User blog:Carlafaraguna/River Otter Pup Learns to Swim

Have you seen this video? HAVE YOU? DO YOU EVEN KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT OTTERS!?!? Well how about this for your first fact: Otters are not born knowing how to swim. Recently, one little otter's journey toward self-discovery and independence has drawn crowds to the Oregon Zoo.

Molalla, named after the Oregon river, was born nine weeks ago. He was born blind and weighed "about a handful of jellybeans", according to Becca Van Beek, the otter-keeper at the zoo.



Now Molalla, who has grown and developed "quite the personality", is being introduced to the water and to swimming by his mother, Tilly. The lessons are around two hours long, during which Tilly drags Molalla around the exhibit, into the water, and even under the water to practice deep dives. Although the training may look tough, its all necessary for Molalla to learn how to stand on his own four paws.



If you want to see Molalla's swim lessons, its best to visit the zoo between 9:30am and noon, at which time Molalla and Tilly rest for lunch and a nap.

Will the otter learn how to swim? Leave a comment and let me know how long you think it will take - winner gets a Molalla stuffed animal (jk). Yes, of course. No, never.

Source:Time