Endangered sea otters could disappear from Japan aquariums as mating instincts ‘wane’

In 1994, there were 122 otters in 28 aquariums across Japan, now only three remain in captivity, and they are too old to breed

Meanwhile, imports of the endangered species from the US, their main habitat, have been cut off due to stricter regulations

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One Japan’s most popular aquarium attractions, sea otters, are in danger of disappearing. Photo: AFP/File

Published: 7:00am, 24 Feb 2023Updated: 11:41am, 24 Feb 2023

Sea otters, one of the most popular attractions at Japanese aquariums, are in danger of disappearing.

Only three remain in captivity, and they are too old to breed. Imports of the endangered species from the United States, their main habitat, meanwhile, have been cut off due to stricter regulations.

In the peak year of 1994, there were 122 of the crowd-pleasing sea mammals in 28 aquariums across the country. Now only two female and one male captive otter live in two facilities.

I would feel sorry for children if there were no more sea otters in aquariums

Nao Matsuda, homemaker from Mie Prefecture

The females are in Toba Aquarium, located in the central Japan city of Toba in Mie Prefecture. It began breeding sea otters in 1983, raising six at one point, but now has only 18-year-old May and 14-year-old Kira. Considering their average life expectancy – around 20 years in captivity – they do not have much longer to live.

The male sea otter, Riro, is kept at Marine World Uminonakamichi in the southwestern city of Fukuoka. He is Kira’s brother and 15 years old.

“They are cute and relaxing to watch,” said Megumi Iha, 29, who works in Yokohama, near Tokyo, as she gazed at them at Toba Aquarium.

“I would feel sorry for children if there were no more sea otters in aquariums,” said Nao Matsuda, a 46-year-old homemaker from Mie Prefecture, who was also there.