Otters are incredibly adorable with their brown bodies, large noses, and almost dog-like appearance.
Add to that their swimming abilities, lifelong mating habits, and the fact they squeal in delight when they recognise you, and it’s no wonder they’re considered super cute.
TikToker Mats Janzon posted a video of his otter friend Leya spotting him, and it’s simply too cute for words. She squeals with joy, knowing he’s nearby and that she can trust him. She eagerly finds a way to climb onto his boat to reunite with her best mate. Leya is a wild otter, and she hunts and explores without being ‘owned’ by Mats.
However, it’s undeniable they have a close bond. Whenever she senses he’s near, she is overjoyed, making excited noises and fully trusting him – something that is rare. But what’s the story behind their unlikely friendship?
In another touching video, Mats shared how the pair formed a bond. He was strolling through the woods one day about a year and a half ago, and he heard an animal crying.
Upon investigating, he realised that it was a baby otter. Mats hoped that the otter’s mother would return for her, so he left her alone.
But in tragic circumstances, he saw the baby’s mother’s body – she was heartbreakingly killed by a car – and he knew he had to take care of her until she was ready to live life on her own.
It’s evident that Leya is fully aware of the sacrifices Mats has made for her, ensuring she leads a good life and can survive. In the video, even as she jumps out of his kayak, she emits endearing sounds indicating her affection for him.
She swims around the boat protectively as they both savour the sunrise. One TikTok user commented: “Sorry, which fantasy world is this? Can I have the Google Maps link to get there?”
Another expressed that the video brought them “so much peace and joy”.
“This is how life was meant to be. Coexistence with nature, animals and humans, nothing else,” another person wrote.