Just in case you feel like having your day brightened, here’s a story about an otter jumping on board a tourist boat to escape an orca.
Yes, there is footage and yes, it is a really cute otter.
The footage was posted to YouTube by T&T Creative Media, who said the clever little animal hopped onto the boat for safety as it was being chased by an orca, with only “seconds to spare”.
The dramatic escape took place in Halibut Cove, Alaska, on 26 July on board a boat owned by John Dornellas who was working with Coldwater Alaska, which provides exploratory boat trips in the area.
The otter is seen swimming for its life around the boat in search of a place to hide, with the orca following close behind.
The otter jumps on board the stern of Dornellas’ boat just minutes before the orca surfaces a few feet away.
Dornellas told T&T Creative Media that the otter and orca played “cat and mouse” with the otter jumping back into the water to get away three or four times only for the orca to chase it back on board.
Dornellas waited for the orca to give the boat some space and headed for his next pickup in Halibut Cove Lagoon with the otter on board.
Once the boat stopped again, the otter safely plunged back into the water.
You can watch the little superstar make his getaway below:
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