'Near death' otter pup Cally in recovery after being found near Taynuilt Published duration 15 January 2013

image caption Staff at the Scottish SPCA centre have named the pup Cally

A baby otter which was found close to death in a car park in Argyll on New Year's Day faces a year in captivity before being released into the wild.

The seven-week-old female was found lying motionless, suffering from hypothermia, by a couple in a Forestry Commission car park in Taynuilt.

They took her home and kept her warm until the Scottish SPCA arrived.

The pup, nicknamed Cally, is making a full recovery at the charity's National Wildlife Rescue Centre near Alloa.

Claire Shorthose, auxiliary inspector for the animal welfare charity and a practising vet, responded to the call and immediately administered warmed fluids and glucose.

'Barely alive'

"I had to stop the van to revive her during the journey, but thankfully she pulled through," Ms Shorthose said.

"She was barely alive and in a hypothermic and hypoglycaemic state."

Cally is now feeding herself and said to be growing stronger every day.

She will stay at the centre for at least a year and will then be released into the wild.

Centre manager Colin Seddon said: "Cally has made a remarkable recovery given the condition she was found in.

"It is fantastic Claire was able to bring Cally back to life and she is now doing really well, gaining in weight and strength.

"We do not know how Cally came to be found in the car park but the heavy rainfall of late may have something to do with it."

Cally is one of 10 otter cubs currently being cared for at the centre.

The charity believes the wet weather may be responsible for displacing young otters whose holts (dens) have been flooded or disturbed.

Mr Seddon added: "We hope to pair Cally up with a cub of a similar age as this will help her development.