PHOTOS: Orphaned baby otter rescued
Luna was brought to Chicago after being found on Coastaways Beach between San Mateo and Santa Cruz on Sept. 30, 2014 by a passerby and rescued on Oct. 1 by Monterey Bay Aquarium. Abandoned by her mother, she was brought to the Shedd where she received round the clock care from specialists who, beyond feeding and grooming her, helped teach her swimming and otter behavior and readied her to meet the other sea otters in her new habitat. A tiny ball of fluff, she quickly captured the city's attention and affection.
VIDEO: Baby sea otter learns to swim, groom, play at Shedd Aquarium
Now, a year later, Luna weighs about 30 lbs., on pace to match the average weight of a full-grown female otter. She also now opens shellfish on her own and has become comfortable with all the otter habitats at the aquarium. Shedd trainers say she's known to be quite playful and fond of toys, and gets along swimmingly with the other sea otters in their care.
Luna's rescue helped bring some initial attention to the importance of protecting sea otter populations, and now as part of Sea Otter Awareness Week she joins the other four female otters at the Shedd - Mari, Kiana, Cayucos and Yaku - in once again directing attention to the conservation of her species.
Southern sea otters like Luna are a keystone species, Shedd officials say, playing a disproportionately large role in the health of their ecosystem. They have been considered a threatened species since 1977, and the California sea otter population remains vulnerable despite state and national efforts.
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Lunchtime! #SeaOtterAwarenessWeek pic.twitter.com/3UvuG6XhKM
— Shedd Aquarium (@shedd_aquarium) September 24, 2015
#DYK sea otter pups consume the equivalent of 30% of their body weight of food every day? Talk about hungry pups! #SeaOtterAwarenessWeek
— Shedd Aquarium (@shedd_aquarium) September 24, 2015
#DYK sea otters are one of few mammal species to use tools? #SOAW #YouOtterKnow http://t.co/pOphpSGdv7 pic.twitter.com/jY3rCzJzw4
— Shedd Aquarium (@shedd_aquarium) September 23, 2015
Luna now tips the scales at 30lbs! She’s catching up to our full-grown females weighing between 40-50lbs! #SOAW pic.twitter.com/2C2R9CgH5y
— Shedd Aquarium (@shedd_aquarium) September 23, 2015
I voted on this orphaned otter's name. My favourite animal named for one of my favourite characters! https://t.co/L8E9fueN7M
— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) September 23, 2015
#YouOtterKnow how to spot Luna on exhibit! She's the smallest, darkest & often floats with a paw in her mouth. #SOAW pic.twitter.com/Krs11JOGMf
— Shedd Aquarium (@shedd_aquarium) September 22, 2015
Our youngest otter, Luna, turns 1 this week! Perfectly timed w #SeaOtterAwarenessWeek! #HBD http://t.co/kZs2fLjxfG pic.twitter.com/zJTQ0jyUMm
— Shedd Aquarium (@shedd_aquarium) September 21, 2015
#DYK Sea otters need 10-15lbs of food every day to fuel their high metabolisms? #SeaOtterAwarenessWeek #YouOtterKnow pic.twitter.com/6MkGIy7fOJ
— Shedd Aquarium (@shedd_aquarium) September 21, 2015