A YOUNG otter cub has been rescued after being found alone and looking for her mum in a County Durham village.
The cub named Apollo is being cared for the RSPCA will be released back into the wild once she is old enough.
The RSPCA were called to rescue the cub after a member of the public spotted her in Witton Gilbert, near Durham.
The cute creature was following people as though she was looking for her mum.
The RSPCA was contacted and inspector Shane Lynn was sent to the scene.
He managed to safely capture the youngster and took her to a nearby vets.
The otter was found to weigh 1kg and was in good health but needed some fluids. The vet said she was far too young to be away from her mum and would not survive in the wild without her.
She was found on Sunday, February 13 and has now been transferred to the RSPCA’s Stapeley Grange Wildlife Centre, near Nantwich, in Cheshire, where rescuers named her Apollo.
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Next week she will be paired with another orphaned otter to help the pair rehabilitate together until they are ready to be returned to the wild, but this will take around 12 months.
Shane said: “I have no idea why the otter was alone and wonder if his mother has been killed perhaps in a road accident.
“I am grateful to the member of the public for reporting this to us when he did as she probably wouldn’t have survived much longer on her own.
“Apollo seems to be quite lively now in our care and will probably stay with us for about a year until she is ready to be released back into the wild.”
“Rescuing and rehabilitating animals like this is such an important part of what we do as a charity.”
Read more: Christmas miracle for otter rescued by member of public
Lee Stewart, manager at Stapeley Grange, said: “Otters have struggled over the years and they are certainly making a comeback in the wild, hence why we are seeing more arriving at the centre.
“They weren’t safe from being hunted until 1978, at which point numbers were low, but over time their numbers have steadily started to rise and they can now be found in most counties in England and Wales. As a result we are seeing more being brought into Stapeley Grange.
“Otter rehabilitation is very specialised and you need to have suitable facilities to care for them.
"Sadly, there are very few facilities in the UK that can care for otters cubs through to release so we are always having to make a plan to accommodate them. Young otter cubs can be with us for up to 12 months before they can be returned to the wild so their care is not only time consuming but very expensive. It can cost up to £4,000 to return a pair of orphaned cubs back to the wild. ”
If a member of the public sees a wild animal in need of help, they can call the RSPCA’s emergency line on 0300 1234 999.
To support the ongoing work of Stapeley Grange Wildlife Centre during this difficult time you can donate to their Justgiving site by clicking here.
To help the RSPCA continue rescuing, rehabilitating and rehoming animals in desperate need of care please visit our website or call our donation line on 0300 123 8181.
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