Sea otter that helped young otters survive dies
Sea otter that helped young otters survive dies
By JOHN S. MARSHALL, Associated Press
Saturday, March 3, 2012
(03-03) 17:12 PST San Francisco, CA (AP) --
A sea otter described by officials at the Monterey Bay Aquarium as the most important animal in the history of the aquarium's otter research program has died.
A female otter named Toola died in the aquarium's veterinary care center early Saturday, said aquarium spokesman Ken Peterson.
Believed to be 15 or 16, Toola succumbed to natural causes and to the infirmities of age, Peterson said.
She was the first rescued sea otter that aquarium officials know of anywhere in the world that helped raise sea otter pups that were later successfully returned to the wild, according to Peterson.
Toola did not give birth to the sea otter pups, but is credited with helping young sea otters survive after their mother was killed by sharks, a common occurrence along the California coast, or they were separated in a storm.
Toola raised 13 pups over the years, including one that was weaned from her on Friday as her health declined.
Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2012/03/03/state/n154343S07.DTL#ixzz1o7RliKbA
This undated image provided by the Monterey Bay Aquarium Foundation shows Toola, a sea otter who died at the aquarium, Saturday March 3, 2012, in Monterey, Calif. Believed to be 15 or 16, Toola succumbed to natural causes and to the infirmities of age, an aquarium spokesman said.
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RIP Toola. You were a wonderful and amazing creature.
Lots of little ones to care for, plenty of food, freedom from sharks. May she be in animal heaven, living the good life.
She was a special soul.
R.I.P. dear Toola!