Orphaned otter sent to new home 

Bend, Ore. (KTVZ) — A young otter rehabilitated by Think Wild has moved to its forever home.

Earlier this year, KTVZ reported on two otter pups found in poor condition last year. Unfortunately, one of them passed away despite round the clock care. After its sibling passed away, the other otter began to exhibit negative behavioral changes and took a turn for the worse.

Otters need other otters, especially when they're young. Not only do they learn how to be wild from each other, but without companionship, they suffer.

Think Wild quickly partnered with the Kansas City Zoo and Aquarium. The zoo has a population of otters and an opnening

"This is a great outcome for this particular otter because it is a young of the year pup, so it doesn't really know what being wild is." says Pauline Hice, Think Wild Director of Wildlife Rehabilitation. "So being kept in a captive environment for the remaining period of their life is actually a good quality of life for this otter."

After the otter passes quarantine, the zoo will gradually introduce him to his new "romp". That's what you call a group of otters on land. At sea, they're called a "raft" of otters, as they often hold hands, and float in large groups.

The Kansas City Zoo has a successful otter breeding program, so this otter may go on to live a full life with a family of its own.

This entire process has reaffirmed the need to fund and finish Think Wild's aquatic mammal enclosure, as it often takes on cases like this.