There are only four marine mammal groups that have evolved from the land. This unique and fascinating creature has quite a history, that began anywhere from three to seven million years ago. Today, there are only three subspecies in the world. They are the California (Enhydra lutris nereis), Northern (Enhydra lutris kenyoni) and the Russian (Enhydra lutris lutris). .
For thousands of years, the sea otter was hunted for food and fur as a life support for humans. At that time the sea otter was thriving with population estimated around 300,000 ranging from "along North Pacific shores, from northern Japan to the Alaskan Peninsula and down the coast to Baja California." ("Sea Otter Exhibit"). Sadly, in the early 1700's that history changed. At that time on Bering Island (off Kamchatka peninsula in Siberia), not only did a stranded crew survive on the otter meat (which by all accounts was not very palatable), and used their fur for warmth, they began to collect the furs for trade. When the stranded sailors left the island they took hundreds of furs with them. The sea otter's abundance and lack of fear of humans on the island made them easy targets. This encounter began a centuries-long path of destruction for the sea otter. It is estimated from the early 1700's until 1911 when the International Fur Seal Treaty was enacted more than one million sea otters were killed for their fur. Estimates are that at that time there were only 500-2,000 total sea otters left in the world. Think about that---less than one percent of its original population size. Enacting the International Fur Seal Treaty stopped the commercial killing of the sea otter, but the treaty was a little too late for some areas. "Only one small colony survived, south of Alaska, in waters off the rugged coast of Big Sur [California]." It's quite surprising that this animal survived, and it's a testament to this animal's endurance as well as mankind's attempt to correct its mistakes ("Sea Otter Exhibit").