Sea otters could disappear from Japanese aquariums

"They are cute and relaxing to watch," said Megumi Iha, 29, who works in Yokohama, near Tokyo, as she gazed at them at Toba Aquarium.

"I would feel sorry for children if there were no more sea otters in aquariums," said Nao Matsuda, a 46-year-old homemaker from Mie Prefecture, who was also there.

oh dear oh dear!

It is not all bad news, however. Wild otters have been observed again off the coast of Hokkaido, Japan's northernmost main island.

Having been wiped out. And each time they reappear the local fishing cooperatives complain they are taking the sea urchins and kill them.

This is the madness of city human relationships with wildlife if those 128 were left in their natural habitat their numbers would buildup. Hi they are so relaxing to watch. Who give an about your selfish need to use these animals to relax. Go watch sun rise or sunset. There no need to gaol animal at all.

I saw one in the wild here and didn’t realise they are so endangered.

Abalone fishermen hate them as well. But they could be an incredible tourist draw if allowed to breed in the wild. They are even more cute in their natural environment and have little fear of humans. They will literally swim between your legs in shallow water. Fantastic animals, especially if one doesn't delve too deeply into their less savory habits.

The good news here are the stricter regulations that make it more difficult for animals to be shipped from their habitats to all over the world. Sad that children will have a less variate experience by visiting parks and aquariums but the value of inspire them to feel the importance of the natural environment should not depend on having cute things on display.

If Japan wants sea otters to ogle then impose tough protective regulations on wild otters and actually enforce them so they can breed.

As a local Northern Californian where wild sea otters live, good, keep these little guys out of aquariums. Sea otters live a precious life living in rough seas with much bigger predators. We should do everything we can to ensure they remain wild and free.

And yet pet river otters are not unheard of in Japan.

https://www.dailypaws.com/pet-news-entertainment/unlikely-friendships/otter-snuggles-with-kitty-cat

Pet river otters is all you will get because wild river otters have been wiped out too. This was mostly by habitat destruction; mainly the mania to concrete every river bank so that otters can no longer dig their nest tunnels.

In Singapore its an offence to kill or hurt sea otters. Signs are placed near their habitat and warned not to go near them but watch from afar. They are cute and family of otters were reported regularly entering private homes to kill all the kois in the pond for food, yet they roam freely.

Good! After reading Tarka the ottter, I realized they shouldn’t be in captivity. The false idea that this is about conservation or learning about the animals is pure BS. This is about a city or prefecture just wanting something to pull in some cash. Not to mention the stupidity of the public say , “sooo cute” without actual critical thinking, these animals don’t actually belong in an aquarium. Forced to perform tricks.

I also believe this is the same for dolphins. The head trainer I. The show Flipper eventually switched became an activist and realized how wrong it is. They’re really is no scientific, reason to have dolphins all so the same trick. Jump, hit the ball. Turn around. Maybe if we opened the gates, and if the dolphin has a choice to stay or leave, I’d be ok with it. Because they choose to stay. I’m sure if they are so intelligent, we have to assume they can make an intelligent to make its own choice to stay or leave. Kind makes me also think about the cats and dogs that are bred and sold in pet shops for stupid prices.so we can say “cuuuuuute”

The vast majority of Japanese captive wild animal centres are pretty poor, catering more as circuses and carnivals, rather than centres for conservation and study. It's not just the aquariums.

Japanese zoos care for the animals the way the fishermen and fishmongers care for sea creatures at Toyosu Fish market. They are a means to an end. It is even worse if you are not considered a popular animal at the facility. Remember, when the owners of one park and Japanese government just left a dolphin alone in any empty unpopular park? It also died later due to the pandemic!.

They could have just released the dolphin if it was too expensive to move to another park or sale. They prefer to let it die. Probably, it was to recoup some possible life insurance on the animal.

We have just learned that Honey, the lone dolphin kept in an near-abandoned animal park in Japan, has died. She had been alone in her tank for several years until her death. Despite efforts by local Japanese activists and international organizations (including the International Marine Mammal Project (IMMP) of Earth Island Institute), the owners and Japanese authorities refused to take action to transfer Honey to a better facility with companion dolphins.

Honey the Dolphin Dies Alone in Japan Park

https://savedolphins.eii.org/news/honey-the-dolphin-dies-alone-in-japan-park

Japan's animal parks are notorious around the world and well known by respected organizations for its mistreatment. It is the number one reason why it will not join any international governing bodies because they would be guilty of so many violations.

There is a guy in Japan selling unregulated wolf dogs!

@JerryL

Those are not sea otters. They are a river and wetland species - smooth-coated otters - though they do enter sea water. Sea otters are almost entirely sea-going. But it is true that Singapore has a slightly more enlightened view regarding co-existence with wildlife.

I tried to go to the Toba Aquarium today. The queue for parking was around an hour so we gave up. It seems a story on NHK causes a otter viewing frenzy. Same as pandas.

Rodney

I tried to go to the Toba Aquarium today. The queue for parking was around an hour so we gave up. It seems a story on NHK causes a otter viewing frenzy.

Any mention of any product or place on any TV channel causes a frenzy. Have you ever tried to go to a shop, restaurant, or other attraction after it is featured on a TV show? Even websites become overloaded after being mentioned on TV. It just takes a couple of "talents" to shout "oishii" or "sugoi", and everybody wants to try it.

If I owned a business here, I'd do whatever I could to get featured on one of those shows. It works much better than simple advertising.

deanzaZZR

As a local Northern Californian where wild sea otters live, good, keep these little guys out of aquariums. Sea otters live a precious life living in rough seas with much bigger predators.

IIRC, the Monterey Bay Aquarium has a big Sea Otter exhibit. But, their exhibits are generally geared towards comfort and quality of life of their captive creatures. And, they conduct actual research into the conservation of sea life and the education of humans.

Since almost being wiped out, sea otters along the California coast have rebounded. The population today numbers about 3,000, although occasionally they are still shot and killed.

On a recent trip to Alaska we saw hundreds of otters.

LoveJapanToday  08:04 am JST

It's time Japan caught up with the rest of the world and focused on animal welfare rather than satisfying the public ned to ogle cute animals in captivity.

tha rest of the world has zoos......

IIRC, the Monterey Bay Aquarium has a big Sea Otter exhibit. But, their exhibits are generally geared towards comfort and quality of life of their captive creatures. And, they conduct actual research into the conservation of sea life and the education of humans.

A curator of that exhibit named Julie was someone I went to school with and they are absolutely ardent about educating the public about the lives and habitat needs of the sea otter and their preservation along the west coast of the US. Without the sea otters eating sea urchins the urchins breed out of control and devastate the coastal kelp beds that support a whole big chunk of the offshore ecology. The problem for sea otters now are commercial and sport fishing. Both oppose expanding their range because the otters compete for fish with the fishing fleets. There was a huge dispute some years ago over an attempt to establish a colony on San Clemente Island. Sport fishing interests fought it bitterly and it is not unheard of for an otter to turn up dead not due to natural causes. It is just terrible that people are so thoughtless and greedy.

@garypen I'm with you 100% on this one. The Monterey Aquarium does important research on sea otters and also rehabilitates sick or injured sea otters and releases them back to the ocean when possible. Monterey is a great holiday destination and the Monterey Aquarium is a great option for visitors.