Detroit Zoo Welcomes 14-Year-Old Southern Sea Otter

ROYAL OAK, MI — A 14-year-old southern sea otter has joined the Detroit Zoo, according to zoo officials.

The sea otter, Kit, was rescued at just five weeks old in January 2010 when she was found stranded and alone in Morro Bay Harbor, according to zoo officials.

The U.S. Department of Fish and Wildlife deemed Kit unable to return to the wild, so she was sent to California’s Monterey Bay Aquarium, where she has lived most of her life, according to zoo officials.

At just 11 weeks old, Kit became the youngest sea otter to be visible to the public in the aquarium’s history, according to zoo officials.

Kit was also an active participant in the Aquarium’s surrogacy program, which has non-releasable female sea otters act as "foster moms" to pups found stranded in the wild, teaching them all the skills they need to potentially be released back into the wild, according to zoo officials.

Kit has successfully reared 10 pups through the program, which positively impacts the conservation of endangered southern sea otters, according to zoo officials.

Now, due to her age and in recognition of her many contributions to the surrogacy program, Kit is moving to the Detroit Zoo to live out her golden years with a smaller raft of otters, according to zoo officials.

"We are thrilled to welcome her to the Zoo and know she will get along great with 4-year-old Monte and 2-year-old Finn," Zoo officials said in a statement. "Please help us give Kit a very warm welcome!"