An otter was left for dead after being hit by a car on a road near Kinross.
Ballo was struck by the vehicle just before Christmas, with motorists heartbreakingly driving over and past the poor animal before he was discovered by a member of the public injured on the roadside.
Noticing his head was moving and he was in fact alive, Ballo was taken to Scottish SPCA's National Wildlife Rescue Centre where wildlife assistants were forced to sedate him as he was visibly distressed by the incident.
The mammal then underwent a number of x-rays as well as a physical examination to assess the extent of his injuries, which included a gash to his face and nose.
Photos taken of Ballo after being whisked from the scene of his trauma shows the animal with his nose bloodied and scarred peering helplessly up at one of the charity workers.
In another image, his face is skewed into a grimace as he is fed medication through a syringe while a piece of string, presumably used to blot his wounds, hangs from his face.
A Scottish SPCA spokesperson said: "When Ballo arrived he was much more lively than when he was found. He needed to be sedated in the car as he was understandably feisty after his ordeal and was reluctant to be caught.
"Once sedated he was taken to our vet suite where a series of x-rays were carried out and a physical examination to see what damage there might be. Amazingly, there wasn’t a single break or fracture and all of his teeth were intact.
"Ballo had a gash on his face and nose which needed treatment, but luckily he started eating well so all of his medication could be put in his food."
Ballo remained in the care of the charity for a few weeks until his face healed. He eventually gained weight and became strong and fit enough to survive in the wild.
He was released near to where he was found at the beginning of the year, which charity representatives said they were 'so pleased' about.
If anyone is concerned about an animal, please do not hesitate to contact our confidential animal helpline on 03000 999 999.
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