Sea Hunt for Cindy Continues

Cindy 841 bites into a crab leg. PHOTO: NATIVE SANTA CRUZ, MARK WOODWARD

Cindy the surfing sea otter is still at large, evading capture and enjoying the bounty of Monterey Bay. She has not been seen on a surfboard since Saturday.

The female sea otter was born five years ago in captivity at the Monterey Bay Aquarium. 

Marine scientists report distressed sea life, including sea lions and dolphins, seen in the Santa Barbara region may be related to Cindy's odd behavior of approaching humans, climbing onto and chewing surfboards. I have named her Cindy but authorities refer to her as 841.

The hunt for her continued today in the kelp beds off of West Cliff Drive in Santa Cruz. Local photographer Mark Woodward has kept in contact with scientists from the Monterey Bay Aquarium and relayed the disturbing report that scientists fear she may be infected, possibly from recent red tides.

An Associated Press cameraman was on the scene today. "We have interest from as far away as Japan," he said, shaking his head with a big grin.

Although most people side with Cindy as far as not being captured, if infected she could transmit her disease to other sea life. The problem is, how do you catch a clever girl like Cindy without hurting her, or worse.

"That would be a huge problem of negative publicity for the aquarium," said Woodward.

In the meantime, where is Cindy? Although authorities can track her because she's been micro-chipped, her whiskery face has not been seen today.