Sea Otter Float — Monterey Bay
30,858.75 ¥
A southern sea otter photographed floating on its back in Monterey Bay, grooming its fur — the animal’s characteristic tool-use and meticulous grooming behaviour captured in golden afternoon light.
Description
The southern sea otter population of Monterey Bay, California, is one of conservation biology’s great recovery stories — a population reduced to approximately 50 individuals in the early 20th century that now numbers over 3,000 animals. Individual otters in the bay have become habituated to kayak approach, allowing photography from very close range. This photograph was made from a sea kayak at 4m distance, capturing an adult female floating on its back while grooming its fur — the meticulous fur maintenance that maintains the insulating air layer essential for thermal regulation in cold water. The afternoon light and the calm bay surface create a portrait of extraordinary warmth and character.
