Friday JohnKu – AKA -TGIF – Fri-Yay/Good News

~ John W. Howell

Today’s story is from the Associated Press.

A sea otter pup found alone in Alaska has a new home at Chicago’s Shedd Aquarium.

CHICAGO (AP) — An 8-week-old arrival from Alaska chirps loudly before devouring ice chips in the nursery at Chicago’s Shedd Aquarium.

He is Pup EL2306 — proper name to be determined — a northern sea otter who was found alone and malnourished in the remote town of Seldovia in October and taken to the Alaska SeaLife Center in Seward.

Shedd, one of only a few facilities in the United States with the resources to care for rescued otters, was contacted by the SeaLife Center, and the aquarium’s otter team made the cross-country journey with the fluffy brown marine mammal who arrived in Chicago at the end of November.

“Caring for a little otter pup is just like caring for an infant,” including round-the-clock feeding, said Lana Gonzalez, a manager of penguins and otters at Shedd. “He also needs to get groomed. Sea otters have a very dense coat — there’s anywhere from 700,000 to a million hairs per square inch, and that’s what they use to keep themselves warm. They don’t have a thick layer of blubber or fat like other marine mammals do, so taking care of that coat is very important.

An otter mother would typically teach her offspring to groom. The aquarium team acts in her place to encourage the pup’s healthy development.

On Wednesday, otter supervisor Tracy Deakins entered the pup’s enclosure with clean white towels and encouraged him to leave the water. Deakins pointed to different spots on his fur, and the pup responded by licking or rubbing it with his paws.
An eight-week-old sea otter rescued from Seldovia, Alaska, chews on ice chips in his enclosure at Shedd Aquarium Wednesday, Dec. 6, 2023, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)

An eight-week-old sea otter rescued from Seldovia, Alaska, chews on ice chips in his enclosure at Shedd Aquarium Wednesday, Dec. 6,

The pup will remain in Shedd’s Regenstein Sea Otter Nursery for a few months, building bonds with the staff, and he will eventually be introduced to the otter habitat and the five other otters at the aquarium.2023, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)

 

Part of the growth process is moving pups from formula and small bits of clam to other solid foods. Gonzalez mentions the clam is “restaurant quality” and sustainably sourced.

Rescued pups are usually designated by the federal government as non-releasable, and the Shedd experts said pups need their mothers for the first year of life.

Tracy Deakins grooms an eight-week-old sea otter rescued from Seldovia, Alaska, in his enclosure at Shedd Aquarium Wednesday, Dec. 6, 2023, in Chicago. The otter was found alone and malnourished and was taken to the Alaska SeaLife Center in Seward, Alaska, which contacted Shedd, and the Chicago aquarium was able to take the otter in. He will remain quarantined for a few months while he learns to groom and eat solid foods before being introduced to Shedd's five other sea otters. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)

Tracy Deakins grooms an eight-week-old sea otter rescued from Seldovia, Alaska, in his enclosure at Shedd Aquarium Wednesday, Dec. 6, 2023, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)
Tracy Deakins grooms an eight-week-old sea otter rescued from Seldovia, Alaska, in his enclosure at Shedd Aquarium Wednesday, Dec. 6, 2023, in Chicago. The otter was found alone and malnourished and was taken to the Alaska SeaLife Center in Seward, Alaska, which contacted Shedd, and the Chicago aquarium was able to take the otter in. He will remain quarantined for a few months while he learns to groom and eat solid foods before being introduced to Shedd's five other sea otters. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)

Tracy Deakins grooms an eight-week-old sea otter rescued from Seldovia, Alaska, in his enclosure at Shedd Aquarium Wednesday, Dec. 6, 2023, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)

“Once we bring him into our care, he won’t be released back out into the natural environment, they’re just too used to people. But the good news is that he’ll be able to be an ambassador for his species here at the aquarium, so we’re really happy about that,” said Gonzalez.

The good news here is that a life was saved, and there are people who care about wildlife welfare. Today’s JohnKu talks about wildlife rescue. I hope you have a great weekend.

Life by John W. Howell © 2023

What is the measure?

Placed on a life worth saving . . .

Only human count?

82 thoughts on “Friday JohnKu – AKA -TGIF – Fri-Yay/Good News”

  3. Thank you for this heart-warming story, John. I’ve always been fascinated by otters. They are such playful creatures. Great to hear that ‘Otto’ is being looked after so well. Like human beings, animals don’t ask to be born…and should receive as much care and respect. Have a very Happy Christmas and a healthy New Year. Cheers. xx

    Liked by 1 person

  7. I love otters. When I lived on Saltspring Island, I used to watch them play at the water’s edge. Thank goodness for the kindness of the folks at the Alaska Sealife Center. Beautiful. Inspirational. Bravo, John.

    Liked by 1 person

  9. These are the only zoos/aquariums I approve of. Rescued animals, given a second chance is such a beautiful thing. We have such a zoo in the West Island of Montreal. They serve a dual purpose – rescue of animals that would not survive on their own in the wild and a means of teaching people about the animals of the St. Lawrence Seaway.
    I am so happy for Otter-to-be-named! Thank you for sharing such a heartwarming story, John.

    Liked by 1 person

  12. I have such admiration for these rescue shelters that take in animals that need help. This little one is adorable. You’ve seen those videos with otters holding hands and floating along in the water? Melts my heart every time.

    Liked by 1 person

  19. They are so much fun to watch. They are the most popular attraction at our local zoo. If I could be an animal, I’d choose to be an otter.

    Liked by 1 person

  27. Thank you so much for the good news story, John. I needed that immensely today and you delivered. It’s touching that there are so many people devoted to helping animals. What a great feel-good story. Thanks.

    Like

  30. Absolutely wonderful post, John! So beautiful to see people who love animals at work to protect and save them in various ways. This little otter is adorable, and I’m so glad he was rescued. Thank you for sharing this most excellent feel-good story!! Fri-Yay, indeed! Love your JohnKu, too.

    Liked by 1 person

  31. OMG! He is sooo adorable. I’m so happy he didn’t have to suffer to death.
    I’m going to be brutally honest.
    There are animals I would save before saving certain humans.
    Lovely good news, John, and a piquing JohnKu (which led to my brutal honesty).
    O🦦 O🦦O🦦O🦦

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