Animal lovers have witnessed incredible news this week: an orphaned baby sea otter from Alaska has been given a second chance at life thanks to an aquarium.
The calf arrived at the Shedd Aquarium, located in Chicago (USA) at the end of November, and has been receiving 24-hour care as it gets used to its new home. We tell you everything below.
The otter was found at just 8 weeks old in the remote coastal town of Seldovia, Alaska. As reported by the aquarium itself, the calf was stranded and screaming for help when several rescuers found it.
Normally, these chicks need their mothers during their first year of life to learn how to hunt and search for food. Given their vulnerable situation, the US government considers otters "non-releasable" to the wild, since they would not be able to survive.
Luckily, the Alaska SeaLife Center, which found the pup, has heard back: "With this new addition to our rescued sea otter population, we are committed to their long-term care and continue to create connections for Chicagoans with this important keystone species," says Peggy Sloan, director of animal conservation at the Shedd Aquarium.
The baby otter, whose name has not been revealed, will drink formula from a bottle and small pieces of clam every three hours until it is healthy enough to survive in its habitat.
