Sept 2007
Otterly Fantastic!
Secret World is delighted that last years famous trio of Otter Cubs, Splish, Splash & Splosh, are to be featured on prime time TV.

Over three consecutive nights, starting on Monday 24th September, The One Show, on BBC1 will be following their story from their hand rearing right though to their release, so don't miss it!

But Splish, Splash and Splosh are not the only Otters that Secret World have rescued. Charity Founder Pauline Kidner explains more....

March 2007
A young otter cub was found in March in Radnorshire, tired, hungry and crying by a member of the Radnorshire Wildlife Trust. The cub must have been separated from his mother for quite some time as he was very thin and exhausted. This little otter was to arrive at Secret World when the cubby hole in Pauline’s kitchen was already home to four small badger cubs.

Kept in a separate pen in the kitchen, the little cub continued to refuse feeds and cried continually for company and there were real concerns that after two days, he would die unless he had some incentive to live. Pauline decided that with the unlikelihood of another otter orphan arriving in time, that the best thing to do, would be to put the otter cub in with the badger cubs. The little cub sprawled across the badger cubs using them for a mattress and went sound asleep. When the next feeding time came around, all the badger cubs came out wanting their bottles followed very closely by the otter cub who realising the excitement was about food quickly latched on to a bottle and took his first feed.

We are aware that mixing of badger and otter cubs is not the best way of rearing them but as far as we are concerned, it saved his life. After a gentle play with the other cubs, the otter cub was soon asleep again only this time with a well rounded tummy! There could be no better name for the otter cub than Brock!

The routine was set as all cubs came out to play, then feeding time before back into the cubby hole for another nap. Once solids foods were introduced, the badger cubs had their food inside the cubbyhole and the otter cub has his fish out in the kitchen ( only because the badgers would pinch his food! )

Daily swimming lessons in the bath meant that soon Brock was proficient in swimming as well as playing and it was time for him to be moved to be with another otter cub for company as he was now a healthy, happy otter. Because we did not get another otter cub in to keep him company, Brock went down to the Otter and Owl Sanctuary in Southampton to finish his rehabilitation period as he would not be released until next year.

June 2007
Another otter cub was to arrive at Secret World. This one was rescued by the Devon Wildlife Rescue Service run by Diana Lewis. He had been found on the side of the road and we thought he may have become separated from his mother during the heavy rainfall and storms that we had been experiencing. Torrent, as we called him was very quiet and lived in the kitchen with Pauline although he was about 4 months old and already eating fish. He was completely wild and just kept to an area behind the chair, only coming out for food or moving around when everyone had gone to bed. He was very quiet and there were concerns that he may have been hit by a car and was suffering from concussion.

As time went on, Torrent began to play with cones and toys left on the floor for him, but when put in the bath, showed a complete dislike of water – which as a 5 month old cub he should be starting to play in the dog’s water bowl at the very least! He seemed unable to swim upright, flipping over on his back and having to paddle to stay upright. Torrent was checked by the vet and xrayed but no injury was found.

We moved him out into a casualty pen where he ignored the tray of water. But two weeks later we tried him again in the bath and he was able to swim under water but certainly did not tumble and twist and play like our other cubs had.

It was decided to move him to our large enclosure which has an 8 metre pool and we are able to monitor him with cameras. We are very pleased to say that he is now completely nocturnal and we can see him with infra red cameras playing in the pool and behaving just as an otter should. We hope that maybe another otter will come into rehab which will give him company. At the moment he is happy not to have to fight for his 6 troutlings and mince meat every day and we are so pleased that all seems well.

To find out how you can help the work that Secret World performs, click here

To donate online, please click here

Secret World Wildlife Rescue, New Road, East Huntspill, Highbridge, Somerset TA9 3PZ, UK
Tel. : (44) (01278) 783250, Fax : (44) (01278) 793109

Secret World Wildlife Rescue. A company limited by guarantee, registered in England and Wales.
Company Number: 4672215 Charity Number: 1097119
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Website by Dae Sasitorn, lastrefuge.co.uk
and Secret World Wildlife Rescue