Amazing Otter Moments | BBC Earth

Summary

このビデオ脚本では、アマゾン川のオオカミカワウソリファミリーとアジアのマングローブ沼地に生息するアジアハナグマカワウソリ、さらにヨーロッパの遠隔森に住むカルパティアンイクサの赤ちゃんたちが紹介されています。彼らはそれぞれ異なる生息地で成長し、親からの保護と指導を受けながら狩猟技術を学びます。オオカミカワウソリはカイマンから家族を守るために奮闘し、アジアハナグマカワウソリは都市のシンガポールで魚を狩る生活を楽しんでいます。一方、イクサの子供たちは遊ぶことで狩猟技術を身につけ、成長していく様子が描かれています。この脚本は、動物たちの愛らしい姿と驚くべき適応力に焦点を当てています。

Takeaways

• 🐊 ディアブロとその家族はカイマンからの脅威に対処する必要があります。
• 🦦 亜成体と子供たちは泳ぎ方を学ぶ必要がありますが、水が好きではありません。
• 👶 幼いアザラシの多くは危険から守られるために家族の力が必要ですが、成長するには多くの困難があります。
• 🐾 シンガポールのコンサーベーション努力により、アザラシの密集した集団が形成されています。
• 🦅 オスプレイは家族を養うために魚を捕まえていますが、アザラシも同じ魚を狩ります。
• 🐻 クマの家族は鱒を釣り、子供たちに漁りの技術を教えます。
• 🐼 レッドパンダは中国南東部から来ており、彼らは独り暮らしを好みます。
• 🦊 ミーアキャットは愛想よく、互いに依存し、コミュニケーションをとることで生き残ります。
• 🦝 アジアの短爪アザラシは小さく、とても社交的で、非常に人格的です。
• 🐱 カルパチアン・リンクスは稀な猫の種で、子供は非常にかわいいです。
• 🍽 オオザラシは鱒の産卵場で子供たちに狩りのレッスンを教えます。

Q & A

脚本中でディア블ロとその家族が対処した脅威とは何ですか？

ディアブロとその家族は、カイマンという脅威に対処する必要がありました。彼らはカイマンと激しい戦いを繰り広げ、最終的にカイマンを倒すことに成功しましたが、その過程で2頭の子ウミガメが生き残れませんでした。

カイマンとの戦いでどのくらいの時間がかかったと記載されていますか？

カイマンとの戦いは、ほぼ1時間かかりました。

脚本で言及されているカイマンとの戦いで生き残れた子ウミガメの数は何ですか？

脚本によると、カイマンとの戦いで生き残った子ウミガメは2頭ではありませんでしたが、正確な数は明記されていません。

脚本の中でディアブロとソフィアがどうして重要な役割を果たしていると述べていますか？

ディアブロとソフィアは、アマゾンの一部におけるジャンボウミガメの生存を維持する上で重要な役割を果たしています。彼らは多くの子ウミガメを産み、家族の拡大に貢献しています。

ウミガメの子ウミガメたちはどのようにして泳ぎ方を学びますか？

子ウミガメたちは家族の指導の下で泳ぎ方を学びます。彼らは水に嫌悪感を持ちやすいため、特別な水泳レッスンを受けることが重要です。

脚本の中で紹介されているアジアの小さなオオカミネズミの特徴は何ですか？

アジアの小さなオオカミネズミは約60cmの長さで、そのうち30cmは尾の長さです。彼らは陸地と水中の半分ずつを過ごし、長い触覚を使って曖昧な川のネットワークで食物を探すことができます。

脚本で紹介されているカラスはどのような特徴を持っていますか？

脚本によれば、カラスは大きな頭脳と多面的な食習慣を持っており、都市生活に適応しています。彼らは緩やかな社会協力体であり、危険を伝えたり、食べ物を探し共有したりするために協力します。

脚本の中でオオカミネズミの子ウミガメが魚を食べる様子はどのように描写されていますか？

オオカミネズミの子ウミガメはまだ母親の乳に依存しており、彼らは魚を食べる方法を学び始めています。彼らは小さな歯を持っていますが、それらは非常に鋭いです。

脚本で言及されているカーパシアン・リンクスの特徴は何ですか？

カーパシアン・リンクスは大きな目、黒い毛先の耳、bobtailを持っており、すぐに認識できます。彼らは非常に珍しい猫の種で、子供の姿は特に魅力的です。

脚本の中で紹介されているミカンの食事タイムはどのように重要ですか？

ミカンの食事タイムは彼らにとって非常に重要で、彼らは高タンパク質の食事として貴重な栄養を摂取する機会です。また、彼らは食事を素早く食べることを学びます。

脚本の中で紹介されているアシアンショートクローオットの生活環境はどのような特徴を持っていますか？

アシアンショートクローオットはアジアのマングローブ沼地に生息しており、彼らは陸地と水中の半分ずつを過ごします。彼らは長い触覚を使って曖昧な河川ネットワークで食物を探します。

脚本の中で紹介されているレッドパンダの生活習性には何がありますか？

レッドパンダはほとんどの生活を樹上で過ごし、夜と朝に活動します。彼らは主に肉食性動物であるにもかかわらず、主に竹を食べ、たまに昆虫をとることもあります。

脚本の中で紹介されているミーアキャットの社会構造はどのようなものですか？

ミーアキャットは約20体のグループで生活し、時には50頭強になることもあります。彼らはお互いに依存し、絶えずコミュニケーションを取ります。彼らは互いに会社を必要とし、特に涼しい夜には抱き合いながら過ごすことが報告されています。

Outlines

00:00

🦦 戦いのカイマン

ディアブロと家族がカイマンの脅威に対処するために団結し、熾烈な戦いを繰り広げる。ソフィアがカイマンに立ち向かい、他の大人たちがカイマンを気を散らす中、ディアブロは再び背後から攻撃する。最終的にカイマンを圧倒するが、2匹の子オッターが戦いで命を落とす。チャーリーは家族の絆と力に感銘を受ける。

05:07

🦦 泳ぎのレッスン

オッターの家族は子供たちに泳ぎ方を教える。特にダリという名前の子オッターは水が苦手で、母親の努力にも関わらず水を避けたがる。学名が付けられる子オッターたちは、初期の危険を乗り越えなければならない。学習が終わった後、家族は暖かい巣穴に戻る。

10:14

🦦 マリーナの食事

シンガポールのオッターたちは、都市の環境で魚を捕りながら、家族での生活を楽しむ。子オッターたちは母親の教えを受け、泳ぎ方や魚の捕り方を学ぶ。一方で、都市に住むカラスたちがオッターの食べ物を盗もうとするが、最終的には母親の守護によって追い払われる。

15:16

🐼 レッサーパンダの秘密

レッサーパンダはネパール、中国、インド、ミャンマーの高地に生息し、その見た目の可愛らしさとともに非常に稀にしか目撃されない。彼らはほとんどが樹上で生活し、厚い毛皮で寒さに耐え、竹の若い葉を主食とする。彼らの美しい毛色は実は森林の中での完璧なカモフラージュである。

20:17

🦦 小さなアジアのカワウソ

アジアの小さなツメナシカワウソは非常に社交的で、家族単位で生活し、遊びながら食べ物を探す。彼らのふわふわの毛皮は水をはじき、彼らを暖かく保つ。カワウソたちは非常に知能が高く、時には石を遊び道具として使用する姿も観察されている。

25:23

🦦 カトラウト漁の授業

母親のオッターは湖のそばで子供たちにカトラウトの捕り方を教える。子供たちは母親の狩りを見守り、母親が魚を捕える技術を学ぶ。魚の捕獲と食事の仕方を学びながら、オッターの家族は成長していく。

Keywords

💡ダイアブロ

ダイアブロはビデオの中でオtterの名前であり、家族とともに脅威に対処する重要なキャラクターです。ビデオのテーマは家族の絆と生き残りを通じて、ダイアブロはその象徴的な存在です。例えば、脚本では「Diablo once again moves in from behind, and goes for the tail.」という場面で彼の勇気と戦略を示しています。

💡カイマン

カイマンはビデオ内でオtter家族と対決する強力で攻撃的な捕食者です。ビデオの冒険と危険の要素を象徴しており、オッター家族が直面する困難を表しています。脚本では「All the adults start to harass the caiman.」という文脈でカイマンとの戦いを描写しています。

💡家族の絆

家族の絆はビデオの中心的なテーマの一つで、オッター家族が協力して生き残る様子が強調されています。ビデオ全体を通じて、家族が協力して敵対者と戦い、若い子を守る様子が描かれています。例えば、「The otter family have cubs.」という文から家族の存在が示され、彼らがどうやって家族を守るかに焦点が当てています。

💡水泳

オッターの若い子たちにとって水泳は生き残るために学ばなければならない基本的なスキルです。ビデオでは彼らが水泳を学ぶ様子が詳しく紹介されており、それは彼らの成長と独立を象徴しています。「The first thing the cubs need to learn, is how to swim.」という文から彼らが水泳を学ぶ必要性とその過程が理解できます。

💡サバイバル

サバイバルはビデオの主要なテーマで、オッター家族が様々な困難に直面し、生き残る方法を模索する姿が描かれています。彼らは捕食者からの脅威に対処し、若い子たちを育て、狩りのスキルを学ばなければなりません。「Only around a third of all these giant otter cubs, will make it to adulthood.」という文から彼らが直面する困難さが伝わります。

💡赤ちゃんオtter

赤ちゃんオッターはビデオの中で非常に貴重な存在で、彼らが自然の中で成長する様子は稀な光景です。「Charlie counts six tiny cubs, a record number, making a grand total of 15 family members.」という文から彼らの数が記録的であることが分かります。彼らの成長過程は視聴者にとって魅力的です。

💡モンタナのトラウト

モンタナのトラウトはビデオ内でオッター家族が狩る重要な食物源です。彼らは鋭い鱗で覆われており、オッターが暗闇でも感知できる触覚の鋭いひげを使って狩ります。「Otters can find fish in darkness, using sensitive whiskers.」という文から彼らの狩りのスキルが示されています。

💡アジアの小型カワウソ

アジアの小型カワウソはビデオ内で紹介される最も小さなカワウソの種で、彼らは陸上と水中の両方で生活しており、非常に社交的で愛らしい生き物です。「The Asian short-clawed otter is roughly 60cm long, with around 30cm being its tail.」という文から彼らのサイズと特徴が分かります。彼らは人々に愛されるキャラクターです。

💡カーパチアン・リンクス

カーパチアン・リンクスはヨーロッパの密林に生息する最も素晴らしい猫種の一つで、彼らは非常に珍しいとされる美しい生き物です。「The Carpathian lynx, one of Europe's most magnificent cat species.」という文から彼らの希少性と美しさが伝わります。彼らは若い子を守り、狩りのスキルを教えます。

💡シングガポール

シングガポールはビデオ内でカワウソが都市環境で生活する例として紹介されています。彼らは水道の清潔化などの保護活動のおかげで、地球上で最も密集しているカワウソの群れを持っています。「Singapore now has one of the densest populations of otters on Earth, too.」という文から都市部での彼らの繁栄が理解できます。

Highlights

Diablo and the family otters confront a threat from a caiman.

Adult otters harass the caiman while cubs keep their distance.

Sophia, an otter, takes a strategic position at the front to size up the caiman.

Diablo attacks the caiman's tail while others distract it.

Caiman fights back, leading to otters escalating their assault.

Cubs panic and find themselves in the middle of the dangerous fight.

Otters overpower the caiman in a display of family unity and strength.

After an hour-long brutal fight, the caiman is defeated.

Two otter cubs do not survive the intense conflict with the caiman.

Charlie is impressed by the otters' family bonds and strength.

The otter family has a record number of six cubs, totaling 15 family members.

The cubs' first swimming lesson is crucial for their survival.

One cub, Dali, is particularly resistant to water.

Only a third of giant otter cubs survive to adulthood.

Otters demonstrate their fishing skills and teach their pups.

Otters in Singapore have adapted to urban life and become a tourist attraction.

House crows in Singapore steal food from otter cubs.

The red panda's unique features and diet are highlighted.

Meerkats' social behavior and survival tactics in the African desert.

The Asian short-clawed otter's unique play behavior and semi-aquatic lifestyle.

The Carpathian lynx kittens' growth and development.

Feeding red pandas in captivity and their preferences.

Otter mother teaches her pups hunting skills near Yellowstone cutthroat trout spawning grounds.

Osprey feeding its brood and the impact on the trout population.

Trout spawning behavior and the brief window of opportunity they have.

Transcripts

Just as they've done before,

Diablo and the family have to deal with this threat.

All the adults start to harass the caiman.

As the cubs keep their distance,

Sophia takes her position at the front,

sizing up the caiman.

Others move in to try to distract it.

Diablo once again moves in from behind

and goes for the tail.

But the caiman refuses to back down

and then begins to fight back.

The cubs panic and follow the adults

right into the middle of the fight.

They're in extreme danger now,

so the adult otters step up the assault.

The caiman tries to head for the safety of the bushes,

but it's too late.

He's outnumbered.

The otters seize the moment.

Incredibly, they overpower the caiman,

some holding it down, others biting it in the head.

After nearly an hour of brutal fighting,

it's all over.

The caiman may be dead,

but Charlie needs to know if all the otters are OK.

It doesn't take long to realise two of the cubs haven't survived the fight.

Stuck in the middle of the action like this,

the young, inexperienced cubs were no match

for such a powerful and aggressive predator.

The truce between otters and caiman

has, for a brief moment, been broken.

What impresses Charlie the most, though,

is the incredible show of family bonds and physical strength

the otters brought together to kill the caiman

and eliminate the threat of it from their lake.

The otter family have cubs.

Seeing otter cubs in the wild like this is extremely rare.

Charlie counts six tiny cubs,

a record number,

making a grand total of 15 family members.

Diablo and his mate, Sophia,

are certainly playing their part in helping

to maintain the survival of giant otters

in this part of the Amazon.

But so many cubs will be quite a handful.

The family will certainly have their work cut out keeping them out of danger.

The first thing the cubs need to learn

is how to swim.

So this family outing

is actually a swimming lesson.

Strangely, otter cubs don't actually like water,

so lessons like this one are essential.

There's one cub in particular who catches the eye,

not because he's muddier than the others,

but because he really doesn't like the water.

Despite Mum's best efforts, all he wants to do

is get back to the warmth and security of the den.

The other cubs all seem to be enduring their swimming lesson.

Some even look like they're starting to get the hang of it.

But this little cub's just not having it.

So in the end, there's nothing for it

but to just pick him up

and dunk him in the water.

As cubs, all of the otters here are given names

to help any scientist studying them.

It seems fitting to give this cub a name appropriate to Lake Salvador,

so Charlie calls him Dali.

Even with the protection of a big family,

the early months of a cub's life can be the most perilous.

Learning to swim is just the first danger to overcome.

Only around a third of all these giant otter cubs

will make it to adulthood.

At this age, the cubs tire easily,

so it's not long before their swimming lesson is over

and they're taken back to the warmth and safety of the den.

All this activity attracts Montana's trout-fishing experts.

The otter family.

Mother is taking her young pups out for a masterclass.

Otters can find fish in darkness, using sensitive whiskers.

The pups cling tight, picking up the technique.

Like Mother Bear, she's a skilled teacher

and will look after her pups until next year,

when they can make it on their own.

It's that slash of red beneath the gills that gives cutthroat trout their name.

As she dines,

her pups tuck into the nutritious orange eggs,

gobbling them up like sweets.

The smell of fresh fish is in the air.

The bears quickly pick up the scent of the otters' meal.

In shallow water like this,

it should be easy.

But trout are slippery customers.

Success!

Following Mother's lead,

Archie jumps right in.

But just like climbing trees,

it takes practice.

Mother knows this annual feast won't hang around.

At last, Archie's got the hang of it.

So has Luke.

The cubs' first trout dinner is a rare high-protein meal.

They've also learnt to gobble food down quickly.

Their feast hangs thick in the air.

The scent might attract grizzlies.

Their mother doesn't take chances

and leads them back to the canyon.

Most of the trout escape,

leaving the stream seeded with eggs.

These smooth-coated otter pups

have spent their first six weeks in the safety of the holt,

but now it's time to take to the water

And their playground? Singapore,

one of the most densely populated countries on the planet.

Thanks to conservation efforts,

such as cleaning up their waterways,

Singapore now has one of the densest populations of otters on Earth, too.

The otters have made the city their own.

And, with plenty of fish to hunt,

they've even become a tourist attraction.

The young cubs, still reliant on their mother's milk,

are just learning how to swim.

And after a successful hunting trip,

it's time to try some fish.

Now their teeth may be small,

but they're still razor-sharp.

In their natural habitat,

otters will haul out on to a riverbank to feed.

But in Singapore,

this marina works just fine.

But house crows have also moved into Singapore.

Native to India and a few other South Asian countries,

house crows have hitched a ride on ships all around the world,

appearing as far away as Ireland, South Africa

and even the USA.

With big brains and an open mind to all things gastronomic,

these avian marauders are well equipped for urban life.

They're a loose social cooperative,

working together to communicate dangers

and to find and share food.

And why catch food when you can steal it from some youngsters?

Crows seem to know instinctively

that pulling tails is a good distraction tactic.

It almost seems like a game to them.

They'll even do it when there isn't food involved.

Show a crow a tail and it seems they'll just pull it.

And it helps when you have eight other beaks joining in.

That is, until Mum's had enough.

Eventually, the cubs do get tired of the hassle,

leaving what's left of the fish to the crows.

Persistence, it seems, is another key crow quality.

But the cubs don't seem to mind.

Plenty more where that came from.

In just another six weeks,

they'll be catching fish for themselves.

But they probably have a lifetime ahead

of getting their tails pulled.

We all love cute animals.

From the furriest to the fuzziest,

with their big eyes and button noses,

many creatures have something about them

that we simply find irresistible.

Today, we're here in Cornwall at Newquay Zoo,

filming some of their most lovable residents.

I'm Hannah Stitfall,

and over the course of this series,

we will be delving into the science of cute,

taking a look at some of the world's most adorable species.

The red panda, also known as the firefox.

Native to the mountain ranges of Nepal, China, India and Myanmar,

they live deep within the high-altitude forests

and are very rarely seen.

But when they are spotted, they are simply adorable.

With their short snouts and big pointy ears,

their faces are white with reddish-brown marks that almost look like tears.

Living most of their lives in the treetops,

their soft fur is incredibly warm.

A thick undercoat covered in long, bristly guard hairs

makes the red panda well insulated,

and is perfectly at home in the cold mountain air.

And when they sleep, they use their large bushy tails to wrap around their bodies,

keeping them snug throughout the night.

You would think that their striking reddish-orange coat

would make them stand out.

But within their environment,

the fir trees are covered in a type of white

lichen and reddish-brown moss,

so their fantastic colouration

in fact makes them perfectly camouflaged.

Being a crepuscular animal,

they are mostly active at dusk and dawn.

This is when they will search for their food,

and being a member of the carnivore family,

you would think that they would hunt for prey.

But unlike other carnivores,

the red panda is mostly a vegetarian.

They will occasionally take insects,

but mostly eat bamboo,

and only the freshest leaf tips will do.

Undoubtedly, these furry little firefoxes

are up there as one of the cutest animals on the planet.

When it comes to being playful,

they don't get much more playful and inquisitive than our next species.

The meerkat.

Known for their large eyes with dark patches,

small pointy face and bushy coat,

they are super-cute.

But their lovable appearance actually helps them survive in their environment,

being specially adapted to the harsh deserts of Africa.

Their dark eye patches help reduce glare from the African sun.

So when on the lookout for predators,

these dark patches actually help the meerkat see better

and therefore stay safe.

In the group, one meerkat will always have the role as sentry.

This is when one group member will stand on their hind legs,

using their tail as a prop, and act as a lookout.

If there is any sign of danger,

the sentry will call out a warning bark.

Then the rest of the group can dash to the safety of their burrows.

Then, once the coast is clear,

they can get back to scampering in the sun.

Meerkats live in groups of around 20 individuals,

but groups can be up to 50 strong,

and they depend on each other and constantly communicate.

They also rely on each other for company

and have even been found to cuddle each other,

particularly on cool nights.

These curious creatures will entertain themselves with just about anything.

And when it comes to being a meerkat,

spending time together grooming, playing and foraging

is just all part of a day's work.

From the high mountains to the mangrove swamps of Asia,

our next creature is the smallest otter species in the world.

The Asian short-clawed otter is roughly 60cm long,

with around 30cm being its tail.

These tiny otters spend around half their time on land

and the other half in water,

where they search for their food using their long, super-sensitive whiskers

to help them navigate in the murky river networks.

A diet of crustaceans and molluscs,

as well as the occasional insect and amphibian,

keep them full of energy,

and they have bags of personality.

They are highly sociable,

living in family groups of up to 12 to 15 individuals,

and will often be seen playing with one another,

but also with rocks.

No one is completely sure why they do this behaviour,

but when they find a rock they like,

they will almost juggle with it whilst they lay on their backs,

and won't let the rock go

until they become more interested in another play opportunity.

Suggesting they are not only cute

but also very intelligent.

They have excellent fur,

consisting of a densely packed warm undercoat

with super-water-resistant long guard hairs on top.

Their thick fur layer beneath

is perfectly adapted for their semi-aquatic lifestyle.

Otters will spend a lot of time grooming themselves,

as this looks after the fur,

but also ensures that air becomes trapped,

which is why they can spend a lot of time in the water without getting cold.

All in all, these playful, furry and beloved animals

are not only adorable, but also highly skilled for their environment.

Our next animal lives worlds away from the African desert

and is found deep in the remote forests of Europe.

The Carpathian lynx,

one of Europe's most magnificent cat species.

With their large eyes, black tufted ears and bobtails,

they are instantly recognisable

and are also extremely rare to spot.

But a sight even more rare than seeing an adult

is witnessing an enchanting kitten.

The adorable babies will be born in a den,

which their mother will line with grasses, feathers and fur

to keep the kitten nice and warm.

They are first born blind and completely helpless,

relying on their mothers for milk, protection and warmth.

After around six weeks,

they will start to venture out of the den

into the big outside world.

They find everything interesting and appear to play nonstop.

But this play is very important for a young kitten,

as it is starting to learn the basics of how to stalk their prey.

Whilst they are near the den site, they have bundles of energy

and will take every opportunity to practise their hunting techniques,

even if it is on their mothers.

They will stay with their mothers until they are fully weaned.

Then, at around 10 months old,

they will leave the comfort of where they were born

and head off into the woods to find their own territory

and start their adult life.

These little balls of fluff will grow up

into being top predators in their environment.

But when it comes to being cute,

this little kitten certainly had to make the list.

So this afternoon, we've brought red pandas their afternoon meal,

which consists of three big bits of bamboo.

So, hopefully, they'll come down.

Being a captive animal,

you can pick and choose when you come to feed

because no one's going to take it off you.

But, fingers crossed, they'll come down and say hello.

You're welcome to put some bamboo out, get involved.

So, we're going to pop it just in around here.

- Where shall I put this, Dave? - Anywhere you like.

We sometimes put it in different places.

So, the reason we put the bamboo in different places is

so it's not the same place every day, so it's enriching for them.

So how old are the red pandas here?

So our two red pandas here are both eight years old.

So, a good little pair.

Because pandas will go to maybe 15 to 20 in captivity.

Yeah.

So these are fairly young in terms of pandas.

[Hannah] Oh, my goodness!

She is really enjoying that, isn't she?

Do they get on, though?

They do, they do. They tolerate each other!

They share the same environment.

In the wild, they are solitary.

So they come from south-east China.

These guys would spend a lot of time on their own,

only come together to mate.

And then Mum would take care of the youngsters,

so Dad would go on his way again.

They're quite happy to eat together,

but other than that, you'll find them in different trees.

And how often do you feed them bamboo every day?

So, yeah, bamboo is fed every day.

So in the wild, they'd eat a range of different bamboos.

Being a captive animal, you get a little bit pampered

and you start to get a bit picky.

And so, unfortunately, Jermaine here

only likes one piece… one type of bamboo,

which is the small-leaf bamboo.

And so this is why we only give him small-leaf bamboo.

A visiting male otter

woos a female on the lake's shore.

But she seems a little distracted.

Her two pups are nearby.

They are about 10 weeks old

and the time is right to lead them from the holt.

Males are not above stealing food from cubs,

so she makes it very clear

that he is not going to be joining them.

This female grew up on the lake,

so she knows where to take the cubs for a very special trip.

Yellowstone cutthroat trout are massing in the mouth of a stream that feeds the lake.

They're preparing for their annual spawning.

But the trout must wait.

The stream is still running fast,

too turbulent to lay their eggs.

It's a nervous time for them

and for good reason.

This osprey has a brood to feed

and will be back.

Now the otters are here too.

She chooses her moment to lead the pups upstream,

then leaves them to watch

and gives them a lesson in hunting.

A large trout like this, full of eggs, is a trophy catch.

She chews its tail first

to make sure the fish can't get away.

While the pups are still demanding milk.

the mother otter will often keep the whole fish for herself.

Her pups are happy enough with caviar.

As the flow becomes slow enough for the trout to lay eggs,

there is a brief window of opportunity to spawn

before the river gets too shallow to swim upstream.

The female digs a trough with sinuous flicks of her body,

and the attending male fertilises the eggs as they are laid.

Millions of new lives.