Hilarious moment criminal sea otter snatches surfboard off baffled rider

A sea otter has been repeatedly reported for stealing surfboards from unsuspecting riders off the Californian  coast – and has now even been caught red-flippered. The five-year-old otter has been filmed wrestling the board away from one rider before jumping on it and happily chomping on it. The rider can be seen repeatedly attempting to recover his board – even twisting it in an attempt to push the otter off. But all his attempts were for naught as the mammal simply climbed back on the upside-down board and resumed his chomping. Santa Cruz photographer Mark Woodward, who shared the clip, said the rider was ultimately able to reclaim his board after the otter was scared off by a catamaran. Otter 841 has repeatedly approached human since its release from captivity (Image: AMAZING ANIMALS /Hefti Brunold•TMX) Woodward said: “A catamaran saw what was happening and got close, which caused the otter to get off the board and they were able to get the board.” He said there were evident bite marks when the board was reclaimed. The surfboard-snatching mammal has been driving a team of handlers crazy with its shenanigans – and sparked concerns about its dangerous behaviour. The female otter, known as 841, had been known to have an affinity for surfboards but its antics have recently escalated to outright stealing the boards from their riders. But while the moment could be perceived as adorable by onlookers, officials have warned the situation could soon turn dangerous for both the mammal and the human it approaches. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife and the Monterey Bay Aquarium confirmed on Monday a specialised group of handlers would be trying to capture the otter and remove it to safer waters. The aquarium’s sea otter programme director, Jessica Fujii, warned the otter’s behaviour should not be viewed as fun and positive as she highlighted the risks 841 poses to itself and humans. The board’s owner let go of it after the otter jumped on it (Image: AMAZING ANIMALS /Hefti Brunold•TMX) She told the New York Times: “I know that’s hard to do. “It gets lots of likes and attention, but in the long run, it can be detrimental to the animal.’ Officials have warned the otter is at risk of being euthanised should it bite a swimmer – a move that would deliver a significant blow to attempts to rebuild otter presence in the Pacific. California sea otters are now an endangered species, with only 3,000 specimens now living off the Golden State’s coast. The mammal was hunted to near excitation because of the dangerously active fur trade in the 1700s and 1800s. Aquarium handlers have been attempting to capture the otter since Monday (Image: AMAZING ANIMALS /Hefti Brunold•TMX) While sea otters normally tend to stay away from humans, 841 appears to lack any such qualms and repeatedly approached swimmers to steal away their surfboards. The otter was born in captivity at Santa Cruz’s Marine Wildlife Veterinary Care and Research Center and later moved to the Monterey Bay Aquarium. Handlers hid behind ponchos and masks to keep 841 from becoming accustomed to humans before releasing it in the wild but it has since repeatedly come into close contact with humans. Moss Landing Marine Laboratories ichthyologist David Herbert urged beachgoers to stay away from the otter because of the danger it poses. Herbert told KION : “Just move away from it. Definitely don’t try to engage it.” Follow our social media accounts here on  facebook.com/ExpressUSNews  and @expressusnews