Re: Otters holding hands - CBC News

[Mondoshawn]

I think it's still cute even if its a survival instinct. They don't want to get seperated, so they need each other.

[evr1b0d1]

hi hi hi..........There nice.!.!!!!!

[wolfiegirlrox]

its tube not toob

[RakeBone]

"it hopes the internet audience learns that these animals are endangered as well as cute"

lol

[soothemyburn]

in love or not,

its still cute as hell

[MertensCW]

this should't ruin the video for anyone after all they are incredibly cute regardless.

I also find it somewhat conforting one of them is a survivor of that terrible oil spill in Alaska.

I just checked oil spills and see there have been quite a few more since then, on a yearly basis.

[askalice50]

These cute swimming teddy bears aren't here for your enjoyment. Believe it or not, a whole world exists that you've never seen.  Let them be. It won't impact your world at the mall.

[xmidnightx18]

they're saying the original video of the otters got 1.5 million, not this particular video

[phildemon2]

1.5 mill er i've got 45,735 so far...media

[Tameedluv]

actually as of today it's 8,369,211 views. They are not speaking about the video you are watching but the original post. Which is added by the same youtuber as this video was added by so check it out.

[melmav]

er...search the original posting: otters holding hands, 10 million + views

[Max5941]

How could the CBC story "ruin" it for you? Did you actually think that the otters were holding hands because they were in love? did you think that Otters are capable of love? What fantasy land do you people inhabit?

[missbeena]

There's more than one video of it. The original one from cynthiaholmes now has over 10 million views.

[milo26782]

just so you all know-its actually 10,775,801

you just need to get the original vid- filmed and posted by cynthiaholmes.

[kibs342]

you might be looking at a copy of it

[angeloflove354]

that actually ruined the vid for me... survival instinct... it was cuter when they were in love!!

[popangy]

yes it's survival...but that is a form of love too for animals. they form close bonds to each other...and they experience emotions as well. it's still cute!

[BradOFarrell]

It's not really a survival instinct, so much as it is an instinct to remain together rather than alone, which is also adorable.

[TampaRed]

So, do you assume now that they don't love each other? It may better your understanding and enjoyment of nature if you don't attach such 'humanisms' to non-human animals.

[christensenct]

But you should consider what human love is. You make it sound like some mystical force, is it not just our way of sticking together with a mate, ensuring we protect eachother? Just our "survival instinct"?

[LaBaracha]

What is more important to you?

[6strngplayer]

i thought it was obviouse that it was instinct regardless of what it is it still is cute

[bfffggffdfd]

Well, when you think about it, techinically it still means they love each other. They're holding hands so that they don't drift away from each other...

[Smashley27]

If you think about it it's still cute. Their whole social structure is about keeping each other together. I don't know, I still think it's cute heh

[almightyaakash]

i agreeeeeeee

[wolfiegirlrox]

why???? would you rather they drifted apart and died!

[McCoy3378]

they said that because love is subjective and they dont wanna be.. scientists could, and do, say that human bonding is a survival instinct, which is why babies are cute, so theyre taken care of. it doesnt mean there isnt genuine affection among them or us. but its ridiculous to speak about animals in terms of love even if it is present among them, which IMO is

[clonalmachina]

Hey,

I think a behavior that evolved over thousands of years to keep otters close together is just as amazing as love, that also evolved over many years to keep humans together.

[choclatewuver]

i know seriosly im with u but its still cute

[madeleine225]

well it may be true that it is a survival instinct...but do not doubt the fact that animals do feel love toward one another...As a biologist, I can tell you this is for love and enjoyment as much as it is for survival. Look at humans- we stand a greater survival if we pair up, but we also love our partners.

[Mondoshawn]

I think it is still cute, they don't want to loose each other!

[Glmhmalwaysn4evr]

What do we really know about them? They could really be in love.

[quaek]

@angeloflove354

Ever heard of humanization? Even if they loved each other, they would express it differently.

[quincee33]

i know, talk about putting a "wet blanket" on the story, oh well, it's still cute

[nonidp10]

perhaps the two options are not as different as we may assume, also regarding to humans.

[Deziky]

I still like to think that they were holding hands because they loved each other.

[inmyfacehaha]

yeah, same

[MsSocialist]

me too!!

[madeleine225]

well it may be true that it is a survival instinct...but do not doubt the fact that animals do feel love toward one another...As a biologist, I can tell you this is for love and enjoyment as much as it is for survival.

[hilby]

you see the way the otter was fondly nudging the other one after he got her hand again? I think it's love too.

[stewiegrifin17]

that ruined the vid D:

[princessarwen19]

they are so cute. they live in the vancouver aquarium close to were i live and they are the cutest thing i got to see them too and i got a cute picture of them and everyting. :)

[princessarwen19]

they live in the vancouver aquarium close to were i live they are the cutest thing ever.... :)

[kittyfoxx]

They tottaly ruined it by saying them holding hands is a

Survival Tactic... -.-'

[WhatTheShittles]

i know rite? but they still must love eachother, they hold hands because they don't want to be separated

[haheyho]

how does that ruin it? because your delusions are shattered?

all social animals including people form partnerships for survival..that doesn't make these otters any less cute. you're just cynical.

[snappycruise]

you live in a fantasy world I think, so what! it still is cute!

Anyway, who knows? MAybe, maybe they are indeed in love, maybe it's a PR operation by the zoo and the otters get more food! lol

[ohnoyoudidntx]

so?

most of what humans do is a survival instinct too? humans are friends with each other and are in love with each other , because it helps us live longer and allows us to thrive in the harsh societiies.

[LuricRaja2]

It was neet even though I was the Only one there as they Take you into like a small briefing room and they ask you questions and also teach you about the otters, like what do they eat and thier behaviours and natural enemies ect. You then also get the chance to go and prepare them thier food, and once you have finished then you get the chance to feed them. Take care my furry water friends and Thnx for all the great fun.

[LuricRaja2]

Niack And Milo, Wow it has been a long time scince I have seen them. I had the great Honour of going to the Vancouver aquarium and taking the Otter tour.

[acdc126]

alan waterman at the aquarium :D haha

[Watermisty123]

OMG i feel sooooooooooooo bad for the seal that got stuck in the oil spill and they are in dandered and it is are FALT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[ContrastY]

thanks, cynthia.

your vid is terrific.

[dirtyfighter34]

from one professor to another, it is more remarkable than you think, it touches something deep in all of us, the essence of innocence, and affection which humans sometimes forget in themselves. We often ignore those instincts in ourselves in the pursuit of something else.

[slipknot00112]

if anybody hits or hurts a otter again.

ill start shooting.

it's so cute...

[chiito]

I love otters even more now

[agimann]

one shouldn`t keep otters inprisioned!

[LittleGremliner]

WOW I luved the video there soooooo cute!!!

[FBIsMostWanted]

Endangered?!?! Damn humans!!

[kat4u2luv]

Cynthia, great story. I was just searching "otter hands" to pass the video on again to even more people than I've already shown it to. Everyone loves this video...the lil guys dont even know of their Youtube stardom!

I think the best part is when they rejoin, it looks like the one takes the others hand and kisses it.

Kathy

[Meechermani]

Awesome! Nice to know more about the otters. They are so darn cute!

[theantisebby]

it's funny how we try to anthropomorphize everything. oh well, if it draws attention to an endangered species, i'm all for it, woo!

[Sublimey123]

I learned a new word.

[slartibartfast9]

the canadian accents are my favorite part

[Starfires]

Looks like Nyak has had a great history. Hey, maybe being cute is a survival instinct too, like a way to get fed! Also, I'm with those who believe animals have emotions as well as instincts. Who are we to assume they don't also have a friendship- anyone who's had a dog will see that mammals do have feelings, to. Survival + cute!

[PythiasBest]

Hello Starfires! Thank you very much for this brilliant statement. I have the same opinion. You are totally right:" Who are we ...!?"

[erikmann]

"love" is just a trick that DNA plays on us to ensure we reproduce..in that way it is a "survival instinct"

[Draer]

the red shirted man is lieing man, everybody can see it's love

[nicaraguan23]

All animals survive on instinct even humans. Why is holding hands when humans do it called love or care but for animals it's called something different. When humans do it you could say it is instinctual to ward of other potential mates.

[MeMarySilly]

It doesn't matter if it is "survival instinct" or really "love"! For both reactions must have a lot of TRUST AND CONFIDENCE in between, even if it is just "confidence-instinct" or some "biological-reflex" only, it doesn't count! THEY RELY EACH OTHER, that's make them survive, of course!!!!! This make them also to see so relaxed and cute! I love them! :)

[charitasan]

they are cute but they're making to big a deal out of this video..it actually was on the news in Netherlands...so otters on the other side of the world made it into the news in the netherlands...it's admirable though...and they are still cute :T

[LameCrippled]

coOl...now the video has over 6 million views. And you are now a professer? Thats pretty neat too.

[Pourire]

Do not envy happy looking couples, it may only be a survival instinct!

[solothyrn]

I think its more then just an instinctual to hold hands. I'm sure there is an emotional bond too. Saying its just instinctual is saying the otters don't have feelings. Rubbish.

[caled2care]

I Agree 100 percent! People just say things like that to take the joy out of life. They're certainly not out in the wild now, are they?

[Babyhowdy233]

I can tell you FOR A FACT that when the male otter takes her paw and KISSES IT(when they rejoin)that IS NOT instinct, that's AFFECTION! I know AFFECTION when I see it! :)

[boobymcfrooglepants]

whoo

[FenDove]

Love... Survival instinct.. same difference really ;)

[sakahari]

hey you are the professor yourself. :)

nice nice. i love this video.

upload some more if you have.

[andyee]

Those cuties are endangered? :-O

[peanutbutterswirl]

oh no! they're endangered??

[NarutoxHinata786]

knowing that it's a survival instinct sort of squashes the cuteness, but I still luv them

[soanywayshesaid]

Wow, how interesting. They're even more amazing now. Thank you.

[KateLynn01]

i liked it better when i didn't know that it was survival instinct, lol, but still extremely adorable

[GottaBKD]

Its interesting to note that 4.5 million ppl have viewed the original otter video on youtube but only over 4000 have viewed this video to learn more about them.

[ernestalba]

Cute and endangered! I had no idea. Thanks, Cynthia.

[ryanhappyface]

anything that is cute or beautiful seems to be endangered

[iboca]

Thank you

Otters so cute

[brassmunk]

haha cool, it was on tv!

[TheeNextBigThing]

I saw a story on this on sky news also..