Meet sea otter 808! This resilient pup was rescued by our Sea Otter Program team on December 14, 2017 after he stranded on Carmel Beach with injuries from shark bites.

Sea otter 808 is being treated with antibiotics and is taking solid food from Monterey Bay Aquarium staff, who are caring for the pup in a behind-the-scenes intensive care area. His most recent exam showed that the bites are beginning to heal and the pup is continuing to improve.

This pup is between six and eight weeks old. If he continues to improve, he’ll be introduced to one of our resident female otters, who will serve as a surrogate mother for the pup. Our plan is to raise the pup for return to the wild.

Fun fact about us: Monterey Bay Aquarium pioneered the rescue and care of stranded California sea otter pups more than 30 years ago. We are the only facility in the world that raises these pups for release to the wild, with the help of non-releasable exhibit otters, who serve as surrogate mothers for the pups.

Surrogate sea otter mom Selka and rescued sea otter pup 774.

Sea otter 808 is the 808th animal – either a stranded pup, or an ill or injured juvenile or adult sea otter – to be treated through our pioneering program since the 1980s.

Released pups and their offspring have significant positive impacts on the coastal habitats where they’re released:

Want to help stranded sea otter pups like 808?

Support the expansion of our Animal Care Center! This expanded center will nearly triple the size of our current facility, helping us meet the growing needs of ocean animals here at the Aquarium and in the wild.