At the Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach, California, Rey, a young southern sea otter, has unexpectedly taken on the role of a mother to Sunny, an orphaned pup found on Asilomar State Beach. This pairing is part of a surrogacy program initiated by the Monterey Bay Aquarium, which aims to rehabilitate motherless otters. Since its inception, the program has successfully rehabilitated and released nine otters back into the wild. However, Rey and Sunny will remain at the aquarium, as both have become too accustomed to human interaction to survive in the wild. Rey, who was also rescued as a stranded pup in July 2023, is now teaching Sunny essential skills, such as foraging for food and using tools—a behavior characteristic of sea otters. The maternal bond they share is significant for conservation efforts, as the southern sea otter population, once nearly extinct, has now increased to about 3,000. Despite challenges like low pup survival rates and threats from parasites and human activities, Rey's nurturing role is vital for Sunny's development and the future of their species. Aquarium staff hope that Sunny will eventually become a mother herself, continuing the cycle of life for this endangered species.