California

Shedd Aquarium Takes in Stranded Sea Otter Pup

The pup was found alone on a beach in California on Jan. 6, and staff at Monterey Bay Aquarium’s Sea Otter Program unsuccessfully located her mother through the pup's cries

A 10-week-old orphaned California sea otter pup has found a new home at Chicago's Shedd Aquarium.

Aquarium officials said Tuesday that the female pup arrived in Chicago on Jan. 27 from Monterey Bay Aquarium in California. She now weighs 11 pounds and is being cared for at Shedd's sea otter nursery.

Shedd officials said heavy storms may have been why the pup was separated from her mother. She was found alone on Carmel Beach in Carmel, California, on Jan. 6.

Staff at Monterey Bay Aquarium’s Sea Otter Program unsuccessfully located her mother through the pup's cries, aquarium officials said in a statement, and brought her to the veterinary intensive care unit for observation.

“We might be facing record numbers of southern sea otter strandings that may be associated with storms caused by El Niño," said Karl Mayer, animal care coordinator for the Monterey Bay Aquarium Sea Otter Program, in a statement. "Our role as stewards and caretakers for these animals is as critical as ever.”

Experts caring for the pup say she has started eating solid foods, foraging for food and grooming on her own.

The pup, dubbed “Pup 719” in reference to the number of otters taken into Monterey Bay Aquarium’s Sea Otter Program since 1984, is the third young sea otter that the Shedd Aquarium has taken in from the California aquarium. In 2014 the aquarium became home to Luna, who needed intensive care and rehabilitation.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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