MIE - Japan now has only one sea otter remaining in captivity following the death of Kira, an 18-year-old female at Toba Aquarium in Mie Prefecture on November 5th, leaving 22-year-old Mei as the country's last surviving aquarium sea otter after a population that once exceeded 100 animals steadily declined.
Mei's public exhibition resumed on November 11th, drawing a crowd of around 250 people who lined up outside the aquarium in Toba City before opening. Visitors watched as the elderly sea otter swam around her enclosure and ate shellfish, while a memorial message board was set up inside the aquarium to honor Kira.
Yume Abiru, a 19-year-old university student from Kawasaki City, spoke through tears about the loss of the beloved animal. "I really loved Kira. Mei is getting old too, but I hope she stays healthy and lives happily," she said.
The disappearance of sea otters from Japanese aquariums reflects a broader conservation challenge facing the species, which is classified as endangered in the wild.
Wild sea otter populations were estimated at between 150,000 and 300,000 in the early 18th century, but their numbers collapsed as the animals were hunted extensively for their valuable fur. International conservation efforts eventually helped populations recover, although the International Union for Conservation of Nature classified the species as endangered in 2000.
In Japan, the number of sea otters kept at aquariums and other facilities peaked at 122 in 1994. However, the population has steadily declined because the animals are difficult to breed in captivity, while restrictions imposed by the United States and other factors have effectively halted imports.
Kira was born at Adventure World in Shirahama, Wakayama Prefecture, in April 2008. She was transferred to Toba Aquarium in March 2021, where she lived alongside Mei until her death.
With Mei now the sole remaining sea otter in captivity in Japan, her presence has become an increasingly rare opportunity for visitors to observe the species up close.
Conservation experts are urging the public to look beyond the animals' appealing appearance and consider the challenges facing sea otters in the wild.
"I hope people will not simply think sea otters are cute, but will also take an interest in the situation they face," one expert said.
Source: Kyodo
