Another orphaned sea otter pup has been rescued off Vancouver Island, marking the second pup to be admitted to the Vancouver Aquarium Marine Mammal Rescue Society (VAMMR) in as many months.
It’s the first time that two sea otter babies have been in care at the VAMMR at the same time in the organization’s roughly 60-year history.
The first pup, named “Tofino,” was rescued on June 18 in the Tofino area, giving the animal her namesake.
The second pup, now named “Luna,” was found in the intertidal zone of Vargas Island, just off the coast of Tofino, on July 13.
The VAMMR says the pup was spotted vocalizing on a crescent-shaped beach “with no mother in sight,” and still had remnants of her umbilical cord attached.
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The orphaned otter pup is pictured before being rescued. (VAMMR)
The northern sea otter weighed about 1.58 kilograms (3.5 pounds) when she was found, and is in critical condition as of Wednesday.
She’ll need to be bottle-fed once every 1.5 hours to survive, according to VAMMR.
Both Luna and Tofino require round-the-clock care, and at this age sea otters are entirely dependent on their mothers, and cannot swim, hunt or regulate their own body temperatures.
While Tofino’s outlook is promising, vets say it’s unlikely she’ll ever return to the wild.
Luna’s future is less certain. Vets say her prognosis “remains guarded” as of Wednesday.
“Caring for a second baby otter is a significant challenge, both logistically and financially,” said Lindsaye Akhurst, senior manager at the VAMMR.
A video of Luna, courtesy of VAMMR, can be viewed below:
The VAMMR is asking for donations to help care for the two sea otter pups, saying it’s the only facility in the province that can care for the wild animals.
“We rely on the generosity of the public to help us meet the growing costs of veterinary care, medications, and specialized food required for these vulnerable animals,” said Akhurst.
Donations can be made on the Vancouver Aquarium Marine Mammal Rescue Society website.
“This rescue highlights the incredible teamwork and dedication of our staff, volunteers, and the local community,” said VAMMR executive director Dr. Martin Haulena.
“The survival of this tiny pup depends on the intensive, round-the-clock care we are providing, and we are committed to giving her the best chance at life,” he said.
Adam Chan
