A sea otter that was being tracked by researchers for more than six years was killed by a shark in Monterey, California, on Sunday.
Biologists found a large, jagged tooth from a white shark in the open wounds of the otter’s body, according to a news release from the California Dept. of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW). Shark bites are currently the leading cause of death of sea otters and have increased in the last five years.
The sea otter was first discovered by the CDFW back in 2009 after she was found on a beach in Monterey covered in oil, which would give her the name, “Olive the Oiled Otter.”
She was rehabilitated through the CDFW, the Marine Mammal Center, the Monterey Bay Aquarium, and UC Santa Cruz Long Marine Lab. Olive spent her recovery in a pool of warm, softened fresh water. This method was being tested by researchers and helped bringing Olive’s coat and weight back to normal. Olive’s recovery became a point of interest to the public and gained her a Facebook page with more than 5,000 likes.
Because of Olive, researchers were able to develop the new washing method for sea otters. After her initial rescue in Feb. 2009, she was released into the wild in April with a very high frequency transmitter and colored flipper tags to keep track of her.
Scientists successfully captured her for a health evaluation in July 2012 in which she appeared very healthy -- and pregnant. Olive gave birth to three otter pups, which was a great contribution to the endangered sea otter population.
“She showed us that oiled sea otters can go on to live normal healthy lives, have healthy pups, be good mothers and then die of natural causes,” said David Jessup, a CDFW retired veterinarian who oversaw Olive’s recovery, in a news release.
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Although shark bites are the leading cause of death in sea otters, CDFW wants people to remember that land and sea pollution is also a contributing factor. Fatalities in sea otters can be lowered if people take care of the habitats they live in.
Before her death, Olive was most recently seen on Feb. 15. Nearly 400 likes, shares and comments on Olive’s Facebook page expressed condolences for the sea otter’s lost life.
