An orphaned sea otter pup is receiving around-the-clock care after being rescued off northwestern Vancouver Island last week.
The pup was found by a member of the public who heard it crying out overnight July 2 near Kyuquot. An adult sea otter, believed to be the pup’s mother, was found dead nearby.
“It was really an incredible effort to get him to the Rescue Centre safely,” said Lindsaye Akhurst, manager of the Marine Mammal Rescue Centre in Vancouver.
“He wouldn’t have been able to survive much longer on his own, so we’re really grateful that we were able to get him treatment quickly.”
After the pup was found July 2, a co-ordinated effort was made to get the pup to the rescue centre. An Air Nootka seaplane flew the pup from Kyuquot Village to Vancouver International Airport’s south terminal. The pup was then taken to the Ocean Wise animal hospital.
The newborn was hypoglycemic and hypothermic but has been feeding well.
“Sea otter pups are incredibly dependent on their mothers for the first six months of their lives,” said head veterinarian Dr. Martin Haulena.
“This pup would normally learn to groom, swim and feed from its mother, so he has quite a long journey ahead of him.”
The pup has been named Joey, as a tribute to a longtime supporter of the rescue centre who helped reopen the facility this season.
Joey is receiving around-the-clock care, with staff and volunteers rotating shifts to feed, bathe and groom the newborn.
The Ocean Wise Marine Mammal Rescue Centre is a non-profit organization that works to rescue, rehabilitate and release marine mammals.
— Vancouver Sun
