Shows
Wild sea otters often tangle themselves in kelp to stay near kelp beds and will sometimes hold paws with other otters to form a raft. In B.C., sea otter rafts can consist of up to 150 resting individuals.
Milo and Tanu holding paws
Tanu was found on her own off the coast of Alaska in mid-July 2004, when she was only a week or two old. She was rescued and now resides at the Vancouver Aquarium.
We’re very sad to share that Milo, our 12-year-old male sea otter, passed away on January 11, 2012.
Can’t see the sea otters? Or any water, for that matter? One day each week, this exhibit is completely drained and power-sprayed to keep it clean. During this time, the sea otters hang out behind-the-scenes. Otherwise, you’ll often see them cleaning themselves. Sea otters, which have the thickest coat in the animal kingdom, “scratch” themselves to untangle knots and remove loose fur. If you take a closer look, you’ll also see them blow or fluff air into their fur, which creates and maintains an insulating layer of air between their fur and skin.
In the wild, sea otters eat up to 25-30 percent of their body weight each day as they burn a lot of energy. Each of our sea otters eats about $20,000 worth of surf clams, fish fillets and occasionally live crabs annually. The marine mammal trainers give toys to the sea otters as part of their enrichment activities. They’re particularly challenged by a plastic ball with holes. Watch closely and you’ll see that our trainers may have placed edible treats inside the ball to encourage the sea otters to interact and problem solve.
Get to know our sea otters better during a Sea Otter Encounter. You’ll go behind the scenes at the Aquarium to visit these lovable creatures from inside their habitats and even participate in a sea otter feeding session. Observe how these playful sea otters eat off their stomachs alongside one of our marine mammal trainers, while learning more about the Aquarium's research, conservation and animal care projects throughout this memorable experience.
Few organizations offer as many reasons to give as the Vancouver Aquarium. Our amazing and engaging animal displays, interpretive elements, world-leading scientific research, direct action and education programs are built around a single mandate: to protect and conserve our fragile marine environments for years to come. Our vision is a sustainable world, where aquatic life is diverse and flourishing. Your thoughtful contributions directly support our programs such as the Marine Mammal Rescue Centre, which allows us to continue rescuing distressed sea otters in the wild.
Support us and make a donation now.
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