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Shedd Aquarium Helps Rescue Stranded Sea Otter Pup

CHICAGO (CBS) -- An orphaned sea otter pup is making herself at home at the Shedd Aquarium, about six weeks after she was rescued from a beach in California.

Pup 719, a 10-week-old Southern sea otter, was rescued by the Monterey Bay Aquarium on Jan. 6, after she was found alone on Carmel Beach, about 120 miles south of San Francisco.

"It's surmised that she was separated from her mother at some point. They tried to find her mom, but [were] unsuccessful," said Shedd marine mammal trainer Michael Pratt.

She was brought to the Shedd Aquarium on Jan. 27, and is receiving care at the Regenstein Sea Otter Nursery while she acclimates to her new surroundings. She currently weighs about 11 pounds.

"She's eating a lot of solid foods. She's really learned to groom very well. We barely have to do any help, which is awesome, and then she also is foraging for food and learning a lot of those critical milestones," said Lana Vanagasem, manager of sea otters, penguins and dogs at the Shedd Aquarium.

Sea Otter Pup 719
Rescued southern sea otter pup 719 (Enhydra lutris nereis) being fed by Shedd Aquarium trainer, Michael Pratt, behind the scenes at the Monterey Bay Aquarium. ©Monterey Bay Aquarium, photo by Tyson Rininger
Sea Otter Pup 719
Rescued southern sea otter pup 719 (Enhydra lutris nereis) being fed by Shedd Aquarium trainer, Michael Pratt, behind the scenes at the Monterey Bay Aquarium. ©Monterey Bay Aquarium, photo by Tyson Rininger
Sea Otter Pup 719
Rescued southern sea otter pup 719 (Enhydra lutris nereis) in the care of Monterey Bay Aquarium Sea Otter Program staff member, Karl Mayer, and Shedd Aquarium trainer, Michael Pratt. ©Monterey Bay Aquarium, photo by Tyson Rininger
Sea Otter Pup 719
Rescued southern sea otter pup 719 (Enhydra lutris nereis) being transported by Karl Mayer from the Monterey Bay Aquarium's Sea Otter Program as they prepare for the pup's departure to the Shedd Aquarium. ©Monterey Bay Aquarium, photo by Tyson Rininger
Sea Otter Pup 719
Southern sea otter (Enhydra lutris nereis) pup 719 being groomed behind the scenes with Sea Otter Program, Research and Conservation staff member, Karl Mayer, at the Monterey Bay Aquarium. ©Monterey Bay Aquarium, photo by Tyson Rininger
Sea Otter Pup 719
Southern sea otter (Enhydra lutris nereis) pup 719 being bottle fed by Sea Otter Program, Research and Conservation staff member, Karl Mayer, at the Monterey Bay Aquarium. ©Monterey Bay Aquarium, photo by Tyson Rininger
Sea Otter Pup 719
Southern sea otter (Enhydra lutris nereis) pup 719 behind the scenes with Sea Otter Program, Research and Conservation staff member, Karl Mayer, at the Monterey Bay Aquarium. ©Monterey Bay Aquarium, photo by Tyson Rininger
Sea Otter Pup 719
Southern sea otter (Enhydra lutris nereis) pup 719 behind the scenes with Sea Otter Program, Research and Conservation staff member, Dana Cori, at the Monterey Bay Aquarium. ©Monterey Bay Aquarium, photo by Tyson Rininger
Sea Otter Pup 719
Southern sea otter (Enhydra lutris nereis) pup 719 behind the scenes with Sea Otter Program, Research and Conservation staff member, Dana Cori, at the Monterey Bay Aquarium. ©Monterey Bay Aquarium, photo by Tyson Rininger
Sea Otter Pup 719
Southern sea otter (Enhydra lutris nereis) pup 719 behind the scenes with Sea Otter Program, Research and Conservation staff member, Dana Cori, at the Monterey Bay Aquarium. ©Monterey Bay Aquarium, photo by Tyson Rininger
Sea Otter Pup 719
Southern sea otter (Enhydra lutris nereis) pup 719 being groomed behind the scenes with Sea Otter Program, Research and Conservation staff member, Dana Cori, at the Monterey Bay Aquarium ©Monterey Bay Aquarium, photo by Tyson Rininger
Sea Otter Pup 719
Southern sea otter (Enhydra lutris nereis) pup 719 behind the scenes with Sea Otter Program, Research and Conservation staff member, Karl Mayer, at the Monterey Bay Aquarium. ©Monterey Bay Aquarium, photo by Tyson Rininger
Sea Otter Pup 719
Southern sea otter (Enhydra lutris nereis) pup 719 behind the scenes with Sea Otter Program, Research and Conservation staff member, Karl Mayer, at the Monterey Bay Aquarium. ©Monterey Bay Aquarium, photo by Tyson Rininger
Sea Otter Pup 719
Southern sea otter (Enhydra lutris nereis) pup 719 behind the scenes with Sea Otter Program, Research and Conservation staff member, Karl Mayer, at the Monterey Bay Aquarium. ©Monterey Bay Aquarium, photo by Tyson Rininger
Sea Otter Pup 719
Pup 719 is one of two Southern sea otters currently at Shedd. She joins Luna, who was also rescued in a joint effort between the Monterey Bay and Shedd in 2014. ©Shedd Aquarium/Brenna Hernandez
Sea Otter Pup 719
Pup 719 was found by a beachgoer on Carmel Beach, who alerted authorities. Sea otter rescue experts at the Monterey Bay Aquarium attempted to locate her mother, but were unsuccessful. They spent the next several weeks tending to the otter in the Intensive Care Unit. ©Shedd Aquarium/Brenna Hernandez
Sea Otter Pup 719
Pup 719 explores her new habitat behind-the-scenes at Shedd Aquarium. Stranded otters like the pup face tough challenges in the wild. ©Shedd Aquarium/Brenna Hernandez
Sea Otter Pup 719
Shedd Aquarium Assistant Supervisor of Penguins and Sea Otters, Christy Sterling, helps Pup 719 dry off after swimming in the waters of the Regenstein Sea Otter Nursery. ©Shedd Aquarium/Brenna Hernandez
Sea Otter Pup 719
Pup 719 lays near a colorful piece of tough felt, meant to mimic kelp found in the wild. ©Shedd Aquarium/Brenna Hernandez
Sea Otter Pup 719
The pup's current diet consists of solid pieces of clam and fish. Shedd's animal care team has already observed her using her paws to feed on her own, an important milestone. ©Shedd Aquarium/Brenna Hernandez
Sea Otter Pup 719
Shedd Aquarium Staff Trainer Michael Pratt, who traveled to California to assist in Pup 719's rehabilitation, helps feed the pup. ©Shedd Aquarium/Brenna Hernandez
Sea Otter Pup 719
Like all other rescued sea otter pups that come to Shedd Aquarium, Pup 719 is currently receiving around-the-clock from Shedd Aquarium veterinarians and trainers. ©Shedd Aquarium/Brenna Hernandez
Sea Otter Pup 719
Pup 719 is already achieving important milestones, including gaining weight, foraging for food and grooming independently, since her arrival at Shedd Aquarium on January 27. ©Shedd Aquarium/Brenna Hernandez
Sea Otter Pup 719
Pup 719, a female southern sea otter, explores her new home at Shedd Aquarium. The pup was rescued on Carmel Beach in Carmel, California, by officials at the Monterey Bay Aquarium on January 6. ©Shedd Aquarium/Brenna Hernandez

Pratt has been helping Pup 719 learn the ropes.

"We literally go in there and we groom her. We take a little towel, we rub her down, and that kind of starts her grooming her own fur. We will drop food down into the bottom of the habitat, and she'll dive down and pick it up," he said.

According to the Shedd, Southern sea otters are threatened by the changing environment, which is damaging their natural habitat on the West Coast.

The Shedd has five otters, and all but one have been rescues. Pup 719 is the third sea otter to come to the Shedd through Monterey Bay's sea otter program.

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