Aquarium Unveils New Sea Otter Exhibit & Medical Facility

3:30pm | The Aquarium of the Pacific took the wraps off of a new animal medical facility and welcomed a new resident to the renovated sea otter exhibit on Thursday, giving members of the press a sneak peak into both attractions that will open to the public tomorrow.

A female Blacktip Reef shark was removed from its Shark Lagoon tank and examined using new tools from the recently unveiled Molina Animal Care Center, a $5.5 million facility that will upgrade the veterinarian staff’s capabilities and allow the public to view surgical procedures live via outdoor displays.

In addition, a two-year old Southern Sea Otter named Maggie was introduced to her new home, the recently upgraded BP Sea Otter Habitat that was renovated and redesigned thanks to a $1 million grant from the oil giant.

Some controversy had been raised in recent days because of BP’s involvement in the massive oil spill that is blanketing waters off the Gulf coast (not helped by their apparent attempts to control information about the leak), but the mood has eased as the grant helped create more natural lighting, rocky coastlines and kelp forests within the sea otter exhibit.

The video below shows Maggie being introduced to the exhibit, as well as the examination of the shark and Dr. Lance Adams speaking about the benefits of new medical equipment at the aquarium.