Otterly adorable! Are these the cutest otter pictures ever?

Tuesday 29 Jan 2013 2:52 pm

Hide and seek: The otter strikes a pose (Picture: Caters / Tom & Pat Leeson)

This ridiculously cute otter knows the importance of being well groomed especially when there is a camera capturing his every move.
The adorable animal was snapped preening itself to perfection and pulling a series of adorable expressions during its moment in the spotlight.
Sea otters have a reputation for being meticulously clean, spending hours every day grooming their dense fur, but this spotless mammal appears to have taken things to another level.
The animated creature provided some memorable moments for husband and wife Pat and Tom Leeson, who have travelled the globe capturing wildlife images.

Salute: The mammal strokes its fur (Picture: Caters / Tom & Pat Leeson)

‘Otters can be quite funny while they are grooming,’ explained 62-year-old Mr Leeson.
‘They are constantly turning or rolling completely over in the water, then using their front paws almost as we use hands to groom and clean themselves.
‘At times they almost looking like a person putting on make-up or someone preening in front of a mirror.’

Praying the pictures make it into Metro (Picture: Caters / Tom & Pat Leeson)

He added: ‘But these expressions are fast and fleeting for the most part and we sometimes get a bigger laugh when we view the photos later.
‘There is a lot of sitting and waiting around for a few short minutes of panic and action on our part.’
Sea otters have very little blubber and must rely on their fur to keep them warm in the winter months.