"Wild About Otters" at Monterey Bay Aquarium Closes on September 13

By Jenny Slafkosky

Monterey, CA - Adorable otters are among the most charismatic creatures in the wild and they are in need of our help – which is why Monterey Bay Aquarium celebrates these engaging animals during “Otter Days” on Saturday and Sunday, September 12 and 13. The weekend of special events and activities promises to be fun and educational for the whole family.

California’s iconic southern sea otters are the highlight of the weekend, but their relatives the freshwater otters share the spotlight. Also the weekend marks the last opportunity to visit the aquarium’s engaging freshwater otter exhibition, “Wild About Otters,” before it closes on September 13. The special exhibition gives visitors the chance to watch the antics of two playful species of freshwater otters, the Asian small-clawed otter and African spotted-necked otter, and compare those species to the aquarium’s popular resident sea otters.

The freshwater otters will move to other institutions through the Association of Zoos & Aquariums' Species Survival Plan. This cooperative effort supports exhibits like “Wild About Otters,” and helps ensure the survival of threatened and endangered wildlife through breeding programs, research, public education, reintroduction and field projects.

The “Otter Days” weekend includes special presentations, face painting, a children’s craft room and otter-related prizes – including a chance for a few lucky families to win behind-the-scenes tours of the aquarium’s sea otter exhibit, and meet the aquarium staff who care for the five female otters.

California sea otters are very appealing animals – furry, playful, energetic, and a delight to watch. But their threatened status in the wild and their uncertain future makes the story of sea otters’ survival even more compelling. The current 3-year running average for the population is approximately 2,800 animals, which is less than about 15 percent of the historical estimate of 16,000-20,000 animals. Sea otters are not alone in their struggle to survive. All 13 species of otters worldwide need clean water to survive – a conservation message shared with visitors in “Wild About Otters.”

Guests can discover more about efforts to protect California’s threatened sea otter population during “Otter Days.” Staff with the aquarium’s Sea Otter Research and Conservation program and members of the non-profit organization Defenders of Wildlife will be on hand throughout the weekend to answer questions about these endearing creatures.

“Otter Days” programs and activities include:

· Otter feeding and training sessions at 10:30 a.m., 1:30 and 3:30 p.m. at the sea otter exhibit. Additional otter enrichment sessions will occur at 11:15 a.m., 2:15 and 4 p.m.

· “Otter Dress Up”, a fun family program on the Great Tide Pool Deck, where a volunteer is transformed into an otter, complete with everything an otter needs to survive in the ocean: Times TBD

· ¡Basta Basura! (Enough Trash!) In this 15-minute bilingual musical by El Teatro Campesino, Rosa Maria spends a day at the beach, where she's faced with the dilemma of what to do with her trash when no garbage can is found. Program presented on the Great Tide Pool Deck at 11:45 a.m., 12:30 and 2 p.m.

· “You Otter Know,” a lively program in a game-show style format that teaches visitors about sea otters and freshwater otters: Times TBD.

· Learn all about how our Sea Otter Aquarists care for the otters by visiting hands-on stations from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

· Face painting from 12:30 to 3:30 p.m.

· Animal Training Game, offers a chance to join an expert in animal behavior to learn why we train resident otters and participate in a fun training session at 1 p.m. at the Great Tide Pool Deck.

· Otter spotting with aquarium sea otter researchers and trackers from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on the Great Tide Pool deck. Visitors will get their otter questions answered as they search for wild sea otters in the bay.

“Otter Days” activities are included with aquarium admission of $29.95 for adults, $27.95 for seniors (over 65) and students (13-17, college ID), $17.95 for children 3-12, and free for kids under 3.

The aquarium’s “Otter Days” celebration kicks off the seventh annual “Sea Otter Awareness Week” which runs September 27 – October 3 and is led by Defenders of Wildlife. For information and activities visit http://www.defenders.org/seaotter/awareness.

Visit the aquarium’s web site at www.montereybayaquarium.org to watch the live sea otter web cam and “Wild About Otters” web cam, and for more information about “Otter Days,” the aquarium’s sea otters, “Wild About Otters” exhibition, Sea Otter Research and Conservation program and the wild California sea otter population.

The mission of the Monterey Bay Aquarium is to inspire conservation of the oceans.

Photo #1:  Visitors are inches away from playful sea otters at the Monterey Bay Aquarium. © Monterey Bay Aquarium/Ken Bach 

Photo #2:  Meet Kipenzi and other African spotted-necked otters at the special exhibition Wild About Otters. © Monterey Bay Aquarium/Randy Wilder

To view Monterey Bay Aquarium's web page on Zoo and Aquarium Visitor, go to:  http://www.zandavisitor.com/forumtopicdetail-560-Monterey_Bay_Aquarium