Double Reward for Sea Otter Hunter

Earlier this week, the Department of Fish and Wildlife reported the death of three male sea otters. Further analyses carried out on the body of the animals revealed that their deadly wounds were caused by bullets. The hunter hasn’t been caught yet, so the authorities decided to offer a double reward for information that may help them with the case.

The initial reward for the capturing of the shooter or for any details that could lead to the person’s identification was $10,000. A double reward means $20,000 for any person who cooperates with the authorities and helps them catch the culprit. The increased sum of money shows that officials are highly concerned about the faith of the wildlife. They also consider the possibility that there could be more than one hunter. The decision was made on Friday, September 2.

There should be no wonder that things go this way because sea otters are among the endangered species in the world. As a result, they are protected by law. However, this didn’t stop the shooter or shooters from killing the animals.

On the other hand, locals know that fishermen deliberately kill sea otters when the animals interfere with their fishing activity. The marine animals feed on fish and because of them, fishermen are left with a more insignificant capture.

Biologists and marine specialists in charge of animal protection are aware of the fact that the sea otters population are in danger. Their number is decreasing, so every individual is important.

Although sea otters populations used to have about three hundred thousand members, recent reviews showed that their number has severely dropped by less than three thousand. The marine animals are hunted for their thick fur, which is among the most appreciated natural type of furs.

Sea otters have many fans around the world, as they are considered extremely cute animals. One of the features that gained them this reputation is that they use to hold paws while floating on their backs. This is very similar to humans holding hands.

The recent events in California seem to point out that some people are not interested in the importance of wildlife, on the balance of the natural world, and not even of the state’s law. Although authorities know that people will do their citizen’s duty of reporting any valuable information if they had any, they still considered doubling the reward. $20,000 is the new prize offered to any person who can provide clues on the sea otter hunter in Santa Cruz Harbor.

Image courtesy of: Wikipedia