The Oregon Coast Aquarium has announced plans to build a new wildlife sanctuary to aid sick, injured or orphaned sea animals, with a particular focus on sea otters.

The aquarium in Newport, Oregon, will develop its new Marine Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre to allow animal husbandry and veterinary staff to provide critical care to injured or stranded marine animals, as well as to animals in the aquarium’s collection that needs attention.

The facility will include indoor and outdoor enclosures, clinical facilities for veterinary diagnostics, observation and treatment. It will also double as an attraction, with visitors able to get a look at the work being undertaken in the centre.

Part of the project will be a specialised unit for sea otters. There are 13 institutions in the US that can currently legally accept sea otters – the aquarium being one of them. A need for extra space is urgent though, as all of the designated facilities are currently at capacity. Aquarium representatives say that the development will also help to plan ahead for a major event such as an oil spill, where more animals could be cared for after such an event.

"If and when the time comes for sea otter reintroduction on the Oregon coast, additional animal facilities at the aquarium can serve as areas for sea otter quarantine and holding for relocation," said Brittany Blades, assistant curator of marine mammals at the Oregon Coast Aquarium.

"In the short term, the sea otter holding area will give us the ability to provide a home for an additional rescued sea otter pup that would otherwise have nowhere else to go."

The aquarium is partnering with institutions of higher learning, wildlife organisations and local veterinarians for the project and is currently raising funds for it.