Rescued Sea Otter Pup Makes Exhibit Debut at Shedd Aquarium

Shedd Aquarium has officially introduced the newest rescued pup to the sea otter exhibit in the Abbott Oceanarium. After acclimating behind the scenes, the public debut marks another achievement for the pup. In the new space, he quickly dove to the bottom of the 16-foot-deep habitat as he foraged for food and explored the space.

“It’s a rewarding moment for the team of caretakers and veterinarians who have been supporting the pup since his arrival to see him adapt to another space and tackle more milestones,” said Lana Gonzalez, manager of penguins and otters at Shedd Aquarium. “Now that there’s another opportunity to connect to him, this energetic, vocal otter will continue to capture the hearts of our audiences.”

Since his arrival in late November, the rescue has grown to around 20 pounds and has fully weaned from formula to eating high-quality, sustainable fish. Eventually, the youngster will also receive crabs and clams to learn how to hammer and pry them open. He still has growing to do since adult sea otters can weigh around 72-100 pounds. Sea otters eat approximately 25% of their weight daily, so the pup's diet will slowly increase as he continues to get bigger.

The pup has been mastering important skills, such as grooming – a behavior that allows sea otters to survive in cold waters by meticulously maintaining their coat of fur. Additionally, he learned how to forage with encouragement from Shedd’s animal care team by placing treats in toys or food at the bottom of the habitat. Next, he will slowly meet the other rescued otters at Shedd for socialization. For now, this means he may not be seen with other otters on exhibit quite yet.

Guests might have a chance to see the pup as he progresses and explores his new home. Shedd will continue to provide updates on development, milestones and a name reveal as information is available. Find more information about the rescue on Shedd’s website and the aquarium’s social media accounts: Facebook, Instagram, X and TikTok.

VISUALS: Find high-resolution photos and broadcast quality video here: https://personal.filesanywhere.com/fs/v.aspx?v=8e6e6b8d59666ebe739c.
Photo Credit: ©Shedd Aquarium/Brenna Hernandez
Video Credit: ©Shedd Aquarium/Gavin Wright