Three abandoned otter cubs rescued in Warwickshire are thriving thanks to specialist care
Snap, Crackle and Pop are flourishing under round-the-clock support from the UK Wild Otter Trust
Three otter cubs discovered abandoned in Warwickshire are now thriving thanks to around-the-clock specialist care.
The tiny cubs were found last month by a groundskeeper at Compton Verney Art Gallery, nestled inside the trunk of a fallen tree.
At just five weeks old and without their mother, their survival in the wild was uncertain.
The gallery staff contacted the UK Wild Otter Trust, based in Devon, for help.
Within 30 minutes, a member of the Trust’s team arrived to collect the cubs and transported them to experienced volunteers for immediate care.
Named Snap, Crackle and Pop, the cubs—two females and one male—needed intensive support to survive. Eurasian otter cubs usually remain with their mothers for around a year before becoming independent.
Dave Webb, Founder and CEO of the UK Wild Otter Trust, said the cubs’ survival was initially uncertain:
“We really thought it would be unlikely for all three cubs to survive - at that age, they’re so small and vulnerable, and it was likely they’d been without their mother for some time. They hadn't opened their eyes yet, which really showed how in danger they were alone in the wild. So when they all pulled through, we were absolutely thrilled.
One of the three - Pop - is actually the smallest cub we’ve ever cared for, so it’s incredible to see her thriving now. When we collected her she weighed less than 300 grams, so you can imagine how tiny she was!”
The rescue comes during a challenging period for the Trust, which is currently relocating its North Devon facilities. The centre is dismantling and rebuilding its specialist rehabilitation site, which cares for up to 40 otter cubs at a time.
Dave said that despite the difficulties, the welfare of the cubs remains the Trust’s top priority:
“It’s certainly a tough period for us. We’re working day and night - quite literally - to set up our new centre, but the cubs in our care, and any new ones needing our help, remain our top priority. Cubs as young as Snap, Crackle and Pop require hand-feeding every couple of hours, so it’s an incredibly intensive process.”
The UK Wild Otter Trust is entirely volunteer-run and relies on donations to continue its work. The charity recently raised over £30,000 to rebuild its rehabilitation centre and otter hospital, which will expand space to accommodate up to 60 animals.
In a statement, Compton Verney said: "It's been wonderful seeing all the interest and support for these little pups, and we’re so happy to see them going from strength to strength with UK Wild Otter Trust.
"Working together with UK Wild Otter Trust, Snap, Crackle and Pop were quickly taken in to be cared for when discovered under a fallen tree here at Compton Verney.
"The trio are now doing well, despite Pop being the smallest otter the trust has ever cared for, weighing under 300g when found!
"They’re currently settling into the trust’s rehab centre where they will be looked after till they are grown and we hope to see them returned to Compton Verney again in the future."