CHARLIE, the oldest southern sea otter held by any zoo or aquarium, has died in California, the U.S.

The Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach says Charlie died Monday at the age of 22.

Male southern sea otters typically only live 10 to 14 years in the wild.

Charlie celebrated his birthday last month by eating colorful seafood cupcakes.

When Charlie was found he was initially taken to the Monterey Bay Aquarium.

He is thought to have been orphaned because of the storms brought on by El Nino the year he was born.

At the time, it was hoped that humans would be able to serve as surrogate mothers in an attempt to train the young pups how to survive in the wild but the program didn’t work out.

In the end it was judged that Charlie would survive only in captivity, according to the Los Angeles Times.

Charlie helped sea otters by taking part in a study on how the animals perceive sound.

At the age of 22, Charlie had started to show typical signs of aging, with diminished vision and hearing, and some arthritis.

He is remembered by aquarium staff and guests for his intelligence and easygoing disposition, according to the Los Angeles Times.

California’s sea otters are considered threatened. Hunting in the 18th and 19th centuries nearly wiped them out.

(SD-Agencies)