Late last year, Ayse Genisel and her husband moved to the scenic coastal town of Monterey, California. There, on daily walks near the shore, Ayse has become acquainted with the rich diversity of marine animals who call the region home.
Among them are sea otters, an iconic species known for their dense brown fur and playful temperaments.
But in recent days, Ayes has been getting a glimpse of their family life that only a lucky few ever will.
Getty Images/Phil Seu Photography
Earlier this month, while on a walk, Ayse spotted a mother sea otter with her young pup in tow — something she’d never seen before.
“From the moment I saw them, something inside me shifted,” Ayse told The Dodo. “Watching them brought me both peace and quiet. That pure maternal instinct — the patience, tenderness and trust — held a meaning that words can’t fully describe.”
That first sighting, however, would be only the beginning.
For the few weeks of life, until their fur grows dense enough to shield them from the chilly water, a baby sea otter is kept primarily atop their mother’s chest. And this is how Ayse found them in the days following that first encounter.
Then, on one of her walks, Ayse witnessed the baby otter reaching an important new milestone.
For what may have been his very first time, the baby was allowed to float in the water on his own while his mom groomed herself nearby.
“Watching that scene felt like witnessing a small miracle,” Ayse said. “As the mother dove for a breath, her pup floated calmly on the surface — peaceful, free and safe.”
It was hard for Ayse to look away from such a precious scene.
Ayse continues to visit the little family on her daily walks, taking note of the baby’s progress as he spends more and more time getting comfortable floating on his own.
She even captured his first attempts at paddling.
“Watching the pup grow a little more each day, noticing those tiny changes — it fills me with such joy,” Ayes said.
It may be some weeks or months yet until the little sea otter has honed the skills he’ll need to survive on his own. And Ayes hopes to keep following him on his journey from afar.
“I deeply hope that one day I’ll be able to witness the moment when the pup is fully grown and living independently,” Ayes said. “I don’t know if I will ever experience something this special again.”
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