Mingo pasted into foreground with flamingo enclosure in Colchester Zoo in background (file photo)

A wild otter cub has left officials baffled after he was found inside a flamingo habitat at a zoo in England.

The tiny cub now affectionately named Mingo was found all alone on the shoreline, weighing under 2 pounds (800 grams).

Only a few months old, the orphan surprised the staff at Colchester Zoo in Essex, when they found him ‘snoring’ peacefully.

“Mingo was found early in the morning, curled up on the bank of the main lake out in the open, fast asleep and snoring his head off,” said the zoo’s Jody Bedford, who initially found Mingo.

“We gave him a few hours to see if Mum would reappear.

“Knowing otters, it’s odd behavior to see a pup out in the open like he was. He seemed very strong and was very vocal when awake.”

Wild otters, which are usually born in groups of two to three and stay with their mums for around a year, are native to the UK and can be found along wetlands, rivers, and coastal areas.

Mingo was taken to Wildlives Rescue in Colchester who transferred him into the hands of experts at the UK Wild Otter Trust in North Devon.

Mingo (via SWNS)

“We’re still baffled as to how Mingo ended up in the flamingo habitat,” said Dave Webb, founder of the otter nonprofit. “It’s a total mystery.”

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“But what’s absolutely clear is that he wouldn’t have survived much longer on his own.

“Otter cubs this young rely entirely on their mothers, and without immediate intervention, Mingo’s chances were zero.

“Thanks to the quick response from Colchester Zoo and Wildlives Rescue, we’ve been able to give him a second chance at life, and he’ll be released back into the wild when he’s strong enough.”

The UK Wild Otter Trust has been caring for and advocating for the protection of otters since 1998.

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Their team of tireless volunteers is now working to ensure Mingo receives the round-the-clock feeding, warmth, and monitoring he needs to grow strong, before returning to the wild.

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