Item 1 of 5 A sea otter stands as another sea otter emerges from water, at the Aquarium of the Pacific, in Long Beach, California, U.S., April 11, 2024. REUTERS/Mario Anzuoni ...

It’s Sea Otter Awareness Week, which has been recognized for more than two decades. It started as a way to inform people about the vital role these animals play in coastal marine ecosystems.

Rosa, the Monterey Bay Aquarium’s oldest sea otter and one of its social media stars, died Wednesday, the aquarium said in a statement. The southern sea otter, 24, had served as a surrogate ...