 | |
| Species | Sea otter |
|---|---|
| Sex | Female |
| Born | August 1999 |
| Died | June 5, 2024 (aged 24) Monterey Bay Aquarium Monterey, California, U.S. |
Rosa (August 1999 – June 5, 2024) was a female sea otter at the Monterey Bay Aquarium. She was known for being the aquarium's oldest resident otter, and as a surrogate mother for 15 abandoned otters at the aquarium.
Rosa was born in late August 1999. She was found stranded on a beach in Santa Cruz County, California, when she was four weeks old and was brought to the aquarium. Rosa weighed five pounds at the time. [1] [2] [3] She was released into the wild at the age of two, but had to be returned to the aquarium two years later, because she continued to interact with humans by jumping on swimmers and kayakers, which was a risk to herself and humans. [1] [2] [4]
Rosa was characterized by her large figure with soft silver colored fur and white freckles on her head. [1] [5] She could be seen on the aquarium's live sea otter cam and normally rested on the water surface at the center window after feeding. [1] For a period of time she enjoyed eating live food with shells and crabs, eating over 10 pounds (4.5 kg) of food per day. [6] [7] She raised 15 orphaned sea otter pups before retiring in 2019, with her last otters being released into the wild in October of that year. [1] [2] [5] Late in her life, she was slowed down by a heart condition and very limited eyesight. [3] [8] She lived to her old age by being fed with plastic balls, called boomer balls, or other toys to deliver food, and she was groomed regularly by a health monitoring team that performed personal training sessions that accommodated Rosa's limits. [3] Rosa received a physical checkup three times a year with radiographs, blood tests, and dental care. [3] [7] The aquarium staff built a ramp in 2013 to deal with potential arthritis. [3] Her diet was adjusted based on her weight which was regularly checked. [7] Husbandry training learned by Rosa included getting on weight scales, sticking up her paws for inspection, allowing the use of eyedrops on her, and opening her mouth for inspection. Like many other otters at the aquarium, she had over 20 different trained behaviors. [7]
Some of the otters at the Monterey Bay Aquarium, including Rosa, are named after John Steinbeck characters. Rosa's name originates from the short novel Tortilla Flat . [1] In a livestream celebrating her 24th birthday, [9] it was stated that her original name was Faye, but was changed to Rosa, as it was deemed too similar to another otter's name at the time. [10]
Since Rosa's 20th birthday in 2019, Twitch streamer and YouTuber Douglas Wreden, also known as DougDoug, had hosted annual charity livestreams to raise money for the Monterey Bay Aquarium. [11] These streams contributed to Rosa's popularity. [12] Wreden and his community raised $320.18 for her 20th birthday, $2,676.31 for her 21st birthday, and $14,172.19 for her 22nd birthday. [11] During his stream celebrating Rosa's 23rd birthday, he and his Twitch viewers raised $104,327.89 for the aquarium. [13] In August 2023, Wreden held two streams for Rosa's 24th birthday, raising a total of $302,014.21. [14] In August 2024, Wreden held two memorial streams on what would have been Rosa's 25th birthday, raising $625,375.68. In total, Wreden has raised $1,048,886.46 for the Monterey Bay Aquarium. [11] [14]
Rosa died on June 5, 2024, having been euthanized due to age-related health conditions. [15] At the time of her death, she was the oldest sea otter at the Monterey Bay Aquarium at 24 years 9 months. [10] She was older than the oldest known male sea otter in the United States, Adaa, who lived to be 22 years 8 months, [16] but not older than the oldest known female otter, Etika, who lived to be approximately 28 years old. [17]
Monterey is a city in Monterey County on the southern edge of Monterey Bay on the U.S. state of California's Central Coast. Founded on June 3, 1770, Monterey was the second permanent settlement established by Spanish explorers in what is now California. It functioned as the capital of Alta California under both Spain (1804–1821) and Mexico (1822–1846). During this period, Monterey hosted California's first theater, public building, public library, publicly funded school, printing press, and newspaper. It was originally the only port of entry for all taxable goods in California. In 1846, during the Mexican–American War of 1846–1848, the United States Flag was raised over the Customs House. After Mexico ceded California to the U.S. at the end of the war, Monterey hosted California's first constitutional convention in 1849.
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Monterey Bay Aquarium is a nonprofit public aquarium in Monterey, California. Known for its regional focus on the marine habitats of Monterey Bay, it was the first to exhibit a living kelp forest when it opened in October 1984. Its biologists have pioneered the animal husbandry of jellyfish and it was the first to successfully care for and display a great white shark. The organization's research and conservation efforts also focus on sea otters, various birds, and tunas. Seafood Watch, a sustainable seafood advisory list published by the aquarium beginning in 1999, has influenced the discussion surrounding sustainable seafood. The aquarium was home to Otter 841 prior to her release into the wild as well as Rosa, the oldest living sea otter at the time of her death.
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Sea otter conservation began in the early 20th century, when the sea otter was nearly extinct due to large-scale commercial hunting. The sea otter was once abundant in a wide arc across the North Pacific ocean, from northern Japan to Alaska to Mexico. By 1911, hunting for the animal's luxurious fur had reduced the sea otter population to fewer than 2000 individuals in the most remote and inaccessible parts of its range. The IUCN lists the sea otter as an endangered species. Threats to sea otters include oil spills, and a major spill can rapidly kill thousands of the animals.
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Lovers Point State Marine Reserve (SMR) is one of four small marine protected areas located near the cities of Monterey and Pacific Grove, at the southern end of Monterey Bay on California’s central coast. The four MPAs together encompass 2.96 square miles (7.7 km2). The SMR protects all marine life within its boundaries. Fishing and take of all living marine resources is prohibited.
Pacific Grove Marine Gardens State Marine Conservation Area is one of four small marine protected areas located near the cities of Monterey and Pacific Grove, at the southern end of Monterey Bay on California’s central coast. The four MPAs together encompass 2.96 square miles (7.7 km2). Within the SMCA fishing and take of all living marine resources is prohibited except the recreational take of finfish and the commercial take of giant and bull kelp by hand under certain conditions. According to the Frommer's guide, the Marine Gardens area is "renowned for ocean views, flowers, and tide-pool seaweed beds."
Clearwater Marine Aquarium is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, and aquarium in Clearwater, Florida. It is dedicated to the rescue, rehabilitation and release of sick and injured marine animals, public education, conservation, and research.
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Kakani Katija is a bioengineer from Hawaii. While earning her Master's and PhD in Aeronautics and Bioengineering, Katija began to study the mechanics of swimming and feeding marine organisms.
Julie E. Packard is an American ocean conservationist and philanthropist. She helped create the Monterey Bay Aquarium in the early 1980s and is its executive director, a position she has held since its opening in 1984. She speaks at conferences and symposia related to ocean conservation and writes online about current issues. She is a fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and is a recipient of the Audubon Medal.
Douglas Scott Wreden, better known by his pseudonym DougDoug, is an American YouTuber, Twitch streamer, and former Hearthstone caster and producer. He makes gaming videos that revolve around him doing various gaming challenges, often involving the use of artificial intelligence, modifications to games, and giving his viewers on Twitch heavy control of the game or stream. In 2023, he won the "League of Their Own" award at The Streamer Awards, and in 2024, he was nominated for the "Best Software and Game Development" award.
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