If she didnB次元官网网址檛 squeak and squirm, she would look just like a childB次元官网网址檚 stuffed toy, but the weeks-old sea otter was in serious condition when she was brought in to the Vancouver AquariumB次元官网网址檚 Marine Mammal Rescue Centre on Tuesday.

Rescuers say the hungry pup took well to being bottle fed with puppy and kitten formula B次元官网网址� combined with clams B次元官网网址� every two hours by staff and volunteers who are monitoring her around the clock.

B次元官网网址淚t gives them the flavour that they actually really enjoy and the nutrients within the puppy and kitten formula,B次元官网网址� rescue centre senior manager Lindsaye Akhurst said in an interview Wednesday.

B次元官网网址淪heB次元官网网址檚 done really well with it and itB次元官网网址檚 also a good transition because weB次元官网网址檒l eventually, probably within the next few weeks, weB次元官网网址檒l start offering her some solid food and it will be clams.B次元官网网址�

Akhurst said the centre was called Monday by staff with Fisheries and Oceans Canada about a sea otter pup needing help near Tofino, on the west coast of Vancouver Island.

She said Fisheries officials were able to drive the pup to the ferry to meet rescue staff who brought her back to the centre where she was stabilized.

B次元官网网址淪he was still quite active and very vocal, very hungry. WeB次元官网网址檙e not sure how long sheB次元官网网址檇 been separated from her mom,B次元官网网址� Akhurst said.

B次元官网网址淲e were able to give her some fluids and offer her a bottle. She is estimated (to be) only a few weeks old, so she still would be nursing on her own.B次元官网网址�

Akhurst said Fisheries staff are looking into how the pup, who has yet to be named, ended up on her own.

The non-profit society that runs the rescue said in a statement that people should never attempt to rescue a distressed marine mammal on their own, and any discoveries should be reported to the Fisheries Department or the centreB次元官网网址檚 rescuers.

It says sea otter pups rely on their mothers for survival because they cannot swim, hunt, or regulate their body temperature on their own, and that the staff are B次元官网网址渃autiously optimisticB次元官网网址� as the otterB次元官网网址檚 condition is stabilized.

The centreB次元官网网址檚 executive director and head veterinarian Dr. Martin Haulena said in the statement that the pup is in B次元官网网址渃ritical conditionB次元官网网址� and requires 24-hour care to ensure her survival.

Haulena said the cost of her care will be substantial.

Akhurst said itB次元官网网址檚 too soon to say if the otter will be able to be reintegrated back into the wild.

B次元官网网址淭he rehabilitation process with sea otter pups is very extensive and hands on. Right now, obviously weB次元官网网址檙e focusing on stabilizing her, getting her so sheB次元官网网址檚 starting to gain weight a little bit, and used to (being) in care,B次元官网网址� she said.

B次元官网网址淥nce weB次元官网网址檙e in that process, we will work with our partners at the Vancouver Aquarium, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, to see what her future holds, and where sheB次元官网网址檒l be placed.B次元官网网址�

She said the aquarium already has eight sea otters, all of which were rehabilitated in North America when they were very young.

She said rescuers are responding to more cases involving sea otters.

B次元官网网址淭he sea otter population within British Columbia is increasing, which is really great. There was a time when their numbers were quite low, and there was a bit of concern about them. But at this point, we probably will be seeing more and more of these cases.B次元官网网址�

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