A sea otter known as "841" in Santa Cruz, California has clearly had it with humans interfering in her natural habitat. The precocious, personality-filled animal has become famous in recent weeks for
riding on surfboards, even stealing a few from surfers.
No humans have been harmed in the process; no one has reported a single injury related to this otter. But authorities have decided to label 841 as "aggressive," which could put her at risk of danger.
Whatever we do, we must keep this sea otter safe! Sign the petition to demand government agencies provide research and conservation funding to make sure 841 is protected.Wildlife definitely are not pets, and we should all keep our distance from wildlife - both for our safety, and also for their own. According to experts, this sea otter's level of comfort with approaching surfers and commandeering their boards could be due to
too much previous interaction with humans. That's why it's so important to never feed wild animals, and to always give them their space.The coastal waters of the West Coast were once filled with sea otters. Then
humans began hunting them nearly to the point of extinction, skinning them and using their furs as clothing. Today, sea otters are considered threatened, living in only 13% of their historic range, with much smaller populations.
Local authorities have said it will be their mission to educate the public about wildlife safety, and to safely relocate 841 to a new, more remote home. But we all know that many things could go wrong in that process.
Authorities must prioritize 841's safety in the process of finding her a newer, less-populated home! Sign the petition now to protect this sea otter!