Despite the commitment of specialists at zoos and aquariums, scientists, environmentalists and educators, and tremendous progress made in the past decade, these animals still need our help. Sea otter populations off the Aleutian Islands have dropped by 80-90 percent since the 1970s. A recent study by James A. Estes, Williams and her colleagues suggest killer whales are now eating sea otters because their usual food sources, which include fish, seals and Steller sea lions, are in rapid decline in Alaskan waters. This drastic drop has raised concerns in the scientific community. In addition, the central California sea otter populations are vulnerable to extinction.
Experts say pollution and disease are leading to a drastic decline in otter numbers.
We are proud that our efforts to protect the sea otter and its habitat are making a difference. The Alliance of Marine Mammal Parks and Aquariums is an international association of 39 marine life parks, aquariums, zoos, research facilities and professional organizations dedicated to the conservation of marine mammals and their environments through public display, education and research.