Two orphaned southern sea otter pups are now calling Shedd Aquarium home.
The male pups were rescued by California’s Monterey Bay Aquarium, where they were deemed non-releasable because they were not raised by their mothers or taught how to survive in their natural habitat, Shedd officials said Thursday.
One of the pups — temporarily being referred to as Pup 870 — was discovered stranded on May 18 near Stillwater Cove in Carmel Bay, where attempts to find his mother were unsuccessful. Shedd said Pup 870 is estimated to be about 9 weeks old, just one week younger than the other pup.
Pup number two – Pup 872 – was rescued two days later after being found in distress at Asilomar State Beach. The pup was found shivering, suffering from hypothermia and his coat was filled with sand.
As the pups get comfortable in their new home, they’ll start eating solid foods like shrimp and clams and learning to forage for food, groom themselves and socialize with other otters and Shedd staff.
There is no word yet on when the pups will debut in the sea otter habitat.
