colour, discovery, enchantment
Otters seem to be the most nuannaarpoqian of animals and their eye is easily caught by bright objects. Here a bunch of red berries does the trick, apparently leading to a form of horizontal meditation. Once, I remember, I went to look for him there and at first could...
happiness, moments, nuannaarpoq, sleep
… an otter? Not the obvious simile, but according to this, true. This curious fact lies alongside the revelation that when the otter decided it was time to get up, his human handler had to get up to – the animal went through an elaborate process of...
authenticity, freedom, happiness, moments, nuannaarpoq
Otters are playful and their element is water. Here Gavin Maxwell’s companion Mij, having figured out where the bathroom is, slips between his human handler’s legs and makes a dash for the source of water. By the time I had caught up with him he was up on...
enchantment, happiness, innocence, nuannaarpoq
A personage who takes delight in small things he finds on the wayside – I loved this eclectic selection of things spotted, gathered up, carefully placed and then returned to.  Even in the open countryside he retained his passion for play-things, and would carry...
happiness, imagination, moments
The capacity of otters to play and to turn anything they find into a game, is breath-taking. Here is one, having worked out the ludic possibilities inherent in the physics of ping-pong balls, setting off to entertain himself for an hour or two at a stretch.  You can...
innocence, moments, sharing
Having given birth to cubs, Tarka’s mate goes her own way. But before they part company he calls her to play one last game at the bridge and she joins him there. I liked the timelessness of the otters’ game which Williamson suggests has been played since...
enchantment, innocence, moments
One of the delights of observing birds and animals is to see them apparently at play. Williamson’s slim, taut and charming classic on otters gives many examples of them playing. Here I liked Tarka’s trying to catch and bite a rope of water twist-tumbling...
