Orphaned sea otter pup getting 24-hour care at marine mammal centre

A Vancouver, B.C.marine mammal rescue centre in Vancouver is providing around-the-clock care for a weeks-old otter pup found orphaned and in critical condition outside Tofino, B.C., on Tuesday.

"She was very hungry when she came in and a little bit dehydrated," saidVancouver Aquarium Marine Mammal Rescue Society Senior Manager Lindsaye Akhurst.

The society says a member of the public found the otter, which cannot swim, hunt or regulate its body temperature independently.

"She still has that baby coat on her so she isn't able to dive down into the water yet. She just floats along like a little cork,"Akhurst said.

Fisheries and Oceans Canada transferred the yet-to-be-named pup to rescue staff, who began carealmost immediately.

Akhurst says rehabilitating sea otter pupscan belabour-intensive,sothe centre has one volunteer and one staff member directly treatingthe pup.

"She's a baby. Eat, sleep, repeat for her for 24 hours a day," she said.

Rescue staff say the pup is being bottle fedevery twohours and is"readily eating" a specialized formula.

The society sayspeople should never attempt to rescue a distressed marine mammal on their own, and any discoveries should be reported toFisheries and Oceans Canadaor the rescue society.

Orphaned baby sea otter rescued near Vancouver Island

4 years ago

Duration 1:07

A 10-day-old baby sea otter was rescued near Kyuquot, Vancouver Island and flown to Vancouver where he is receiving round-the-clock care.