A TINY otter cub is making a remarkable recovery in Scottish SPCA care after being found close to death in a car park on New Year’s Day.
Scotland’s animal welfare charity was alerted to the seven week old female otter cub when a couple found her lying on the ground motionless in a forestry commission car park at Taynuilt, Argyll and Bute.
Claire Shorthose, an auxiliary inspector for the Scottish SPCA and a practising vet, responded to the call and immediately administered warmed fluids and glucose.
Inspector Shorthose said: “The couple who found the otter cub took her home and kept her warm until I arrived.
“She was barely alive and in a hypothermic and hypoglycaemic state. I had to stop the van to revive her during the journey but thankfully she pulled through.
“I cared for her until she was stable enough to be transported to our National Wildlife Rescue Centre near Alloa where she is continuing her recovery.”
The otter cub, now called Cally, is feeding herself and growing stronger each day.
Centre Manager Colin Seddon said: “Cally has made a remarkable recovery given the condition she was found in.
“It is fantastic Claire was able to bring Cally back to life and she is now doing really well, gaining in weight and strength.
“We do not know how Cally came to be found in the car park but the heavy rainfall of late may have something to do with it.
“Cally is one of ten otter cubs currently in our care and we think the wet weather may be responsible for displacing young otters whose holts have been flooded or disturbed.
“We hope to pair Cally up with a cub of a similar age as this will help her development. For now she’s doing fine on her own and we’ll continue to rehabilitate her for at least the next twelve months until she is mature enough to fend for herself in the wild.”
Anyone who discovers an injured or distressed animal should call the Scottish SPCA Animal Helpline on 03000 999 999.
