Chicago's Shedd Aquarium unleashed an epidemic of cuteness on the Internet this week after announcing it had taken in an orphaned sea otter pup.
The otter, currently known as "Pup 681," was found on California's Coastways Beach after a passerby heard it crying on Sept. 30, said a news release.
The pup, then approximately a week old, was picked up the following morning and taken to the Monterey Bay Aquarium, where staff determined that it had been separated from its mother for at least 16 hours.
It was transported to the Chicago aquarium on Tuesday as part of a partnership with the California facility. Six to eight staff are now watching the otter at Shedd Aquarium every day, ensuring that it receives round-the-clock care, said the news release.
"It truly takes a village to rehabilitate a young sea otter. Our animal care team is teaching the pup how to be an otter," Tim Binder, Shedd's vice-president of animal collections, said in a statement.
And she's reaching "new milestones every day," such as drinking formula out of a bottle and eating foods such as clams and shrimp.
The aquarium uploaded a video to YouTube Tuesday of "Pup 681's" arrival. And wow, is it ever adorable.
We've picked out a few highlights below.
Shedd Aquarium also released a few photos, which will do nothing to ease Internet users' squeals.
Orphaned baby otter
Follow Us On Twitter