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Otter
Swimming Lessons |
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Did you know
that otters have
to be taught how
to swim?
Otter
pups aren't born
with any innate
knowledge of how
to swim or
handle
themselves in
the water. And
since otters
depend on water
to survive, Mum
has to teach her
babies how to be
as home in the
water as they
are on land.
Otters ease
their pups into
the water, then
teach them how
to float. After
floating comes
swimming, and
the pups learn
how to manoeuvre
and swim, skills
that are vital
to their
survival as
adults. Once the
pup is confident
as a swimmer,
Mum teaches them
to dive and move
underwater.
Then, they teach
each pup how to
dry off and stay
warm after a dip
in the pool.
As anyone who's
been swimming
knows, swimming
is exhausting!
So once the pups
lesson is over,
Mum carefully
carries the
little one back
to the den where
they immediately
nap and get some
much needed
rest.
Before long, the
pups are
confident
swimmers and
well on their
way to becoming
the expert
swimmers that
all otters seem
to be. And, once
the pups are
venturing out of
the den and
swimming well,
Mum will begin
the group
swimming
lessons. Its a
sight to behold
and, often,
simply too
adorable for
words. |
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