AssetID: 53292692
Headline: RAW VIDEO: Otterly Adorable! Sea otter Pup Making A New Life In Chicago After Alaskan Rescue
Caption: Chicago's Shedd Aquarium has an incredibly cute new addition with a tragic backstory - a rescued sea otter pup from Alaska. Temporarily named EL2306, the pup is now safe and sound after journeying from Alaska's SeaLife Center (ASLC). ASLC admitted the pup to the Wildlife Response Program on October 31, from the remote coastal town of Seldovia, Alaska - where he was found stranded, screaming in distress with no mother in sight. Another adult male sea otter was also approaching him aggressively. ASLC rehabilitated the dehydrated, malnourished, and wounded sea otter providing him with the 24/7 care necessary for pups. The otter pup is the third sea otter admitted to ASLC this year. The male northern sea otter, estimated to be eight weeks old and weighing approximately 10 pounds, was welcomed to Chicago on 29 November 2023 and is currently settling in behind the scenes at their Regenstein Sea Otter Nursery. There the young otter will undergo crucial developmental stages and form bonds with the dedicated care staff and fellow otters before making his official debut in the aquarium's otter habitat. The Shedd's animal care and veterinarian teams have been providing round-the-clock care and monitoring since his arrival, ensuring a seamless transition for the otter pup. Caring for orphaned sea otter pups involves a comprehensive approach, from feeding and grooming to regular veterinary check-ups. Shedd Aquarium is among 11 institutions across North America that house non-releasable sea otters, and staff responded swiftly to ASLC's call for assistance in housing their cutest new charge. “At Shedd, we are dedicated to the care of animals here, there and everywhere; we stand ready to assist in times of need,” said Peggy Sloan, chief animal conservation officer at Shedd Aquarium. “With this newest addition to our rescued population of sea otters, we’re committed to his long-term care and continuing to create connections for Chicagoans to this important keystone species.” Sea otter pups need their mothers for the first year of their life for food, care, and to learn where to forage and how to hunt after they are weaned. Thus, orphaned northern sea otter pups are usually designated by the federal government as non-releasable when they are stranded, especially if they are found very young. “As the only permitted stranding marine mammal response facility in the state, our Wildlife Response Program has helped countless animals,” said Jane Belovarac, wildlife response curator at ASLC. “We are thankful to partners like Shedd Aquarium that can support this effort for otters that need a relocation and cannot survive in the wild, and we’re excited to continue to follow his journey at his new home.”
Keywords: otter,alaska,chicago,feature,video,nature,natural world,wildlife,rescue,photo
PersonInImage: