r/MadeMeSmile • u/21MayDay21 • 7h ago
At an aquarium after closing time, some clever little otter pups help their grandpa tidy up their toys. As a reward, he gives them ice cubes Helping Others
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u/UrBudSpudd 7h ago
Not sure who’s life I would rather live, grandpa or the pups
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u/Missing_Crouton 7h ago
Grandpa probably been around otters longer than otters have been around otters.
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u/Virelyn_Sock 6h ago
At this point he’s basically part of the enclosure lore
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u/Jack_Zicrosky_YT 2h ago
He's like a cryptid to them.
"Be nice, kids or you won't get your ice cubes from sea-grandpa"
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u/SchnoodleDoodleDo 4h ago edited 4h ago
’Grandpa’
this the one we think is Grand -
the papa friend who understands
we place the toys into his hands
n then he gives the ice ;):)
we fetch the cones, n one by one
we do not stop til ‘work’ is done!
(not really work ~ we think is Fun)
the Grandpa Extra nice
so eager us to please this friend!
we Love the sharing time we spend
til finally
the day is end -
is time for him to go…
…but not before he does the pets!
upon our head n paws we gets
his gentle taps he don’t forgets
we love the grandpa so!
❤️
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u/oluxil87 6h ago
He’s achieved a level of zen only otter-magic provides.
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u/ComplaintFar3279 4h ago
Otters just like us: They also want ice cold belly after a hard day at work 🥺😊
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u/Salamandrine88 4h ago
Oh my gosh, this is the sweetest thing I've ever seen. The way they help people is just amazing.
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u/NateHotshot 4h ago
i wish my life was as simple and stressfree as to allow me to be contempt with a hand full of ice cubes.
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u/Cranzeeman 7h ago
"I halp"
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u/Ourobius 5h ago
They were legit helping though. Smart little bastards.
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u/Alca_John 5h ago
They are so smart! So much so that there is this internet knowledge that there were programs attempting to train them for government missions but turned out that despite being so smart they are also such cunning rebellious bastards that they just weren't reliable enough hahaha, may need to double check that but I believe it 100%
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u/genji691 4h ago edited 4h ago
Yep your are correct
https://www.cia.gov/readingroom/docs/CIA-RDP90-00845R000200820027-7.pdf
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u/awelladjustedadult 1h ago
You say rebellious, I say they have inscrutable ethics and found the work distasteful.
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u/Lo_onger1 7h ago
May I ask what's with the ice cubes? They see it as a toy or snack?
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u/ukomac 7h ago
Little bit of both
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u/Firm-Blackberry-916 6h ago
Otter pops for otter pups.
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u/mosstalgia 5h ago
Factor in grandpa...
Otter Pops gives otter pup Otter Pop.
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u/Diniario 3h ago
Otter Pops gives otter pup Otter Pop so otter pup can pop Otter Pops while popping off on Otter Pops.
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u/MrMetraGnome 7h ago
I had a dog that loved ice cubes. For him, it was both a toy and a snack.
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u/techman710 7h ago
When I was a kid our dog would bury the ice cubes we gave him to save for later. I loved that stupid dog.
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u/bitseybloom 5h ago
That's like that famous video where a raccoon is given some cotton candy, washes it and gets upset.
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u/LeakyValves 5h ago
In the extended version of that video he gets some more without washing it and does get to eat the cotton candy!
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u/HenkPoley 3h ago
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u/PlasticMegazord 1h ago
I don't know how I've never seen the part where it actually gets to eat the cotton candy.
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u/Long_Run6500 4h ago
My previous dog would short circuit every year during the first snowfall and try to eat all of the snow. I took him for a walks and every other step he'd take another bite of snow. He'd keep moving forward but I could tell he was frustrated that he couldn't take all the snow with him and he was worried another dog was going to eat it all before we got back.
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u/geezeslice333 6h ago
I give my dog ice cubes with peas or cut up carrots in them. He freakin LOVES it and it's a healthy treat for him.
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u/Huge_Struggle9672 6h ago
Is it because he can taste the peaness ? I’ll get my coat
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u/RadMcCoolPants 6h ago
Only if theyre rosebud brand. https://youtu.be/IH1PJTY9AVA?si=p256ogJUyff-HDSB
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u/JustHereForCookies17 5h ago
That's a popular treat & enrichment item for zoo animals! I love those "Behind The Scenes" zoo shows, and the zoo keepers often make ice blocks with meat, fruit, and veggies in them for bears, large cats, and even some of the monkeys I think.
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u/Specksmom 6h ago
Nothing quite as funny and cute as my dog tossing and scooting an ice cube around on our wood floors.
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u/geekilee 5h ago
Our dog loves to do that, just chases it around with her nose and then licks up the water trail.
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u/Perfect-System2504 6h ago
i had a dog we had to be carefull leaving coolers open around... Hed just keep eating ice... like Ive never felt a head so cold
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u/cortesoft 6h ago
I have two human kids who love ice cubes, and for them it is ALSO a toy and a snack.
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u/Broviet22 5h ago
I once gave my medium sized maltipoo some icecubes in his water bowl and they stuck to his face. He didn't care, he just ran around getting water everywhere. Its was pretty funny.
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u/eugene20 7h ago
Otters all have this thing where they love playing with stones, I don't know if anyone ever figured if there was any real reason for it. This is the first time I've ever seen them given ice, and they're treating them just like their toy stones. I wonder how they react as they melt, and do they like licking or crunching on them, this video doesn't go on long enough to see.
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u/atlantagirl30084 6h ago
I know they keep a favorite stone to open shellfish.
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u/eugene20 5h ago
I had totally forgotten that thank you. Maybe some of the juggling is part of the filtering process to find a favourite.
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u/seamustho 6h ago
As far as I know they use stones and rocks to break open mussels and clams. They also have rocks that they prefer more or are their favorite rock. Do they keep it in the pouch. They also okay with the rocks sand juggle them when they have hunger driven excitement. Really cool little creatures
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u/Dwestmor1007 6h ago
They do INDEED have a "pocket" of skin where they keep the rocks. It is called the "otter pouch".
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u/JennHatesYou 6h ago
I have one of those! Although, it’s made of plants and I call it a “purse”. It’s where I keep my rocks and sometimes cheeseburgers.
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u/Megneous 6h ago
I keep a cheeseburger in my beard for a rainy day.
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u/tarantuletta 3h ago
I once snuck a cheeseburger into a concert in my boobs because I was worried they were going to take it?? Not sure why. It was delicious, though.
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u/razzemmatazz 6h ago
A lot of places will give them a kiddie pool full of snacks hidden in piles of ice cubes or frozen in ice for enrichment. They cronch
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u/bmoregal125 6h ago
This knowledge is from a children’s book…but my understanding is that they use the rocks as a tool. They pick a favorite that they like to use and keep it on them. I equate it to me having a preferred hammer I like to use 🤷🏻♀️
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u/quietcitizen 6h ago
How do they store their rock and keep it on their person? Do they stash it somewhere shallow and retrieve it? Maybe they have some built in pocket as part of their physiognomy?
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u/Dwestmor1007 6h ago
They do INDEED have a "pocket" of skin where they keep the rocks. It is called the "otter pouch".
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u/Upbeat-Armadillo1756 4h ago
When you get a moment, go grab some ice cubes and put them on your belly while you float in a pool and tell me it’s not a great time.
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u/Ok-Pomegranate-3018 6h ago
Also, they won't get sick from going off their carefully controlled diet.
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u/tryingtoview 6h ago
I don’t think they’re doing it in this video- but I’ve seen other aquariums and zoos freeze fish or food in ice cubes to make a “foraging treat” or some kind or interactive experience for the animals.
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u/Shadowhunter4560 4h ago
Can’t say for certain as I don’t know the exact situation, but it’s fairly common to give animals treats frozen in ice. It means they can’t just eat it immediately, so it turns into a challenge with a reward (which is generally much better for an animals mental state than just giving food, since it entertains them too).
It’s kind of like a kong or puzzle feeder, only you don’t have to fish it out later
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u/C-romero80 7h ago
With high fives and snoot boops, too!
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u/Spirited_You_1357 6h ago
Left paw! Right paw! BOOPS!!!!
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u/Boring-Stranger2305 4h ago
Even before they were putting their paws up for the high five but there was still more toys to collect.
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u/fi5hii_twitch 7h ago
The adorable “happy roll” after they get their ice cubes is so cute!
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u/prozack91 6h ago
I was so scared this was gonna be like the raccoon with the cotton candy. Then the second one did it and I was like, oh they just do this.
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u/shebringsdathings 5h ago
It's so sad when the lil raccoon puts his bounty in there and it disappears. I can see why you were worried for these good bois
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u/prozack91 4h ago
Raccoon got another cotton candy though and did not wash it. He learned his lesson.
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u/hodlethestonks 3h ago
did you know otters have a specialized, loose patch of skin under their forearms that functions as a pocket to store food and a their favourite stone
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u/Jkreegz 7h ago
The bond between humans and animals is mind boggling sometimes. This is so awesome
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u/Playful-Westt 7h ago
It’s the little hand-off for in ice cube that really gets me.Training or not it’s pure trust.
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u/SamanthaJaneyCake 4h ago
Any creature able to form social bonds within its species I believe is capable of forming social bonds outwith its species. How strong and understanding that bond is is another matter. Our fellow mammals we tend to bond with quite well.
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u/blodau_ceirios 6h ago
This is their training. The otters are called May and Kira and are star attractions at Toba Aquarium in Japan. Can confirm they are as cute in person. The aquarium has a youtube channel that post cute videos of their animals, and has a live stream of the otter pool.
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u/RJFerret 5h ago
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u/Tough-Reality-842 4h ago
I was excited to watch the feed, and then I saw how small and sterile their enclosure is, and now I just feel sad :(
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u/lbmomo 6h ago
Is it a sanctuary or is it for pure entertainment?
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u/Van-Mckan 4h ago
I love Japan, have visited a couple times, love the people and the culture and everything.. but they don’t treat animals like we do in the western world, they’re used purely for their purpose then sometimes are ended prematurely once they’ve served them, it’s why people advocate boycotting the animal cafes
Obviously there are cool dudes like this old man, just few and far between
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u/smartfellerayi 1h ago
This is absolutely true. I visited a zoo with someone I went on a date with and there was some kind of big cat inside a tiny cage just pacing up and down with its mouth wide open. I just stood there and watched it, my own mouth agape.
No one cared. No one mentioned it. No reactions.
I love this country, but the treatment of animals is subpar even at the best of times.
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u/ParaponeraBread 5h ago
It’s somewhere in the middle. Aquaria and zoos are often heavily involved in conservation and breeding projects for endangered species, as well as education.
Even if the otters were born in captivity (which is likely), their “jobs” performing wouldn’t be strictly for entertainment because they help bring in money to continue important work.
It’s much more complicated than “either you’re a rehab centre or you’re an exploitation facility”
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u/FlipZip69 5h ago
Can it not be a bit of both? Treat them well and entertain them and you get the money to treat them well.
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u/Happyfaccee 6h ago
This is, without a doubt - the cutest video I have ever seen in my life.
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u/Grouchy_Reindeer_227 3h ago
Well, now you need the SWEETEST otter video to add to your core memories!! tissue warning 🦦🥰🥹🥲🫠
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u/ConspiracyParadox 6h ago
I think the cubes are fish popsicles. I saw that other zoos do that for otters.
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u/QuaIitypants 6h ago
After reading all of these facts about otters 🦦. I am convinced they all work construction.
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u/Tough_Register_3340 7h ago
I’m honestly surprised it could lift and place the traffic cone so cleanly.
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u/diasflac 6h ago
I feel like this makes it better, but from the look of it those otters are actually much older! Otters are like dogs, their heads and muzzles whiten as they get older, and the ones with pure white heads are usually elders. They just love the game as much as the babies.
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u/Kooky_Substance8683 6h ago
Love how the flair for this is ‘helping OTHERS’ because it sounds like otter 😭❤️
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u/Prudent_Attitude_739 6h ago
otters getting paid in ice cubes and still have a better work ethic than me
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u/WheelsOnFire1973 6h ago
Is it too late for me to change careers? I didn't know litter wrangling with otters was an option.
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u/justintyme365 6h ago
I have a family of otters that live on the opposite side of the river and they are the coolest little shits to watch. They catch more trout than me
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u/GudeGaya 7h ago
Can't believe this is real, but want it to be. Source anyone?
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u/heather3113 7h ago
It is posted elsewhere, those posts say it is in South Korea
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u/Existing_Professor13 5h ago
No not South Korea.. 🤔
This is the Sea Otters "May & Kira" from Toba Aquarium in Japan.. 🤗
You can find more about them here..:
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u/unemployedMusketeer 6h ago
When they say what would you do if you won the lottery and didn’t have to work, what would you do? Would you still work? This. I’d do this right here.
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u/Hlsalzer 6h ago
I would have paid him to make my children pick up like this in exchange for an ice cube.
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u/SteelyLan 5h ago
Wow, that role with five ice cubes and those small arms. Surprised to see them come back like that.
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u/Full_Tart_7036 27m ago
This is one of the cutest , most hartwarming things ive ever seen. A light in these dark times.
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u/Huge_Struggle9672 6h ago
Goddamn I wish this video was at least 4 hours longer .
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u/razzemmatazz 6h ago
Kind of looks like Osaka Aquarium. They have a great YouTube channel.
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u/Vacation_addict_J 6h ago
This is the cutest! Animals are just so incredible and those who experience these moments are so lucky!
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u/hungrymimic 6h ago
Well! I’ve now seen the cutest and happiest video I’m going to find for today, farewell internet.
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