11/07/2014 12:42 PM EST
Your daily dose of cute: A five-week old southern sea otter pup. This orphaned pup was rescued by Monterey Bay Aquarium and now calls Shedd Aquarium in Chicago home. Listed as a threatened species, southern sea otters live in the nearshore waters along the mainland coastline of California and are among the smallest of marine mammals. Check out the Ventura Fish and Wildlife Office to learn more about ongoing conservation efforts to ensure these beautiful creatures remain a part of our marine environment.
Photo courtesy of Brenna Hernandez, Shedd Aquarium.