Post by Deinobrontornis on Mar 4, 2012 22:58:31 GMT -5
Famed sea otter, inspiration for protective legislation, dies at Monterey Bay Aquarium
Toola, a famed sea otter who inspired legislation to protect others in her species, died today at the Monterey Bay Aquarium, where she has been a resident since she was rescued from a beach in 2001.
According to aquarium officials, Toola, pictured at left, died of natural causes and old age - she was 15 or 16 years old.
After Toola was rescued while stranded on Pismo Beach, she was found to have neurological disorders likely caused by a parasite that infected her brain. Her disorder required anti-seizure medication twice daily, which meant she could not be released back into the wild.
Toola's parasite likely came from cat waste washed into the ocean. Her story inspired Dave Jones - then an assemblyman, now insurance commissioner - to draft legislation about the issue after he and his family visited the Monterey Bay Aquarium.
While at the aquarium, Toola became the first otter ever to serve as a surrogate mother for rescued pups brought to the aquarium, according to officials there. She raised 13 pups, one of whom is the star of a film called "Otter 501," which debuted in February at the Santa Barbara Film Festival. She is shown at left with one of the pups she raised.
Toola, a famed sea otter who inspired legislation to protect others in her species, died today at the Monterey Bay Aquarium, where she has been a resident since she was rescued from a beach in 2001.
According to aquarium officials, Toola, pictured at left, died of natural causes and old age - she was 15 or 16 years old.
After Toola was rescued while stranded on Pismo Beach, she was found to have neurological disorders likely caused by a parasite that infected her brain. Her disorder required anti-seizure medication twice daily, which meant she could not be released back into the wild.
Toola's parasite likely came from cat waste washed into the ocean. Her story inspired Dave Jones - then an assemblyman, now insurance commissioner - to draft legislation about the issue after he and his family visited the Monterey Bay Aquarium.
While at the aquarium, Toola became the first otter ever to serve as a surrogate mother for rescued pups brought to the aquarium, according to officials there. She raised 13 pups, one of whom is the star of a film called "Otter 501," which debuted in February at the Santa Barbara Film Festival. She is shown at left with one of the pups she raised.
