As of the end of May 2012, the number of sea otters in captivity in Japan stood at 14 parks and 29 animals, a quarter of the peak in 1994, when there were 122 otters in 28 parks and 29 museums. Sea otters, which are difficult to breed, rarely grow well after giving birth, and their life span is 15 to 20 years old, with the optimal age for breeding being 13 to 15 years old. The number of sea otters in captivity continues to decline due to the aging of the population, with 9 out of 17 females in Japan being 15 years of age or older.

　In late November 2011, we received good news from the Uminonakamichi Marine Ecology and Science Museum in Fukuoka Prefecture that they are able to move their breeding male. Using the breeding loan program, we decided to borrow a 13-year-old male with breeding experience and loan our 4-year-old male to the museum.
　The one male and two females we had previously kept at Adventure World were related, and we were unable to proceed with breeding. Therefore, we have been considering the possibility of receiving a sea otter from a different bloodline bred at another facility.


*Breeding Loan (Breeding Loan)
A system of lending or borrowing breeding animals for the purpose of breeding. It is used both domestically and internationally, especially for the breeding of rare animals.

　On January 17, 2012, a long-awaited male sea otter was brought in from the Uminonakamichi Marine Ecology and Science Museum. Sea otters are very nervous animals, and the stress of transportation can lead to death. Although we had taken every precaution during the transport, we were not anxious until the sea otter arrived.
　After arriving safely and feeling relieved, we noticed bleeding from a wound on the right front paw that had occurred during transport. His fur condition deteriorated, he spent more time resting on land, and his days became longer and more anxious. We waited for him to recover by adjusting the amount of food he was eating and the room temperature in the exercise yard. A week passed, and their fur gradually improved, and when we saw them swimming happily after another week, we were so happy that we could not express our joy.
　He is now living together with two females and getting along well with them. They are good with the female and mating behavior was confirmed five days after they moved in together. If all goes well, the long-awaited baby may be born this fall. A male from our garden, which was loaned to the Uminonakamichi Marine Science Museum, has also been confirmed to be mating. Please keep an eye out for sea otters that are expected to breed at both museums in the future.
(Naomi Noguchi)