Southern Sea Otter
From their cameo in “Finding Dory”
to having many dedicated social media
accounts, otters are a species well-known
for being adorable. Sea otters don’t have
any blubber to keep them warm, so they
compensate by having the thickest fur of
any mammal. Unfortunately, this thick
coat has made otters widely hunted in the
past. After facing near extinction due to
the fur trade, otters now suffer losses of
habitat as well as threats from oil spills and
other pollution-related diseases.
Northern Elephant Seal
Featured in an article the Pony Express
published last April, elephant seals are an
example of how species can be brought
back from the brink of extinction.
These animals were targeted because of
their oil-rich blubber, and at one time,
there were only 100 individuals left. The
major conservation methods include
advocating for their protection in both the
U.S. and Mexico.
“The elephant seal’s mighty comeback is
an example of the importance of protective
status and marine sanctuaries in ocean
conservation,” a Monterey Bay Aquarium
Spokesperson said.
Leatherback Sea Turtle
As the largest turtle in the world,
leatherback sea turtles are named for their
tough, rubbery skin. These creatures can
be found nestled deep within the sandy
beaches of tropical areas.
The number of leatherback sea turtles
have been declining due to bycatching.
Bycatching is when animals are captured
that are not the intended target species.
Unfortunately, many of these bycatches
lead to death for marine life.
