A sea otter that was rescued and rehabilitated by the Monterey Bay Aquarium and The Marine Mammal Center has been shot to death.The center tweeted, "Senseless cruelty." A tag identified the sea otter as "Sea Otter 741," who was previously been found tangled in fishing line in the summer of 2016. The otter was rehabilitated and returned to the ocean in Morro Bay.The Monterey Bay Aquarium said 741 was thriving in the wild after its release.The sea otter was found floating dead in Morro Bay two months ago, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife said Tuesday. A necropsy determined that the sea otter died because someone shot it with a pellet gun. "The Marine Mammal Center is shocked and deeply disappointed to learn of the fatal shooting of southern sea otter MBA-741. After successfully treating this otter, learning of this outcome is disheartening, and partners at California Department of Fish and Wildlife, the Monterey Bay Aquarium, and Morro Bay Harbor Patrol will all be affected by this loss," the center wrote Tuesday. California authorities are now investigating and trying to figure out who shot the protected marine mammal. Anyone with information is asked to call the CalTIP hotline at 888-334-2258."The senseless shooting of any sea otter is concerning," Mike Harris, a Fish and Wildlife environmental scientist who helped with the rescue, told the Associated Press. "But to discover a case such as this, where a team of conservation organizations had already successfully treated the animal for a life-threatening entanglement, is exceptionally troubling and frustrating."The Department of Fish and Wildlife said the killing was the latest in a rash of sea otter crimes along the California's Central Coast.A skinned sea otter was found at Arroyo de la Cruz Beach in San Simeon in September. The sea otter was a young female, and its pelt had been illegally removed. Three sea otters were shot dead at beaches around Santa Cruz in the summer of 2016.Anyone who kills a sea otter could face jail time and $100,000 in fines.READ MORE: Sea otters use Moss Landing otter crosswalkThe Associated Press contributed to this report

A sea otter that was rescued and rehabilitated by the Monterey Bay Aquarium and The Marine Mammal Center has been shot to death.

The center tweeted, "Senseless cruelty."



Advertisement Related Content Sea otters use Moss Landing otter crosswalk

A tag identified the sea otter as "Sea Otter 741," who was previously been found tangled in fishing line in the summer of 2016. The otter was rehabilitated and returned to the ocean in Morro Bay.



The Monterey Bay Aquarium said 741 was thriving in the wild after its release.

The sea otter was found floating dead in Morro Bay two months ago, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife said Tuesday. A necropsy determined that the sea otter died because someone shot it with a pellet gun.

"The Marine Mammal Center is shocked and deeply disappointed to learn

of the fatal shooting of southern sea otter MBA-741. After successfully treating this otter, learning of this outcome is disheartening, and partners at California Department of Fish and Wildlife, the Monterey Bay Aquarium, and Morro Bay Harbor Patrol will all be affected by this loss," the center wrote Tuesday.

California authorities are now investigating and trying to figure out who shot the protected marine mammal. Anyone with information is asked to call the CalTIP hotline at 888-334-2258.

"The senseless shooting of any sea otter is concerning," Mike Harris, a Fish and Wildlife environmental scientist who helped with the rescue, told the Associated Press. "But to discover a case such as this, where a team of conservation organizations had already successfully treated the animal for a life-threatening entanglement, is exceptionally troubling and frustrating."



The Department of Fish and Wildlife said the killing was the latest in a rash of sea otter crimes along the California's Central Coast.

A skinned sea otter was found at Arroyo de la Cruz Beach in San Simeon in September. The sea otter was a young female, and its pelt had been illegally removed.

Three sea otters were shot dead at beaches around Santa Cruz in the summer of 2016.

Anyone who kills a sea otter could face jail time and $100,000 in fines.

READ MORE: Sea otters use Moss Landing otter crosswalk

The Associated Press contributed to this report