Orphaned sea otter saved on California coast at just one week old

MEET Pup 681, the endangered 1-week-old otter whose life was saved by an aquarium after she was found alone on a beach.

Baby sea otter Pup 681 is receiving round-the-clock care. Picture: Brenna Hernandez/Shedd Aquarium

MEET Pup 681, the beautiful orphaned sea otter whose life was saved by an aquarium.

The newborn was rescued on the southern California coast at just a week old, weighing just a kilogram.

A month on, fluffy little pup is receiving round-the-clock care at her permanent home.

Pup 681 was discovered at the end of September on Coastways Beach, when a passerby heard her cry.

State wildlife officials determined that she was alone and transported her to Monterey Bay Aquarium, where she could be stabilised.

“On arrival at Monterey Bay Aquarium, 681 weighed 1.0kg, which is tiny for a newborn sea otter, and she had been separated from mom for at least 16 hours,” said Karl Mayer, Animal Care Coordinator for the Sea Otter Program. “This meant it was critical that we begin to get calories into her as quickly as possible.”

There are only a handful of aquariums in the United States with the facilities to care for the endangered sea otter.

The endangered newborn is learning to swim at an aquarium. Picture: Brenna Hernandez/Shedd Aquarium

She is drinking formula and some solid food, including shrimp. Picture: Brenna Hernandez/Shedd Aquarium

The water helps the baby otter to cool down. Picture: Brenna Hernandez/Shedd Aquarium

Pup 681 was heard crying by a beach walker. Picture: Brenna Hernandez/Shedd Aquarium

At five weeks old, weighing just three kilograms and measuring 57cm long, she was transferred to Shedd Aquarium, to begin learning how to be an otter.

She is now practising grooming, foraging and feeding, as well as regulating her own body temperature by getting in and out of the water.

Otters spend up to four hours a day grooming their thick, double layered coat, which keeps them warm in place of blubber.

If they do not keep it immaculate, they risk getting cold and dying of hypothermia.

The fluffy otter is also learning to dry her coat to avoid hypothermia. Picture: Brenna Hernandez/Shedd Aquarium

Sea otters have a double layer of fur in place of blubber. Picture: Brenna Hernandez/Shedd Aquarium

The aquarium is one of the just a handful equipped to teach Pup 681 essential survival skills. Picture: Brenna Hernandez/Shedd Aquarium

She still weighs just three kilograms. Picture: Brenna Hernandez/Shedd Aquarium

“Pup 681’s situation was urgent,” said Tim Binder, Vice President of Animal Collections for Shedd. “It truly takes a village to rehabilitate a young sea otter.”

The gorgeous pup is now developing fast: taking formula from a bottle, eating solid foods such as shrimp and clams and even climbing up on to towels when she gets wet.

The southern sea otter population is just 2944 and has failed to grow consistently despite decades of federal and state protection.

There are less than 3000 southern sea otters left. Picture: Brenna Hernandez/Shedd Aquarium

Pup 681 is receiving specialised care to make sure she thrives. Picture: Brenna Hernandez/Shedd Aquarium

The five-week-old is gradually gaining in confidence. Picture: Brenna Hernandez/Shedd Aquarium

The tiny, rare creature was lucky to survive after losing her mother. Picture: Brenna Hernandez/Shedd Aquarium