Chicago's Shedd Aquarium has an incredibly cute new addition with a tragic backstory - a rescued sea otter pup from Alaska. Temporarily named EL2306, the pup is now safe and sound after journeying from Alaska's SeaLife Center (ASLC). ASLC admitted the pup to the Wildlife Response Program on 31 October 2023, from the remote coastal town of Seldovia, Alaska, where he was found stranded, screaming in distress with no mother in sight. ASLC rehabilitated the dehydrated, malnourished, and wounded sea otter providing him with the 24/7 care necessary for pups. After an arduous journey, the male northern sea otter, estimated to be eight weeks old and weighing approximately 10 pounds, was welcomed to Chicago on 29 November and is currently settling in behind the scenes at the Aquarium’s Regenstein Sea Otter Nursery. There the young otter will undergo crucial developmental stages and form bonds with the dedicated care staff and fellow otters before making his official debut in the aquarium's otter habitat. Caring for orphaned sea otter pups involves a comprehensive approach, from feeding and grooming to regular veterinary check-ups. Sea otter pups need their mothers for the first year of their life for food, care, and to learn where to forage and how to hunt after they are weaned. Thus, orphaned northern sea otter pups are usually designated by the federal government as non-releasable when they are stranded, especially if they are found very young.