Abandoned sea otter pup moves to nursery at Vancouver Aquarium

An emaciated and ill sea otter pup that was found washed up on a remote beach in Washington State last month has been relocated toits new, permanent home at the Vancouver Aquarium.

The pup, named Rialto, was found Aug. 1and taken to theSeattle Aquarium, where it received round-the-clock care from staffthat included a rotating team of specialists from the Vancouverfacility.

• PHOTOS |Rescued baby sea otter coming to Vancouver Aquarium

Dr. Martin Haulena, head veterinarian at the Vancouver Aquarium,says wild sea otter pups can have low survival rates, so the oddswere stacked against Rialto.

But Haulena says the pup is now thriving and was transferredyesterday to Vancouver, where it will be introduced to the other seaotters one at a time, once it has picked up the survival skills itnever had a chance to learn from its mother.