Animal care

A spotlight shines down on a person’s left hand gently holding a sea otter’s furry brown paw while caressing it with their right hand

The animals you see at the Aquarium are part of a bigger story.

Behind each exhibit, a dedicated team of people is working to care for our animals and protect their ocean homes. They’re innovating in the field of animal medicine, advancing conservation science, and researching marine animals to expand humanity’s knowledge of the natural world. What they’re learning here helps us preserve and protect the ocean for future generations.

A history of innovation

Throughout the years, Monterey Bay Aquarium has been an innovator in the public aquarium space, with a goal of bringing our guests closer and more connected to the incredible divesity of life in ocean world. From the first-ever living Kelp Forest exhibit, to our 1.2 million gallon Open Sea exhibit designed to showcase tunas and other pelagic life, to an out-of-this-world deep-sea exhibit Into the Deep/En lo Profundo, we’ve pushed the envelope of what is possible in a public aquarium.

Learn how we reconstructed our living Kelp Forest exhibit

Discover how we’re sharing our white shark research

See how we teamed up with MBARI to bring you Into the Deep

Looking through four tall acrylic panels into the Kelp Forest exhibit at the Aquarium, featuring golden fronds of kelp and a giant sea bass in the bottom right corner

Our Sea Otter Program: Redefining wildlife restoration

We’ve been involved with southern sea otter conservation efforts dating back to before we opened our doors in 1984. We’ve led the way in their veterinary care, conducted and supported research on wild otter populations from California to the Russian Far East and Japan, and developed a surrogacy program using our exhibit sea otters to rehabilitate and release stranded sea otter pups. Building on the expertise we’ve gained over the years, we will continue to support sea otter recovery efforts.

Dive into the history of our Sea Otter Program

See how sea otters and kelp forests thrive together

Follow the life of a rescued sea otter pup

A small group of brown sea otters frolick in the kelp beds at the surface of the ocean with the Monterey Bay Aquarium building in the background

Support our mission

Your support today helps us continue our critically important conservation work. Thank you for your generosity.

Other

Animal Care: Shining a spotlight on deep-sea animals

With each new Aquarium exhibit, we’re exploring new habitats and working with new animals, often without a manual of instructions attached. Our Animal Care staff must test and develop the best methods for a variety of animals — many of which have never been exhibited in an aquarium before. But when we’re successful, the animals thrive and the result of connecting people with ocean life is priceless.

Learn how we created our deep sea exhibit

Join us on our journey of raising jellies

Find out how we care for elephant fish

Three staff people shine a red flashlight into the Whalefall exhibit to observe a Japanese spider crab that has come up to the window

Conservation research: Building a body of knowledge to protect the ocean

By studying the animals in our care and collaborating with other scientific organizations, we’re building a body of knowledge — documenting how to care for animals, studying their lives in the wild, and contributing to ocean conservation. We’re committed to using our unique resources to protect the ocean.

Discover the secret to a hotter otter

See how our penguin care extends to South Africa

Learn how we put the "sea" in policy

Monterey Bay Aquarium veterinary technicians using thermal imaging to examine the recovery progress of a wounded Southern sea otter (Enhydra lutris nereis) that was rescued and undergoing rehabilitation so it may be released back into the wild

Veterinary services: Advancing the field of veterinary care

The Aquarium’s team advances the world’s knowledge of caring for ocean animals by providing superlative health care for those in our living collection, from penguins to sea otters to octopuses. Now we’re also helping train a diverse new generation of veterinary professionals to continue this important work in the future.

Meet our Jane Dunaway Director of Veterinary Services Dr. Mike Murray

Follow a day in the life of Dr. Ri Chang on YouTube

Tour the Animal Care Center with African penguin Rey on YouTube