An animal sanctuary which rescued a pair of orphaned baby otters from north-east roadside has now launched an appeal to buy a special swimming pool.
The two pups were taken in by the New Arc sanctuary in Ellon earlier this week after their parents and sibling were found dead near an old saw mill in Alford.
Now sanctuary boss Keith Marley is appealing for public support to buy a special pool which can be used to teach the young otters to swim and hunt before they are released back into the wild.
As an added bonus, the generous person who donates the largest chunk of cash will get the chance to name the nine-week-old pups.
Mr Marley said: “It was really vital that they came in. The person who brought them in was very concerned.
“The pool needs to be able to be drained, kept clean and solid enough that we have to be able to get in and catch them if need be.”
The pair may need to spend as long as a year at New Arc before they can be released back into the wild.
The centre has set a target of at least £500 for the pool, but would welcome more as it would mean better facilities could be bought.
Mr Marley added: “If we got £50,000 we would just make a bigger and better complex.”
To donate visit www.crowdfunder.co.uk/you-really-otter-help-buy-these-guys-a-pool