Fishy looking albino otter savours his breakfast in the Scottish sun
By Jonathan Brocklebank. Last updated at 1:13 AM on 2nd September 2009
The first time she spotted him, Karen Jack didn't have enough time to fish out her camera before he slipped off into the sea. But then, very obligingly, the rare albino otter came back and stayed for lunch. Miss Jack managed to take this snap and a few others while the creature enjoyed his morning meal on the rocky coastline of Moray in north-east Scotland. She was extremely lucky - as sightings of albino otters in the wild are highly unusual. In Britain only one other live albino has been spotted in the wild in recent years and throughout the world hardly any reasonable pictures of the creatures exist. Miss Jack said: 'I have been into photography for about three years as a hobby and love photographing wildlife, landscapes and my two cats. 'But it was just an amazing and surreal view of the albino otter, and for it to sit there and eat while we watched was mind blowing.' Yesterday Grace Yoxon, of the Skye-based International Otter Survival Fund, said there were hardly any records of albino otters in the wild and they were almost never seen outside a museum. Mrs Yoxon added: 'To be able to get such wonderful photos is exceptional. 'Karen was extremely lucky to have her camera with her - I am very envious.' She said the creature, a Eurasian otter, was unlikely to be disadvantaged by its white coat now that it is an adult. 'Otters don't really have any predators,' she said. 'I would think the biggest risk may be people coming to see it.' Otters have soft, insulated underfur protected by an outer layer of longer hair which traps air, keeping them dry and warm underwater. Eurasian otters must eat 15 per cent of their bodyweight a day. In warmer waters they need to catch 3oz of fish an hour to survive. Although fish make up the majority of their diet, they are also partial to frogs and crustaceans. Some have become expert at opening shellfish. Most species live beside water, using it to hunt and travel, but they return to dry land frequently to ensure their fur does not become waterlogged. In March, IOSF took into its care an otter which latched on to two teenagers who were sledging, then followed them home. The cub was spotted in snow under a bush at Windygates, Fife, in February. He was nicknamed Dylan because one of the youngsters was playing a harmonica - an instrument synonymous with singer Bob Dylan.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1210511/Albino-otter-enjoys-fishy-breakfast-sea-view.html#ixzz0yFaWcAWJ
By Jonathan Brocklebank. Last updated at 1:13 AM on 2nd September 2009
The first time she spotted him, Karen Jack didn't have enough time to fish out her camera before he slipped off into the sea. But then, very obligingly, the rare albino otter came back and stayed for lunch. Miss Jack managed to take this snap and a few others while the creature enjoyed his morning meal on the rocky coastline of Moray in north-east Scotland. She was extremely lucky - as sightings of albino otters in the wild are highly unusual. In Britain only one other live albino has been spotted in the wild in recent years and throughout the world hardly any reasonable pictures of the creatures exist. Miss Jack said: 'I have been into photography for about three years as a hobby and love photographing wildlife, landscapes and my two cats. 'But it was just an amazing and surreal view of the albino otter, and for it to sit there and eat while we watched was mind blowing.' Yesterday Grace Yoxon, of the Skye-based International Otter Survival Fund, said there were hardly any records of albino otters in the wild and they were almost never seen outside a museum. Mrs Yoxon added: 'To be able to get such wonderful photos is exceptional. 'Karen was extremely lucky to have her camera with her - I am very envious.' She said the creature, a Eurasian otter, was unlikely to be disadvantaged by its white coat now that it is an adult. 'Otters don't really have any predators,' she said. 'I would think the biggest risk may be people coming to see it.' Otters have soft, insulated underfur protected by an outer layer of longer hair which traps air, keeping them dry and warm underwater. Eurasian otters must eat 15 per cent of their bodyweight a day. In warmer waters they need to catch 3oz of fish an hour to survive. Although fish make up the majority of their diet, they are also partial to frogs and crustaceans. Some have become expert at opening shellfish. Most species live beside water, using it to hunt and travel, but they return to dry land frequently to ensure their fur does not become waterlogged. In March, IOSF took into its care an otter which latched on to two teenagers who were sledging, then followed them home. The cub was spotted in snow under a bush at Windygates, Fife, in February. He was nicknamed Dylan because one of the youngsters was playing a harmonica - an instrument synonymous with singer Bob Dylan.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1210511/Albino-otter-enjoys-fishy-breakfast-sea-view.html#ixzz0yFaWcAWJ
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