'He wouldn’t have survived much longer' – Tiny otter cub’s miracle rescue and new life in Devon

A wild otter cub discovered snoring peacefully inside the flamingo enclosure at Colchester Zoo is now recovering at a specialist rehabilitation centre in North Devon.

The young cub, affectionately named Mingo, was found alone and severely underweight, weighing just 800 grams, far too young to survive without his mother. 

With no sign of her nearby, staff at Colchester Zoological Society (CZS) contacted Wildlives Rescue in Colchester, who stepped in to help.

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Given the complex needs of otter cubs, Mingo was quickly transferred to the UK Wild Otter Trust in Devon, which runs the UK’s leading facility for the care and rehabilitation of otters.

“We’re still baffled as to how Mingo ended up in the flamingo habitat - it’s a total mystery,” said Dave Webb, founder of the UK Wild Otter Trust. 

“But what’s absolutely clear is that he wouldn’t have survived much longer on his own. Otter cubs this young rely entirely on their mothers, and without immediate intervention, Mingo’s chances were zero. Thanks to the quick response from CZS and Wildlives Rescue, we’ve been able to give him a second chance at life, and he’ll be released back into the wild when he’s strong enough.”

The rescue took place early in the morning, when Jody Bedford, Team Leader of the Tiger Section at Colchester Zoo, made the surprise discovery.

“Mingo was found early in the morning, curled up on the bank of the main lake out in the open, fast asleep and snoring his head off! When he was found we gave him a few hours to see if Mum would reappear. Knowing otters, it’s odd behaviour to see a pup out in the open like he was. He seemed very strong and was very vocal when awake.”

Although Mingo initially responded well to emergency care, the rescue centre knew he needed expert support. 

Rosie Catford, founder of Wildlives Rescue, said: “Mingo arrived at the centre very dehydrated, weak and frightened. He responded quickly to emergency care, but was not the easiest of cubs to bottle-feed. Otters need specialist care, and as we've worked with the UK Wild Otter Trust on many previous occasions, a call was made to their centre. Transport was quickly arranged, and Mingo was off to Devon to receive the specialist care he needed.”

Now under the care of the UK Wild Otter Trust’s experienced volunteer team, Mingo is receiving around-the-clock feeding, warmth, and monitoring at the charity’s North Devon base. 

Once strong enough, he will be released back into the wild.

Founded in 1998, the UK Wild Otter Trust became a registered charity in 2016 and is entirely volunteer-run. 

The organisation specialises in rescuing, rehabilitating and releasing orphaned or injured Eurasian otters. 

So far this year, it has rescued 38 otters, with 19 already returned to the wild. 

The centre currently has 23 cubs undergoing rehabilitation.

To support their work, the charity is inviting the public to take part in The Great Otter Trot, a family-friendly walking challenge running throughout August to encourage people to connect with nature while raising funds.

For more information on the challenge or to follow Mingo’s journey, visit www.ukwot.org.