A wild otter cub discovered curled up in a zoo's flamingo enclosure has been given a second chance at life after being rescued by staff and wildlife experts.
The cub, now named Mingo, was found by Jody Bedford, team leader of the Tiger Section at Colchester Zoo, early one morning. “He was curled up on the bank of the main lake out in the open, fast asleep and snoring his head off,” Bedford said. Weighing just 800 grams and thought to be only a few months old, Mingo was weak and dehydrated.
Zookeepers initially waited hours in case his mother returned, but as otter cubs are heavily reliant on their mothers, they realised Mingo had zero chance of survival without immediate intervention. Rescue teams from Wildlives Rescue were called, and founder Rosie Catford said Mingo “responded quickly to emergency care” but required specialist attention.
Mingo was transferred to the UK Wild Otter Trust (UKWOT) in Devon, where he will be cared for until he is strong enough to be released into the wild. Dave Webb, founder of UKWOT, said, “We’re still baffled as to how Mingo ended up in the flamingo habitat – it’s a total mystery. But what’s absolutely clear is that he wouldn’t have survived much longer on his own.”
Webb added that thanks to the quick response from Colchester Zoo and Wildlives Rescue, Mingo has been given a second chance at life and will be released back into the wild when he is ready.
