Sea Otter Mishka's Training Session

Via Seattle Aquarium, which writes:

Did you know the sea otters at the Seattle Aquarium are trained to voluntarily participate in their own health care? Experience a first-person view of what it's like working with Mishka, one of the resident sea otters at the Aquarium, during one of these training sessions, which occur multiple times each day.

Training husbandry behaviors helps the sea otters at the Aquarium learn to trust and cooperate with their caretakers when participating in their own health care. Through training our staff is able to voluntarily collect blood samples, record weights, take measurements, conduct ultrasounds and more. Training also provides mental stimulation and physical exercise with choices to positively affect the animals’ psychological well-being and physical health. Additionally, working closely with the sea otters at the Aquarium provides opportunities to assist research in gaining knowledge of the species’ physiology and behavior, which in turn can help us provide the best care possible.