Meet Pepe the Giant Amazonian River Otter

Yes, Pepe is a pet, at a farm on a huge island in the Rio Apure, los Llanos. These otters are not called "the dog of the river" for nothing--Pepe was just like a happy, fat lab, complete with crotch-sniffing and muddy paws. But Pepe was so much more endearing because, well, he's an otter, not a dog, and it is pretty funny to watch him playing and romping around at our feet. He lives on the bank of the river, where he can swim if he wants (he could leave if he wants, but he has been a pet since he was a baby). He has his own pool that he prefers to the river. When we were finally ready to get back in our boat and head down river, we took the farmer's wife with us, with her basket of fresh eggs and bundles of fresh herbs to sell in the town. Pepe followed us to the river's edge, where he waded into the water, but did not swim after us, all the while making mournful barks and woofs at our leaving! Pepe was a big hit with me. ras