Oldest Sea Otter, Etika, Dies In Seattle

The world’s oldest known sea otter and the only one to rear pups to adulthood in captivity in the United States died Thursday at the Seattle Aquarium.

Initial medical reports indicate Etika, about 28, died of old age, the aquarium said in a news release. In the wild, sea otters have an average life span of 15-20 years.

Etika, born in Prince William Sound, Alaska, was resident of the Seattle Aquarium since it opened in 1977. Two years later she gave birth to the first sea otter conceived, born and raised to maturity in captivity.