Giant River Otter - Manu Biosphere Reserve

Giant River Otter

When I was ten, I read An Otter's Story by Emil Liers.  The story follows an otter through his adventures in the streams and lakes of Michigan. From then on, I was fascinated by otters. They are marvelously sleek, playful animals that love the water, and I always thought it would be good to come back as one in my next life. Given that their habitats are under threat almost everywhere, I might have to reconsider. In the meantime, I take every chance I get to see them.

One of the attractions, amongst many, at the Manu Wildlife Center in the Manu Biosphere Reserve in the Amazonian basin of Peru, is the chance to see otters.  The Madre de Dios river meanders through the jungle, flooding and then retreating during dry times, creating oxbow lakes. These fertile bodies of water are home to Giant River Otters. 


We birded through the rain forest to a small dock on the edge of a quiet lake; the boatmen poled us from one end to the other.

Wattled Jacana (note the feet)

Hoatzin

 It was hot, humid, and the insect repellent slid off with the sweat, but there were plenty of birds.  

Finally, our sharp-eyed boatmen spotted the head of an otter cruising through the still water. A young male.  

It's always difficult not to whoop with excitement - but that isn't allowed - no loud noises, so I just snapped as many pictures as possible.  With long sinuous bodies and webbed feet, they dive and undulate through the water effortlessly. He seemed curious and after diving would sometimes come up and make sure we were still where he thought we were. 


He didn't get out of the water, so all we saw was his head and his back.  Otter lovers take what they can get in the wild.

Eyeing us with impressive canines displayed

Cool!