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Flippy Floppers & Super-sized Otters


Flippy Floppers & Super-sized Otters
Photo Information
Copyright: The dude who loves Frogs (AnimalExplorer) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1025 W: 9 N: 2205] (8320)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2006-07
Categories: Mammals
Camera: Nikon D200, NIKKOR 200-400mm 1:4G AF-S VR
Exposure: f/4
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): Mammal [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2006-07-25 18:02
Viewed: 2332
Favorites: 1 [view]
Points: 46
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Giant River Otter
(Pteronura brasiliensis)

This has to be one of my major highlights while photographing wildlife in South America. I've been down there several times trying to photograph these huge 6ft(1.8m) long super sized energized Mustelids, they are constantly on the go and very squirmish playing and eating. I finally got the opportunity this last visit, as a group of 8 chose a nice log to play and bask on. The one in this picture is a young juvenile, he was very curious about my lens so he paused for a moment checking it out, enabling me to get a shot.

HABITAT:

The giant otter is found in the lakes, slow-moving forested rivers, creeks, reservoirs, and swamps of South America. They are absent from Argentina, Chile, and Uruguay. They are highly social animals found in extended family groups of 10-20 individuals. They share roles within the group, which is structured around the dominant, breeding pair.


ENEMIES:

Giant otters are at the top of the food chain, and therefore have few natural predators. Jaguars are some of the few that have been known to hunt them. Humans are their main enemies, at one time exclusively hunting them for their fur. One pelt was worth a year's wages in South America, and so giant otters were hunted by most everybody, driving them nearly to extinction by the 1970's. Today they are very rare, with an estimated population of only 2000-5000. Factors besides the fur trade are keeping their numbers down. Ignorant fishers sometimes shoot them, as they are thought to compete with the fishing industry. Other factors include mercury poisoning caused by gold mining; habitat loss; and the disturbance of waterways by boaters.

CONSERVATION

Much is being done to protect the giant otter. In 1973, CITES classified the giant otter as endangered and banned all trade in pelts. The Philadelphia Zoo opened up the first North American exhibit of giant otters in order to increase public awareness. Finally, a sanctuary for giant otters and other native endangered species was created in 1995. It is an 81510 acre lot on the Duroche Ranch, and was created by the Nature Conservancy with Ecotropica.

Source

Paul Bratescu Copyright 2006 All rights reserved
claudine, jcoowanitwong, marhowie, red45, Scott, ramthakur, PDP, hekcik, scottevers7, sandpiper2, SkyF, Karin, liquidsunshine, aido, Hil, livios, coasties has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

Splendid picture !
Thanks for sharing and keep them comming...
Best regards,
Alex

Paul, No wonder they are such great swimmers. Look at those webbed feet. His eye seems to be daring you. Thanks and congratulations on such a nice shot.

Kathy

Hello Paul,
Well seen and composed. Perfect picture to appreciate. TFS
JC

  • Great 
  • red45 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2828 W: 75 N: 8007] (26809)
  • [2006-07-26 1:20]

Hi Paul!
Just excellent portrait of this funny animal. Look at its face - work of master :-) I like it very, very much!

  • Great 
  • Scott Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 213 W: 0 N: 298] (1398)
  • [2006-07-26 3:25]

Paul,

Great shot, he is eye balling you .. thanks for the note.


scott

Fabulously cute expression on the face of this otter, Paul.
Great image with extraordinary sharpness and clarity.
TFS.

Hello Paul,

All your photographs have something incredible and this one does not derogate from the rule. The expression of this animal has something of almost human which stue between scorn and the interest. Great catch at a good moment! Technically, this photograph is prefect on all the levels. Thanks for making us discover so much uncommon specimens and so well photographed. Claudine

  •      
  • PDP Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2964 W: 366 N: 3848] (11755)
  • [2006-07-26 7:08]

Hello Paul,

great portrait. I love the pose! Good composition and details. Very well done on this.

*I've turned off my points, I cannot recieve and I cannot give. I'm sorry for the latter*

Hi Paul,
This is a superb shot. Composition, framing, colors, detail, all are excellent. I think what really makes this shot is the pose and look from the otter. It seems to really have an attitude in that look. A unique and wonderful creature. You have captured it perfectly!
Great work my friend!
Scott

A 6ft otter, that is is super-sizing.
Great pose you captured.
Excellent exposure, great sharp details.

  • Great 
  • SkyF Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2390 W: 194 N: 1991] (8113)
  • [2006-07-26 8:00]

Hello Paul,
A wonderful pose you captured and what an expression on it's face. I think he is a little skeptical of you ;-). POV, details and sharpness are great. A wonderful composed shot.
Sky

  • Great 
  • RAP Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2524 W: 345 N: 2373] (7405)
  • [2006-07-26 8:22]

Hermosa imagen Paul.
Me recuerda a los documentales de NatGeo y Discovery sobre una mujer que lucha en medio del Amazonas por el cuidado de esta especie.
Gran composición con agradables colores y muy buena nitidez.
Excelente nota complementaria.
Gracias por compartirla con TN.

Beautiful image Paul.
I remember me to the documentary ones of NatGeo and Discovery about a woman who fights in the middle of the Amazon by the care of this species.
Great composition with pleasant colors and very good clearness.
Excellent complementary note.
Thanks for sharing with TN.

Composition: ****
Sharpness: ****
Color: ****
DOF: ****
POV: *****
Note: *****

Hi Paul,
Superb capture in every way :)
What makes this one great is the perfect POV and pose..The nose up, and eye trained downward add a big dose of personality ;)
Very well done.

  • Great 
  • Karin Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 418 W: 5 N: 268] (2089)
  • [2006-07-26 11:29]

Hi Paul,
He has huge paws! and such a majestic pose.
Very well done on composition and sharpness.
TFS

Great capture Paul,
The details are nice, clear and sharp.
Good colours, lighting and exposure. DOF is spot on and the POV is good. Pose is very amusing.
Well composed and nicely framed.
Thanks for posting, have a great week

Paul, thank you. I had no clue they can get this big. Wow! From the boat what is your favourite way to shoot, (stabilize camera I meant...)? I find it hard to protect my camera while travelling in small boats, specially in rainy seasons, that and the excitment of seing soemthing sudden made me ruin expensive equipment.

  • Great 
  • aido Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1097 W: 168 N: 1218] (4046)
  • [2006-07-26 16:01]

Hi Paul,
Excellent shot, well captured. I've photographed River Otters and know how hard they can be, I guess this guy is no different. Great detail, nice to see such detail in his feet. Great colours and exposure, perfect DOF. That lens has excellent bokeh.
Cheers,
Adrian

  • Great 
  • Hil Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 744 W: 11 N: 1405] (4829)
  • [2006-07-26 16:49]

Hi Paul

Excellent shot, Great composition, I do like his expession and his big webbed feet, great detail & colours.

Well Done Hilary

  • Great 
  • klemmg Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 302 W: 40 N: 484] (1719)
  • [2006-07-26 17:54]

Hi Paul,
Hilarious triangular pose and great compo to bring it out, excellent!
Gabi

  • Great 
  • manyee Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3069 W: 231 N: 5857] (19698)
  • [2006-07-27 3:46]

Hi Paul,
An amazing shot of this beautiful animal.
Love the pose with the head tilted back. And that eyeful !!!
The details are fantastic: the pinkish splotches, those webbed feet.
What a great close look at this rare and endangered creature.
Perfect light and DOF.
TFS. : )

  • Great 
  • livios Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2306 W: 324 N: 4306] (16856)
  • [2006-07-27 12:52]

Paul, what a great shot.

Excellent lighting and sharpness. The pose is really great too. Besides, a perfect composition and pov.

Congratulations.

  • Great 
  • hekcik Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 330 W: 15 N: 305] (1823)
  • [2006-07-27 15:57]

Hi Paul,

Woooow!!!!!
Excellent portrait and capture.
Amazing sharp, details and colors.
Perfect workshop!
Very well done! I like it... very.

TFS :-)
Norbert

Hi Paul

Magnificent shot. Love the snooty nose in the air pose, but the eye is fixed firmly on you. Maybe he wonders why you have a Pink Toed Tarantula on your face, cos I sure do! Yuk!! Sorry, but I am terrified of spiders. Now, not thinking of the spider, but thinking of nice happy things.... this guy is gorgeous. Thank you! :-)

  • Great 
  • jossim Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1676 W: 5 N: 2144] (11878)
  • [2006-08-07 21:52]

Beau portrait ce ce spécimen interessant et agréable à regarder. Bravo pour la pose et les détails.
Merci Paul.
joseph

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