In Memory of Betty White

By now you’ve heard of the death of universally-beloved Betty White, who would have turned 100 today. But did you know she was not just an animal lover and conservationist, but a lover of sea otters? True story: She even scrubbed in for a sea otter surgery at Monterey Bay Aquarium! The aquarium writes:

Dr. Mike Murray, our Jane Dunaway Director of Veterinary Services, put Betty to work during one of her visits to the vet lab.

“She scrubbed into surgery for a sea otter tag implant one time,” he recalls. “We got her all masked, capped, gown, gloves, and positioned right across the surgical table from me. 

“She was so worried that she was going to pass out and kept telling me so. But she did great.”

Monterey Bay Aquarium again:

Betty White had a front-row seat to watch the recovery of California’s threatened sea otter population from her house in Monterey County, which overlooked Carmel Bay and Point Lobos.

Through her Aquarium membership, she quickly learned about our conservation efforts — especially our Sea Otter Program. She began visiting not just to see the exhibits, but to talk with program staff about our pioneering work to rescue, rehabilitate, and release stranded sea otters, to help recover the population.

"It's so important that we do all we can — and more — to protect sea otters for future generations,” Betty wrote in a testimonial about the program. “I hope with all my heart that you will send your contribution today and join me in helping the Aquarium save sea otters and all vulnerable ocean animals."

Sea otter populations have since made a comeback along the Central Coast. 

“When she first moved into her home, it was extremely rare for her to see an otter in the bay,” says Mary Mullen, who worked closely with Betty as a member of the Aquarium’s Development team. 

“More recently, she said could see otters all the time."

In 2016, to honor Betty, the aquarium named a stranded, non-releasable sea otter Tess, after Betty’s mother. Read more here.

But Monterey Bay Aquarium is not the only facility Betty worked with. She also worked closely with the Aquarium of the Pacific, saying “Supporting the Aquarium of the Pacific and the Southern sea otters is something I believe in with all my heart. I hope you will consider contributing to this very important work for our oceans and its inhabitants.” Here she is at the aquarium:

And in honor of Betty White’s efforts, the Aquarium of the Pacific named one of their non-releasable sea otters after her! Here’s Betty the sea otter:

RIP, Betty. The whole world misses you.

Images via Monterey Bay Aquarium and Aquarium of the Pacific