Otter cub rescued in Wiltshire village is nursed back to health

An otter cub weighing just 1.1kg was rescued from a Wiltshire village. 

The Eurasian otter cub, now called Star, was found in Broad Chalke at the start of December after concerned members of the public alerted Devon-based charity UK Wild Otter Trust.

Star was just 1.1kg when she arrived at the charity’s dedicated facility but has now gained a healthy amount of weight. 

In Norfolk just a few days later, another otter cub, now called Tinsel, was found weighing just 750g. 

UK Wild Otter Trust founder, Dave Webb said: “Both cubs are doing really well, but we’re lucky to have found them when we had. 

“It seemed as if both otters had been without their mothers for a significant amount of time - usually an indication that she’s been killed, often on the road - so without intervention, they wouldn’t have survived for much longer.”

The charity says otter cubs have a better chance of thriving once they’re re-released back into the wild if they’re paired up. Dave said: “With these two cubs being found at such similar ages - around three months old - they make a great pairing opportunity. We’ve started the process of introducing them to one another, and suspect they’ll be fully paired and in the same enclosure within a week or so. 

“This will give them the best chance of survival in the wild when they’re big and healthy enough to be released in just over a year.”