Otter Curiosity

The family of otters were agitated. They rushed back and forth, in and out of the small pool of water they were provided, making a racket of chirping noises that almost matched the loud chatter of the crowd outside their enclosure. Then the father of the family stared back at the tourists, glaring with either curiosity or anger. I tried to look at the otter and read what he’s thinking. We look in awe at the animals in aquariums and zoos, wondering about them, but who is really the exhibit? The animals or us? We love to watch animals play and act, and we put them in enclosed areas to contain and display it, but it makes sense that animals would take pleasure in watching us as well. All in all, I think the curiosity is mutual.

“Otter Curiosity” 16x20” acrylic on canvas. © Cara Bevan 2010