Jul 20, 2018
Jul 17, 2018
Jul 12, 2018
Jul 8, 2018
Jul 7, 2018
Jul 6, 2018
Sea otters in captivity: the past and the future
須磨海浜水族園のなかまたち：ラッコ飼育のこれまでとこれから 高齢化と繁殖難しく減少 ／兵庫 - 毎日新聞
Sea otters, adorable creatures floating on their back, might not be seen in Japanese aquariums in near future. Today, Suma Aqualife Park KOBE is home to two sea otters: a 19-year-old female and a 20-year-old male who came as a potential mate from Niigata City Aquarium. The average age of sea otters in Japanese aquariums is 15 years old, which indicates the severe of captive animals who live typically 15 to 20 years. Also, the number of animals in captivity dropped from 122 in 1994 to 10 as of today. Why did this happen?
There may be two prominent reasons.
First, import of sea otters from overseas has ceased. Sea otters range off the North Pacific and divided in three subspecies by the habitat: northern sea otter, southern sea otter and Asian sea otter. Most animals accepted in Japanese aquariums are the northern subspecies. Although wild population has reportedly increased in some areas today, the population was decreased to near extinction from late 18th century to early 20th century due to over hunting for the fine fur and the sea otter has listed as endangered by IUCN. It was in 1982 when Japan first imported sea otters from the United States. Subsequently, trading of sea otters has regulated by CITES, and 1998 was the last year when Japan imported sea otters from the United States.
Second, breeding otters born in captivity has not worked very well. Of 300 sea otters in Japanese aquariums two thirds were born in captivity and most of them did not have parents born in captivity but parents captured in the wild. Wild animals can learn how to nurse their young and how to mate from others, but captive animals have much less opportunities to do so. Mating of sea otters can be very aggressive and a male often holds a female from back and bites her nose. In captivity some males give up to mate once they are denied by females. We have worked to promote the breeding in captivity by making efforts such as showing otters videos of mating behaviors, exchanging animals with other facilities and adjust the hours of daylight to their habitat in the wild; however, it was 2002 when we successfully saw reproduction. Breeding may be difficult in the future, but we can continue to collect data which can help us understand the reproductive physiology by investigating the sex hormones which are found in sea otter feces.
We will continue to study sea otters in captivity so that we can help more people to learn sea otter ecology and their difficult situation in captivity. ( Yuki Kurisu, Suma Aqualife Park, Japan)
Translation by sea otter channel
Jul 5, 2018
Jul 3, 2018
Remembering Mr.Enchilada the sea otter
Today (7/3/2018) is the second anniversary of Mr.Enchilada the beloved sea otter’s tragic death. He was struck and killed by a vehicle when he was crossing Moss Landing Rd in California. Nobody might expect a sea otter on the road, but they sometimes do. There are two places known for sea otter crossing: Moss Landing Rd and Hwy 1, Jetty Rd and Hwy 1. If you drive in the area, remember to slow down and watch out for sea otters.
Why do animals cross the road?
Sea otters are marine mammals. So, they are supposed to float on their back in the water. How dare a marine mammal walk on the road?
Like deer, raccoons, skunks and any other animals in the wild, sea otters need to move from a place to place to feed, shelter, mate, and so on. The paths they take are vital for them. What happens when humans built a road which divide their paths of life? They need to find alternative paths or just cross the road we built. This is how a number of wild animals are killed on the road.
When we build a road through someone’s property, we should ask the owner of the property before building the road. Everybody knows it. But when we build the road across the grass fields or mountains or any other wild place, we will never ask the resident animals beforehand - because it is impossible. We build the road without any permissions from them. Some animals are so careful that they watch the traffic before they cross the road. Some are not so careful. Or they are not fortunate enough to avoid the traffic.
In Moss Landing, some sea otters cross the road to feed or rest on the other side of the road. There are culverts under the road and they can swim through to feed when the tide gates are open at low tides, but they are often stuck there when the gates close as the tides rise. They are very determined - and sometimes attempt to cross the road to go back to the other side to rest.
What can we do to decrease collision against wildlife?
Remember that the safety of drivers and passengers is the priority. Signs and traffic rules are made to protect not only drivers and passengers, but also animals in the wild. Always keep the speed limit and watch out for animals especially in the places where animal crossing signs are installed.
Signs installed in Moss Landing. Some drivers ignore the speed limit.
“Sea otter crosswalk” installed a few months after Mr.Enchilada’s death
at the site where he was struck and killed by a vehicle.
at the site where he was struck and killed by a vehicle.
Another sea otter using the “sea otter crosswalk” that was installed after Mr.Enchilada’s tragic death.
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