Tiny otter cub gets named after the ferry captain who kept him warm under his jacket

A tiny otter cub was rescued by a wildlife sanctuary after becoming separated from his mum - and was named after the ferry captain who kept him warm under his jacket.The cub, now named Rodgie, was found on the remote Isle of Yell, the second largest Shetland island, on April 9 at 11am.The hairless cub was spotted under a minivan by driver Keith Nisbet, who had to emergency stop when an otter dashed in front of him.But there was no sign of the mum and after calling Hillswick Wildlife Sanctuary, on Sheltand, he waited to see if she returned.With no sign of the mum, Keith picked up the nine-inch cub and got on a ferry to Shetland where sanctuary owners Pete Bevington, 61, and wife Jan, 73, would pick him up.The otter was screaming on the ferry journey but kindhearted skipper Rodgie kept the cub warm under his coat for the entire trip - and the cub has been named after him.By 2pm the cub was in the couple's care at their house in Hillswick, where he is sleeping in a cardboard box on top of a hot water bottle and being fed round the clock.But he is now doing well and mostly snoozing.Dad-of-two Pete said: "When we first got him he weighed 350 grams, now he's up to 500 grams."We've been feeding him Lactole, which you usually give to puppies or kittens, but he's eating well and putting on weight, so it's a good sign. "His appearance has already changed from no fur to grey fur, to brown fur. "He seems to be getting livelier each day."When you have an otter this young it's very difficult to look after, as without the mother there they stress very easily as they are sensitive creatures.  "We were very nervous of its chances of surviving. "An otter cub usually stays with it's mum for about a year."We've been feeding it round the clock, five or six feeds a day, and getting up at night to check on him."The mother would have had the cub in her mouth, and got a fright when the bus braked so hard. "She must have dropped him in a panic. "I advised Keith to wait as long as possible for the mother to return."After about 40 minutes there was no sign, and it was that cold that I worried the cub may die, so I advised him to send the otter over to us on the ferry.

"The couple have run the sanctuary since 1987, and Keith has been checking in on the tiny critter, who is now approaching a month old.It had been hoped the baby otter could be named Keith, but that was rejected.Pete hopes to release Rodgie back into the wild next spring, as he fears it would be too dangerous this winter. Pete said: "Keith has been contacting us regularly to see how he's been doing."We thought he would name him after himself, but he said Keith did not suit an otter."So he chose Rodgie, after the ferry captain. "Every time I peer into the box I'm nervous he may have died, but he is always just snoozing away. "He seems pretty chill and laid back, which is good. "We're hoping to release him back into the wild next spring, as the lack of

A tiny otter cub was rescued by a wildlife sanctuary after becoming separated from his mum - and was named after the ferry captain who kept him warm under his jacket.The cub, now named Rodgie, was found on the remote Isle of Yell, the second largest Shetland island, on April 9 at 11am.The hairless cub was spotted under a minivan by driver Keith Nisbet, who had to emergency stop when an otter dashed in front of him.But there was no sign of the mum and after calling Hillswick Wildlife Sanctuary, on Sheltand, he waited to see if she returned.With no sign of the mum, Keith picked up the nine-inch cub and got on a ferry to Shetland where sanctuary owners Pete Bevington, 61, and wife Jan, 73, would pick him up.The otter was screaming on the ferry journey but kindhearted skipper Rodgie kept the cub warm under his coat for the entire trip - and the cub has been named after him.By 2pm the cub was in the couple's care at their house in Hillswick, where he is sleeping in a cardboard box on top of a hot water bottle and being fed round the clock.But he is now doing well and mostly snoozing.Dad-of-two Pete said: "When we first got him he weighed 350 grams, now he's up to 500 grams."We've been feeding him Lactole, which you usually give to puppies or kittens, but he's eating well and putting on weight, so it's a good sign.

"His appearance has already changed from no fur to grey fur, to brown fur.

"He seems to be getting livelier each day."When you have an otter this young it's very difficult to look after, as without the mother there they stress very easily as they are sensitive creatures.

"We were very nervous of its chances of surviving.

"An otter cub usually stays with it's mum for about a year."We've been feeding it round the clock, five or six feeds a day, and getting up at night to check on him."The mother would have had the cub in her mouth, and got a fright when the bus braked so hard.

"She must have dropped him in a panic.

"I advised Keith to wait as long as possible for the mother to return."After about 40 minutes there was no sign, and it was that cold that I worried the cub may die, so I advised him to send the otter over to us on the ferry.

"The couple have run the sanctuary since 1987, and Keith has been checking in on the tiny critter, who is now approaching a month old.It had been hoped the baby otter could be named Keith, but that was rejected.Pete hopes to release Rodgie back into the wild next spring, as he fears it would be too dangerous this winter.

Pete said: "Keith has been contacting us regularly to see how he's been doing."We thought he would name him after himself, but he said Keith did not suit an otter."So he chose Rodgie, after the ferry captain.

"Every time I peer into the box I'm nervous he may have died, but he is always just snoozing away.

"He seems pretty chill and laid back, which is good.

"We're hoping to release him back into the wild next spring, as the lack of