Shedd Aquarium Helps Rescue Stranded Sea Otter Pup
CHICAGO (CBS) -- An orphaned sea otter pup is making herself at home at the Shedd Aquarium, about six weeks after she was rescued from a beach in California.
Pup 719, a 10-week-old Southern sea otter, was rescued by the Monterey Bay Aquarium on Jan. 6, after she was found alone on Carmel Beach, about 120 miles south of San Francisco.
"It's surmised that she was separated from her mother at some point. They tried to find her mom, but [were] unsuccessful," said Shedd marine mammal trainer Michael Pratt.
She was brought to the Shedd Aquarium on Jan. 27, and is receiving care at the Regenstein Sea Otter Nursery while she acclimates to her new surroundings. She currently weighs about 11 pounds.
"She's eating a lot of solid foods. She's really learned to groom very well. We barely have to do any help, which is awesome, and then she also is foraging for food and learning a lot of those critical milestones," said Lana Vanagasem, manager of sea otters, penguins and dogs at the Shedd Aquarium.
Pratt has been helping Pup 719 learn the ropes.
"We literally go in there and we groom her. We take a little towel, we rub her down, and that kind of starts her grooming her own fur. We will drop food down into the bottom of the habitat, and she'll dive down and pick it up," he said.
According to the Shedd, Southern sea otters are threatened by the changing environment, which is damaging their natural habitat on the West Coast.
The Shedd has five otters, and all but one have been rescues. Pup 719 is the third sea otter to come to the Shedd through Monterey Bay's sea otter program.
