, protective measures have enabled their numbers to swell to around 3,000 today, reports the Sacramento Bee.

Despite this recovery, growth has plateaued recently, underpinning the need for innovative conservation approaches like the surrogate program.

The Surrogacy Solution

The Aquarium of the Pacific, in collaboration with the Monterey Bay Aquarium, has developed a dedicated facility within the Molina Animal Care Center to support this surrogacy program, the Long Beach Post reports. This facility is designed to host up to four rescued pups annually, limiting their exposure to humans to improve their chances of successful reintroduction into the wild.

Millie, the first surrogate mother in this program, is tasked with teaching vital survival skills to the pups, such as foraging and grooming—a critical part of their development, Reuters reports.

“That mom is going to teach them all of the behaviors that we cannot teach, being people,” Megan Smylie, the sea otter program manager at the Aquarium of the Pacific, told Reuters. “That adult female will start to mimic behaviors that the pup should learn, will help it groom, will help it forage, will help it teach prey manipulation, how to open up shells and anything that they would need to know that humans are unable to teach them.”

Financial and Ecological Stakes

Supporting these otters is not just a matter of conservation but also a significant financial commitment. Sea otters eat about 25% of their body weight in high-quality seafood daily, which costs the aquarium approximately $40,000 annually per otter, Reuters reports.

Despite these costs, the ecological benefits justify the investment. Sea otters play a crucial role in maintaining the balance of nearshore ecosystems, such as kelp forests and eelgrass beds, by controlling sea urchin populations.

Educational and Community Impact

The program not only focuses on the direct recovery of individual otters but also aims to educate the public on the importance of sea otter conservation. The aquarium features videos and signs outside the surrogacy facility to inform visitors about the significant impact of these efforts on sea otter populations, according to the Long Beach Post.

This educational component is crucial as it fosters a connection between the community and the conservation efforts, increasing public support and awareness.

“We are thrilled to be able to further help this threatened species recover by expanding our conservation programs to now help stranded sea pups get a second chance at returning to the wild,” Brett Long, senior director of birds and mammals at the Aquarium of the Pacific, said in a statement.

Looking Forward

The future of southern sea otters looks brighter with these combined efforts of rescue, rehabilitation, and education. The surrogacy program not only helps stranded pups find a new lease on life but also bolsters the species’ chances for a sustainable future in the wild. With continued support and expansion of such programs, conservationists are hopeful for a stable increase in sea otter populations, ensuring the preservation of this essential marine species and the ecosystems they help maintain.

Through our collective actions, we can help ensure that sea otters continue to thrive for generations to come. Click below and save sea otters!