Today is World Otter Day, and the perfect way to celebrate is with this video sent in by reader Ed C. which reveals a startling fact: otters aren’t born swimmers. Their mothers have to patiently take them to swim school by dragging them around the water until the babies get the idea — which they rapidly do. Here’s Molalla, a baby otter at the Oregon Zoo, getting a lesson from mother Tilly.

Here’s more of this video with less talking and more ottering. Continue reading →

Otters and more otters, plus mayor goat, comforting cat, and the strangest parrot on Earth.

This must have been one of Wagner's lesser-known operas.

Valkyrie gives birth to four river otter pups!

Woodland Park Zoo, via Andrew Y.

He's... he's right behind me, isn't he?

Illustrator Imagines World Where Animals Live As Giants

Bored Panda, via Andrew Y.

Ya might say I grew into the job.

Kitten Who Can’t Grow Comforts Other Cats with Special Needs

Love Meow, via Andrew Y.

Meet the kakapo.

New Zealand aims to save the ‘strangest parrot on Earth’

SF Gate, via NTMTOM

Political scapegoat

The goat mayor of this Vermont town is a sensation

Boston Globe, via Elizabeth G.

And finally: We’re Not Outta Otters

As if Valkyrie and her four pups weren’t enough, the Georgia Aquarium welcomes Gibson and Mara, two otter pups rescued from the California coast earlier this year. More details at AJC. (via Murray C. and Andrew Y.)

📣This is not a drill📣 Not one, but TWO rescued #seaotter pups have arrived at Georgia Aquarium! Meet Gibson and Mara, the floofiest pups you've ever laid eyes on 😍 Get the scoop: https://t.co/B9QfZ7uANz pic.twitter.com/4Fr1zzykob

— Georgia Aquarium (@GeorgiaAquarium) March 27, 2019