New sea otter goes on exhibit at Monterey Bay Aquarium

(KRON) — After weeks of training behind-the-scenes, the Monterey Bay Aquarium’s newest sea otter, Opal, officially joined the sea otter exhibit. Visitors can now see Opal playing with her “raftmates,” sea otters Ivy, Ruby, and Selka.

Monterey Bay Aquarium’s spokesperson wrote, “Opal’s sparkly personality quickly shined through during her training. The team was impressed by her confidence and how quickly Opal bonded with her new raftmates Ivy, Ruby, and Selka. Our precious gems Opal and Ruby are especially close.”

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Opal can be spotted on the aquarium’s live Sea Otter Cam, which gives a glimpse into her playful antics.

Opal was found stranded on a San Luis Obispo beach as a three-week-old pup in February 2024. She was deemed un-releasable by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

“It has been an absolute joy working with Opal, getting to know her personality, and watching her learn so quickly,” said Courtney Ribeiro-French, aquarium senior mammalogist.

The Monterey Bay Aquarium’s Sea Otter Program works to help the iconic species recover in population numbers and return to historical ranges along California’s coast.