Life of a rescued sea otter

When a stranded newborn sea otter pup was reported at Point Lobos State Reserve, our sea otter team sprang into action. 

Once safely settled at the Aquarium, the pup — identified as pup 696 — needed to work on building up his strength.

Sea otter pups need hours of grooming every day to make their coat fluffed with air bubbles — and keep the pup warm and buoyant.

Pup 696 played with toys to build up the jaw strength and paw dexterity needed for eating crabs, urchins and other hard-shelled invertebrates in the wild.

Although pup 696 could float from birth, he still needed to learn to dive and glide in the water. So Aquarium caregivers took on a new role – swim coach.

After weeks of chomping on toys to strengthen his jaws, pup 696 graduated to solid food. Notice the caregiver tapping the shell against the side of the pool? That’s so the pup learns to connect the sound of shells clacking with getting a meal.

Next, 696 met his surrogate otter mom Rosa.

Rosa taught him how to dive, collect food, and other skills he'll need to survive in the wild.