Orphaned baby otters found in field are on the mend

Two "weak" baby otters who were rescued from a waterlogged field are now doing well, a wildlife hospital founder has revealed.

Earlier this month, a member of the public found the two vulnerable cubs on land at Stoke by Clare, in West Suffolk.

They were barely able to crawl and it was thought they had lost their mother after the river flooded, washing them away from her.

However, a fortnight later, the pair - a male and a female - have settled in well at South Essex Wildlife Hospital and are on their way to recovery.

The cubs are expected to stay at the wildlife hospital for about a year before a suitable location for their river release is identified.

Sue Schwar, who founded the wildlife hospital 36 years ago, said the furry pair had suffered with a common parasitic illness called coccidia, but were responding well to treatment under the care of vets Tom and Alda.

The cubs, who have not yet been named, have been at the hospital in Orsett, Essex, since 12 February.

When they arrived they were subdued, hypothermic and with a low body condition.

Staff said they were initially treated with gentle warming and fluid therapy to restore their hydration and they quickly perked up. Within hours, they were already taking food well.

Schwar said otters were not the easiest animals to look after.

"When we get seals in, they are fine with a bit of mackerel or herring which is easy to come by but otters eat trout which is a bit more challenging."

The hospital, which Schwar set up when she still worked as a police officer, relies on volunteers and donations to help look after the 12,000 animals that need support annually.

Schwar says the otters will be at the hospital for about a year.

"Then we will try to find a good bit of river for them to be released into," she said.

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