Rescued Orphaned Otter Gets a New Life (PHOTOS)

After receiving a call from a Bangkok resident who had found a baby otter near the Chatuchak Weekend Market, Wildlife Friends Foundation Thailand (WFFT) immediately came to the rescue! They headed out to scoop this lil’ guy up, and later named him Oscar.

According to WFFT’s Facebook post, oriental small-clawed otters are listed as Vulnerable (VU) on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. The biggest threat to the small-clawed otter’s survival is habitat destruction. They also face the threat of poaching for the fur trade. And if that wasn’t enough, many otters are being bred for the pet trade at cruel otter “farms.”

But thanks to the kind woman who reached out to WFFT instead of taking him as a pet, Oscar will no longer live that fate. Just look at that face…who wouldn’t want the best for him?!

Oscar is only three-months-old, so he would normally be dependent on his mother’s milk 24 hours a day. The team has tried to replicate such nourishment through bottle feeding, and as you can see … he’s pretty hungry!

This is probably the first time Oscar swam in water! Look at him – he’s a natural!

For the next few months, he’ll spend his days at the WFFT Wildlife Hospital for round the clock care. When he’s old enough, he’ll get to hang out with the other otters at the center!

If you were inspired by Oscar’s story and the hard work of the WFFT, visit their website to learn more and consider making a donation!

NOTE: As an important note, do not try to help wildlife of any sort unless you are trained. Find a local wildlife rehabber/rescuer or veterinarian ASAP, or call a rescue hotline. Here are some that might help!

All Image Source: Wildlife Friends Foundation/Facebook