Sea otters are keystone species whose presence maintains kelp forest ecosystems, making their conservation important not just for their own welfare but for the entire ecological community.
Sea otters experience unique welfare challenges as marine mammals dependent on dense fur for thermoregulation rather than blubber. Oil spill contamination of fur is immediately life-threatening because otters lose thermal insulation. The Deepwater Horizon and Exxon Valdez spills demonstrated how rapidly individual welfare deteriorates when fur becomes matted. Rehabilitation of oiled otters is resource-intensive but effective. Beyond individual welfare, the ecological services provided by otters support the welfare of the entire kelp forest community.