SEA OTTERS CUTELY HOLD HANDS WHILE SLEEPING TO PREVENT DRIFTING APART
Sea otters are arguably some of the most adorable creatures out there. Just look at their cute faces and tiny fuzzy bodies! Plus, they exhibit a certain habit that has won people over all over the world. To keep from drifting apart when they sleep, these fluffy animals have been observed hugging and gripping each other's paws. In addition to being endearing, this is a cunning survival strategy.
For sea otters, sticking together and standing their (watery) ground is essential. From hunting and feeding to giving birth, these animals spend the majority of their time in the water. They also rely on entangling themselves on kelp forests or tying their offspring up with seaweed when they are unable to grasp onto one another. Because they lack a coat of blubber to protect themselves from the cold, they are also able to stay warm.
Holding hands is just one of the many ways sea otters stay close to their group, which is known as a raft. These rafts can feature hundreds of individual otters, with some maybe grabbing a foot or holding onto a belly, or simply swimming to stay up close. Since they can consume up to 25% of their body weight each day to keep warm, this connecting strategy protects them from predators and saves energy that would otherwise be expended attempting to stay warm. In a sort of floating nursery, rafts are often gender-segregated, with all of the pups remaining with the females.
Some scientists claim that otters holding hands is a highly uncommon occurrence, even though this behaviour has been observed in both zoos and the outdoors, giving us some of the cutest animal videos ever. The majority of West Coast experts who have watched it occur in the wild have only seen it once or twice, according to Gena Bentall, director and senior scientist at Sea Otter Savvy.
The most famous images of this phenomenon can be traced to the otters who live at the Vancouver Aquarium. First, from a 2007 photo of otters Milo and Tanu video that went viral, and then again in 2011 when Milo took a break from chemotherapy by holding his pal’s hand in a tender moment
This has also inspired zoos to create special enclosures to allow visitors to hold hands with an otter. Off the coast of California, PBS recorded some footage of mother and pup otters swimming and embracing. Even if it’s uncommon, it is undeniably moving.. It is hopefully also a heartwarming glimpse of the creatures that call the ocean home, and an eye-opening reminder of what’s at stake if we don’t take care of it.