Adolescent European otters, Loch Spelve, Isle of Mull, Scotland
© Neil Henderson/Alam
'Otter' you looking at?. World Otter Day
Playful, strong swimmers and expert hunters—meet the otters. These creatures are found on every continent except Antarctica and Australia. Their 13 species come in various shapes and sizes, from the sea otters found in coastal waters to the river otters frolicking in freshwater habitats. Seen in today's image is the Eurasian otter on the beautiful Isle of Mull off the west coast of Scotland. With webbed feet, streamlined shapes and dense fur coats, otters are built for speed and agility underwater. They can dive deep and hold their breath for several minutes.
From habitat loss and pollution to being hunted for their fur, these whiskered buddies are struggling to survive out in the wild. That's where World Otter Day, held on the last Wednesday in May, which happens to be today, comes in! It's our chance to raise awareness about the challenges otters face and what we can do to help protect our environment.
Sea otter floating in a kelp bed in Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge, United States
European river otter, Lelystad, Netherlands
Sea otter, Prince William Sound, Alaska, USA
Sea otter pup, Prince William Sound, Alaska
Baby Eurasian beavers, Finland
Alpine marmots in Hohe Tauern National Park, Austria
Sea otter mother and newborn pup, Monterey Bay, California
Sea otter mother and newborn pup in Monterey Bay, California
