Sea Koalas~

On By cindy knokeIn Conservation, MY PHOTOGRAPHS, REVERIES, Wild Life

Wild California Sea Otters,

remind me,

of floating koala bears.

Like koalas they have a laid back approach to life,

and don’t sweat the small stuff!

This pup is clearly embracing the parental philosophy.

Cheers to you from Moro Bay California’s wild sea otters~

248 thoughts on “Sea Koalas~”

  9. These little guys are cute but they were eating all of the abalone and it was not available at an upscale CA restaurant because of them. I was young and on a business trip with Gene – I kept thinking – well they have to eat and I can enjoy another fish πŸ™‚

    Reply

    1. Glad U are not too down on sea otters.

      While sea otters do eat abalone, they also eat sea urchins.  W/o otters to keep the sea urchin population from exploding, a kelp forest is in peril (along with all its residents, including abalone).

      Reply

      1. Never down on these otters – it was a big issue at a large dinner party – just surprised me as I am from Michigan and to hear CA talk… just saying as abalone was a favorite there and it no longer was available – people were disappointed…

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      2. Yes, the sea urchins eat the kelp hold fasts which destroy the forests which are vital ecosystems for so many creatures. Abalone species have been brought to the brink of extinction from over harvesting mostly by humans. When I was a kid, abalone could be easily picked out of tide pools and otter were never seen as they had been intensely over hunted. Lots of abalone, no otter. Now there are sea otters thanks to Monterey Bay Aquarium reintroducing them, and abalone are protected to try and save them from extinction. We are slow learners….. დ

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    1. Laughing….They do look a bit like him, don’t they!! He seems like he might be a bit more of a toff-y type though. He’s more fine dining, while otters are drive-through, eat-on-your-bellies kinda guys πŸ˜‰ πŸ˜‰

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  25. the very first time my sister drove me down the coast of CA and I saw these wonderful animals I was enchanted and to this day, they bring a smile..I have not been back in a long time, still that memory lives on… Good evening dear friend, big virtual hugs from Canada..

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    1. I am so glad you feel about them as I do. I have lived all my life on the California coast and otters were hunted out of the sea for most my life. They used to live in great numbers all along the coast. Monterey Bay Aquarium reintroduced them to coastal waters and I am thrilled to the core every time I see them. დ

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  28. Love these little guys! Is it just me, or do the Californian clan look more relaxed than their Scottish cousins? .. or perhaps it’s Cindy’s love and appreciation embracing them that makes the difference.
    I think it’s Cindy πŸ’• thank you for this.

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  36. They are indeed cute. Years ago, I saw one dive, pop back up after a while, break open a clam on its chest and have meal floating just like the ones you photographed. Thanks for showing them to us.

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  50. Taht is a great comparison. those otters are as cute as koala. I do love their life philosophy and we need to adapt. πŸ™‚ I love it how their pups cuddle them and lie on their parents. Just so lovely!

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  52. Cindy, I simply adore the otters. I remember taking my kids to Monterey Bay for a little vacation. We swam and kayaked alongside the aquarium, I’m not sure if that is allowed anymore. They were so friendly and felt protected there, It was only later that I learned they have a vicious bite… of course, most of us in the animal kingdom have some sort of survival instinct and when we feel threatened, seek to protect ourselves and our young. Lovely photos as always. xx

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    1. Monterey Bay is so wonderful. They are responsible for bring the otter back to coastal waters and yes, you can still kayak in the bay and the otters are there! So happy you and your children had this experience Lea დ

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  59. I like your analogy as they are “sea koalas”. Is it universal ? To me, seals are water dos πŸ™‚

    They are so adorable. I am wondering whether they are tame as they look? I think koalas are a bit more docile. I have heard on the news recently that one sneaked into a house and stayed on the family Christmas tree. That was a cute news.

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    1. Yes! I read that too. Koalas like trees, and maybe families, with an indoor Christmas Tree. How cool is that? Sea Otters are not as tame as they look. They face obstacles to survive, and they have to be smart and tough to do it. Doesn’t surprise me you know this. Stay well my friend დ

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    1. Hmmm….I would hazard a few guesses. Floating on your back requires minimal energy. They sleep as they float. They also use their stomachs as food prep areas, crushing clams and such, and their pups sleep on their tummies. They wrap kelp around themselves so they don’t float away from the group as they sleep, and sometimes hold hands, maybe for the same reasons. Maybe a biologist will chime in here and let us know…. დ

      Reply

    1. I have spent a lot of time with them and the pups. I think they are magnificent. They can move from zero to warp speed on land while seeming to sleep and look like a tub of butter. Considering their weight, this gets your attention fast! I remember seeing them from the water. The head came up and each eye looked like a dinner plate დ

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  80. I have never seen anything so adorable haha! That face, the way they float (and nap?!) and hold on to each other, are so incredibly cute. Lovely photographs as always, Cindy. Cheers.

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      1. You did. Both! Splendid!
        I still have the book, saw the movie, with Virginia McKenna and Bill Travers of “Born free” fame. I have tried to buy the movie. On-line, DVD. No dice. It would be a respite in those crazy days and bad movies and series…
        Cheers Cindy.

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        1. I was also basically in love with ‘Born Free,’ ‘Living Free,’ and ‘Forever Free,” as a kid. These books and films inspired my continuing love of, and visits to, Africa. I keep hoping to see Elsa……. დდ

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              1. I later realized, when I “came back” to Europe, that I had in fact been living “inside” the book. I would read the Jungle book. Close it, and there would be a snake in the garden. The inside of the book was my “normality”.

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                1. That’s wonderful! I remember returning from Africa to London, I photographed African Geese in St James park, and fox cubs playing with their mother and stalking magpies out my hotel window. I was confused, thinking, didn’t I just come back from Africa, this is London!! πŸ˜‰

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                  1. It can be confusing. I tend(ed) to travel a lot between Mexico, France and Colombia. And every time I came back I was so adjusted to the local… customs, it would take me a few days to adjust.
                    Now in London parks there are Australian (or Brazilian?) parakeets. If global warming has it’s way, Holland will have palm trees on its beaches, so will Brighton. 🌴

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                    2. Which as always makes it difficult for those “iunside the model” to visualize what lies ahead. Yet, History teaches us that it may help the World change.

  86. Pingback: Smorgasbord Blogger Daily – Monday 1st March 2021- #Methane Carol Taylor, #SeaOtters Cindy Knoke, #Emptynest Alethea Kehas | Smorgasbord Blog Magazine

  88. As always, Cindy your images are fabulous and the WP gremlins are still around I can’t like directly on a post…Happy Days…Have a great week and keep clicking πŸ™‚ x

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            1. Good for you. They always ask for screenshots, as if one is making the whole thing up…… Maybe if everyone said, “I have a large file of screenshots. I’ll send them all to you.” they would stop asking for them. πŸ˜‰ πŸ˜‰ Hang in there დ

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  95. Love the Koala analogy with these little guys, they are playful somewhat more than the Koala who does nothing in a hurry, but it is lovely to see them relaxing in the water. Koalas normally do not go near water at all, as they only drink water during droughts getting all their moisture from the eucalypt leaves. Otters look such cudly and fun little guys, could easily have one for a pet πŸ™‚

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    1. I didn’t know this. Koalas sound like my feral, now tame, cat Herbert. There is no water he has ever appreciated. The place I was born in, and still live in, the southern-most part of Southern California, is covered with still germinating old eucalyptus forests. Here at The Holler, Eucs are so old and big , that when they swell with water, after it finally rains, they crash down and could do damage, if anyone was here. I have always trimmed eucs on all the places I have lived for this reason. The Eucs were planted here for wood for the railroads back in the early days. They wood tended to split, didn’t work for train tracks, but the climate worked perfectly for them. I consider them personal friends.

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