On Friday, May 29, an adult male sea otter was admitted to the Vancouver Aquarium Marine Mammal Rescue Society (VAMMR) after being found in distress at Chesterman Beach near Tofino. A Fisheries Officer with Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) responded to the animal and coordinated his transfer for rehabilitation.
The sea otter was assessed to be emaciated, in poor condition, and was transported to the Rescue Centre for urgent veterinary care. Thanks to the support of Pacific Coastal Airlines, he was able to be transported quickly to receive treatment.
The otter, named Clamato, is currently receiving intensive supportive care, including medications, fluid therapy, and nutritional support. In the coming days, he will undergo a full veterinary evaluation, including bloodwork, radiographs (X-rays), and a comprehensive physical examination to help determine the cause of his condition and guide his treatment plan.
Although his condition remains serious and his prognosis is guarded, our veterinary and animal care teams are working around the clock to support his recovery and give him the best possible chance of returning to the wild.
Sea otters have extremely high energy demands and require large quantities of food each day. As part of his recovery, this patient is consuming specialized prey items such as geoducks and crabs, resulting in significant daily feeding costs in addition to ongoing veterinary care.
To support his care, please visit https://vammrs.donorsupport.
Updates on his progress can be found at https://mmrpatients.org/
Support from donors makes rescues and rehabilitation efforts like this possible.