This is the cute otter which went over the water to Skye.
The cub has been transferred from the mainland to the island by ferry after being discovered hiding in a garden in Glenelg.
The cute cub’s mother had been killed on the road and finder Lizzie Sanders and husband Nick quickly got on the phone to the International Otter Survival Fund (IOSF) for help in ensuring its safety.
The otter was transferred in the traditional manner on the Skye Ferry Company’s boat Glenachullish which runs the route between Glenelg and Kylerhea.
The IOSF have a specialist otter hospital on Skye where the cub is now being cared for.
The cub will be kept in Broadford until it is about a year old when it shoild be released back into the wild.
The ferry crosses to the mainland following the old drove roads and they are well used to seeing a variety of wildlife on the crossing. But even they wanted to take a peek at their unusual passenger.
Grace Yoxon of IOSF said “The cub is about 10-12 weeks old and is eating fish.
“Once he has been through a period of quarantine he will be introduced to Ganga, another cub of the same age which is now outside in a nursery pen.”
The otter welfare experts said it is important that human contact with the cub is kept to a minimum as the animals cannot be released back into the wild where they belong if they become tame.
All 13 species of otter in the world are classed as endangered as their natural habitat is being destroyed and fish stocks being depleted.
They are also exploited for commercial gain as their fur is highly sought after in some parts of the world.
The IOSF is one of the world’s leading otter charities, and was inspired by observing the creatures in their natural habitat.
The charity was set up to protect and help the 13 species of otter worldwide through a combination of compassion and science.
