The Aquarium of the Pacific announced today that Betty, the aquarium’s beloved southern sea otter, died suddenly on Thursday, July 14, at 10 years old.
Betty arrived at the Aquarium in March 2012 at an estimated age of 9 to 10 weeks old. She was rescued off Del Monte Beach in Northern California on Valentine’s Day. Because she had lost her mother and did not have a chance to learn survival skills, government officials determined she was unable to take care of herself in the wild.
The Aquarium offered her a permanent home and she made her way to Long Beach. She was named after Hollywood icon, animal lover and dedicated Aquarium supporter Betty White. The two met when White visited the Aquarium in 2012 to celebrate her 90th birthday.
In recent months, Betty was one of the adult otters acting as a surrogate for the Aquarium’s newly arrived rescued sea otter pups, helping them navigate life at the Aquarium and teaching them new skills—like how to bang clams on a rock to open them up.
“Betty was known for high-speed eating, particularly squid, and her adorable clapping behavior. She will be greatly missed,” said Brett Long, Aquarium of the Pacific curator of marine mammals and birds.
Up until her passing, Betty had no known health issues or changes in behavior, according to a statement from the Aquarium. In the coming days, the Aquarium’s veterinary team and outside veterinary specialists will conduct an exam to try to determine a cause of death.
So very very sorry about this sweet Otto named Betty. She will be missed