A close reading of Zuma's efforts reveal a blend of social realism and regionalism, made more powerful by the psychologically suggestive placements of surrealist salmon. The artistic nature of sea lions has long been overlooked by the marine mammal community and the world at large. No berets, raspberry or otherwise. Stop by and ask our mammal trainers all about it. By Jen Goebel Sea otters, the incredibly cute furry mammals that frolic along California's shores, are actually canaries - as in, canary in a coal mine, also known in scientific circles as a sentinel species.
Sentinel species are the ones affected first by environmental damage and degradation.
In the case of sea otters, their fast metabolism, high consumption of prey species and living amongst the river and sewer outfalls makes them particularly vulnerable. Roughly 1000 sea otters have been found dead on California shores in the last five years. Out of a population of 3000, that's quite significant. Veterinary pathologists are now pointing the fingers at Fluffy and her kin - bobcats, cougars and the cat next door. It seems that some of the otters are dying from parasites whose only known hosts are cats - Toxoplasma gondii, to be specific.