Southern sea otters were hunted nearly to extinction for their fur and are still recovering — facing modern threats from shark attacks, disease, and contaminants that limit population growth.
Sea otter welfare reflects both the success and fragility of conservation recovery. Animals that survived near-extinction now face a gauntlet of modern threats: shark bites that may not be immediately fatal but leave animals with injuries affecting their ability to dive and feed; Toxoplasma infection causing neurological deterioration; domoic acid poisoning causing seizures and disorientation; and malnutrition in pups separated from their mothers. The Toxoplasma pathway from cat feces through watersheds to sea otters is a direct welfare connection between domestic cat management (including indoor containment and cat-free buffer zones around sensitive watersheds) and sea otter health. Domoic acid events produce clusters of stranded otters requiring intensive rehabilitation — events that MCSEA and Monterey Bay Aquarium's sea otter program address with remarkable skill.