Sea otters recovered from near-extinction but face ongoing welfare threats from oil spills, shark bites, harmful algal blooms, and entanglement in fishing gear.
Sea otters experience acute welfare harms from multiple sources. Oil spills disrupt fur insulation, causing hypothermia and acute suffering that can only be addressed through intensive wildlife rehabilitation involving days of cleaning and warm water baths. Shark bites from non-predatory interactions cause devastating injuries — often to female otters and their pups — that are frequently fatal or require long-term rehabilitation. Domoic acid poisoning from harmful algal blooms causes seizures, disorientation, and prolonged neurological suffering. The Monterey Bay Aquarium Sea Otter Research and Conservation programme provides critical rehabilitation and research, demonstrating the welfare value of dedicated wildlife rescue infrastructure.