Orphaned otter learns to swim in bath tub

A three-month-old otter is being taught how to swim and socialise with other animals after he was found alone on a building site in Wales. Staff at Secret World Wildlife Rescue in Highbridge, Somerset, are rehabilitating the orphaned mammal in preparation for his release back into the wild.

The pup, named Garaint, is living at the home of Pauline Kidner, the founder of Secret World, where he has struck up a friendship with her eight-month-old black labrador puppy called Mollie. Pauline Kidner, 60, said the otter's interaction with other animals is be vital to the mammal's rehabilitation.



"Otters are highly sociable animals and I'd much rather Garaint was socialising with a puppy than humans," she said. "Fortunately, we have some older dogs who are a bit too grumpy for fun and games, so they are teaching Garaint that not all dogs are approachable for her future back in the wild.

"As a pup eight-month-old Molly is just as playful as the otter, so it's great that they can both enjoy a bit of rough and tumble together." Ms Kidner has also welcomed six-week-old otter Snuffles to her home, and hopes that she and Garaint will become playmates as the pup gets older.

Video. There are more photos here.