- Abby takes up permanent residence at SeaWorld San Diego
after retiring from Monterey Bay Aquarium's Sea Otter Surrogacy
Program where she successfully raised five orphaned pups
- Abby previously resided at SeaWorld San Diego after she was
stranded and rescued in 2007 as a three-day old pup
- Guests can visit Abby and five other rescued southern sea
otters at SeaWorld San Diego's Otter Outlook
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SAN
DIEGO, Sept. 22, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- SeaWorld
San Diego proudly celebrates the 20th anniversary of Sea
Otter Awareness Week by welcoming back home Abby, a 15-year-old
rescued southern sea otter, after her retirement from Monterey Bay
Aquarium's Sea Otter Surrogacy Program. During her time as a
surrogate, she successfully raised five orphaned pups. Abby will
join five other rescued southern sea otters at SeaWorld's Otter
Outlook, including Mocha and Coco, who she previously lived with
when she was a young, rescued pup.
"Sea Otter Awareness Week allows us to recognize sea otters for
their importance to the health of coastal ecosystems, their
recovery from near extinction, and the threats they currently
face," said Eric Otjen, Vice
President of Zoological Operations at SeaWorld San Diego. "It's
important to raise awareness of just how critical sea otters are to
shaping and maintaining the ecosystems of the California coast and why efforts to recover
the species are so vital."
California's southern sea otter
is a keystone species that has been listed as threatened under the
Endangered Species Act since 1977. California's southern sea otter population
were once hunted to near extinction during the maritime fur trade
in the 18th and 19th centuries. Worldwide, sea otters have slowly
recovered but still stand far below their historical population
numbers. Today, there are approximately 3,000 southern sea otters
in existence. Returning sea otters to areas they inhabited before
the fur trade can help ensure their long-term survival and provide
extensive benefits to California's
coastal ecosystems.
Sea Otter Surrogacy is a
Vital Part of Saving the Lives of
This Threatened Species
The Monterey Bay Aquarium Sea Otter Surrogacy Program is a
unique approach to rescuing, rearing and returning sea otter pups
to the wild. More than 60 surrogate-reared pups have been released
from the program since 2001. In Elkhorn Slough, a national
estuarine research reserve, scientists estimate that released
surrogate-raised otters and their wild offspring account for more
than half of the sea otter population growth in this small estuary
over the past 15 years.
Abby's Journey from Orphan to
Surrogate Mom
Abby, a three-day-old infant sea otter, was rescued in July of
2007 after she was found stranded on Jalama State Beach in northern
Santa Barbara County. She was
rescued by the Santa Barbara Marine Mammal Center and transported
to SeaWorld San Diego for rehabilitation. SeaWorld animal care
experts successfully hand-raised Abby with another female sea otter
pup, Ellie, who arrived a few months after Abby.
Starting at age 3, SeaWorld animal care experts noticed Abby
displaying maternal behaviors towards her younger companions.
Understanding that Monterey Bay Aquarium had a need for a surrogate
sea otter mom for their Sea Otter Surrogacy Program, both
accredited zoos partnered together to give Abby a chance to put her
maternal skills to work.
In June 2012, Abby moved to
Monterey Bay Aquarium. Just like the other sea otter residents,
Abby learned training behaviors, live food-handling skills, and
acted as a companion to various rescued sea otters as part of their
rehabilitation processes. As a surrogate mother, Abby helped
successfully raise five healthy pups, where she taught pups
critical life skills they need to survive in the wild, like how to
groom their fur and how to forage. Abby retired from the surrogacy
program in 2019.
Guests can visit Abby and the other five southern sea
otters—Mocha, Coco, Nova, Clover and Pumpkin—at SeaWorld San
Diego's Otter Outlook and view their curious and playful
behaviors. SeaWorld San Diego offers educational trainer talks
daily where guests can hear from animal care specialists about
day-to-day care, habits and interactions with the otters, while
also sharing exciting facts about each otter's personality and
story.
About SeaWorld Entertainment,
Inc.
SeaWorld Entertainment, Inc. (NYSE: SEAS) is a leading theme
park and entertainment company providing experiences that matter,
and inspiring guests to protect animals and the wild wonders of our
world. The Company is one of the world's foremost zoological
organizations and a global leader in animal welfare, training,
husbandry and veterinary care. The Company collectively cares for
one of the largest zoological collections in the world and has
helped lead advances in the care of animals. The Company also
rescues and rehabilitates marine and terrestrial animals that are
ill, injured, orphaned or abandoned, with the goal of returning
them to the wild. The SeaWorld® rescue team has helped more than
40,000 animals in need over the last 55 years. SeaWorld
Entertainment, Inc. owns or licenses a portfolio of recognized
brands including SeaWorld, Busch Gardens®, Aquatica®, Sesame Place®
and Sea Rescue®. Over its more than 55-year history, the Company
has built a diversified portfolio of 12 destination and regional
theme parks that are grouped in key markets across the United States, many of which showcase its
one-of-a-kind zoological collection. The Company's theme parks
feature a diverse array of rides, shows and other attractions with
broad demographic appeal which deliver memorable experiences and a
strong value proposition for its guests.
About Monterey Bay
Aquarium
With a mission to inspire conservation of the ocean, the
Monterey Bay Aquarium is the most admired aquarium in the United States, a leader in science
education, and a voice for ocean conservation through comprehensive
programs in marine science and public policy. Everything we do
works in concert to protect the future of our blue planet. More
information at MontereyBayAquarium.org.
Media Contact:
SWC.PR@seaworld.com
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SOURCE SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment