Skip to main content

Advertisement

Advertisement

Sea otter conceived in wild is first born in captivity: School

SANTA CRUZ (California) – A sea otter impregnated in the wild has given birth at the University of California, Santa Cruz, allowing researchers a rare look at a nursing mother.

A Southern sea otter mother and her pup play together at the University of California, Santa Cruz Long Marine Laboratory pool in Santa Cruz, California, Jan 21, 2015 Photo: AP/Joe Tomoleoni

A Southern sea otter mother and her pup play together at the University of California, Santa Cruz Long Marine Laboratory pool in Santa Cruz, California, Jan 21, 2015 Photo: AP/Joe Tomoleoni

SANTA CRUZ (California) – A sea otter impregnated in the wild has given birth at the University of California, Santa Cruz, allowing researchers a rare look at a nursing mother.

The Santa Cruz Sentinel reported on Friday (Jan 23) that it’s the first time a sea otter pup conceived in the wild was born in captivity.

Scientists at the school’s Long Marine Laboratory have been observing the baby since its birth in late November. It will be released in the wild this summer after it weans off its mother’s milk.

To prevent the pup from becoming attracted to humans, researchers limit their interaction, enclosing the pool it shares with its mother behind a fence.

Southern sea otters have been listed as threatened since 1977. A count last year showed the population reached about 3,000 off California. AP

Read more of the latest in

Advertisement

Advertisement

Stay in the know. Anytime. Anywhere.

Subscribe to get daily news updates, insights and must reads delivered straight to your inbox.

By clicking subscribe, I agree for my personal data to be used to send me TODAY newsletters, promotional offers and for research and analysis.