Many have pondered the nature of happiness and the path to achieve it. But after two consecutive days (48 uninterrupted hours) of doing nothing but watching the Monterey Bay Sea Otter Cam, I’m convinced that Sea Otters hold the secret to happiness.
[LIVE VIDEO FEED OF THE MONTERREY BAY AQUARIUM SEA OTTER EXHIBIT]
https://www.youtube.com/live/WrKZzs-CB_8?si=DLbOd7KlmAvB5XHu
“Parakeet, 48 hours of Sea Otter Cam? You’re going to overdose and melt your brain—“ shut up, please do not tell me how to live my life. I am sick of people with bad posture and zero self respect telling me how to live my life. I can tell by your outfit that you have no idea what happiness is. I see the misery in your eyes. I want you to be happy. I want us to be happy together. I want to open the windows so you can feel the breeze and hear the birds and remember what it feels like to be alive. Forget the past. Forget the weight of your many masks. Happiness isn’t bound by time; it’s a decision we make, moment by moment, telling the story of our lives. And everyday we’re given the chance to draw a new mandala on the matrix of our collective consciousness. And right now, the mandala that I must graffiti on the matrix is 48-hour Sea Otter Cam.
Look at this video. Just look at it. Look at the two otters floating peacefully on their backs, holding hands and taking a nap together. When was the last time you felt this way? Tell me. I want you to write to me and tell me about it. Tell me what happiness means to you. Tell me if you’ve found it, because I’ve been looking and it’s hard to find.
It’s funny that the pursuit of happiness is like a great cosmic Rubik’s cube that nobody can seem to decipher—yet the otters seem to have cracked its code. And before assuming their contentment is due to a lack of understanding of the world’s complexities, remember: these otters are in prison. In the eyes of wild sea otters, they are are freaks of nature. When a new otter enters the facility, experienced captive otters mentor the newcomers, essentially teaching them how to “be an otter.” Think about how sad that is— existing in an environment where all of your survival instincts work against you. Where the very essence of your identity feels distorted, leaving you feeling out of place and purposeless. If the imprisoned otters can find happiness, why can’t we?
With all the advancements of society, we still struggle to secure the one thing we desire most: true happiness. Everyone is looking for it, but only a few find it. And somehow, the sea otters, who spend all day paying with rocks and eating 20% of their body weight in food^1, have a better grasp on the very thing we yearn for the most: true happiness.
^1 - For a sense of scale, the human equivalent to eating 20% of your body weight in food daily would be: 150 cheeseburgers, or 20 dominos pizzas, or 37 chipotle burritos, or 17 wheels of Brie, or 5 gallon sized buckets of Mac and cheese, or 40 pints of Ben and Jerry’s, or 75 cans of cheese whiz, or 61 bags of Doritos.
Let’s open the floor for questions:
*a person mysteriously emerges from a cloud of vape*
“Hey I’m Jake from left of the bell curve gang, no cap on a stack 🚫🧢. So like, otters… they kinda lowkey braindead vibes, amirite? What could they possibly know about happiness 🧐🔥💯”
Thank you for that insightful question, Jake. Understanding otter intelligence is important context for this discussion.
So first of all, what is intelligence? The current scientific consensus is; we don’t weawwy know uwu it’s hawd to define teehee >w<. But we can identify a few key markers of higher-order intelligence in animals, specifically otters:
A Survey of Sea Otter Intelligence
1.) Otters belong to a select group of non-human animals that utilize tools. Their ability to choose the right rock and use it effectively suggests problem solving skills. The Monterrey Bay sea otters even have “favorite rocks” which they carry around with them all day and tuck under their arm while floating around. It’s so cute I want to die.
2.) Otters display complex social behaviors indicative of social intelligence. It has been empirically proven that Otters have the most fun of any animal in the animal kingdom (go find your own citation, loser). They can be observed playing games, sliding down mudslides/snowbanks, and engaging in mock fights. Again, very cute and very fun.
3.) Captive otters exhibit the capability to learn and retain new behaviors, another mark of intelligence.
4.) In various settings, especially in captivity where they’re exposed to puzzles or challenges, otters have demonstrated problem-solving abilities, working out how to access food or navigate obstacles.
5.) Otters have a wide range of vocalizations that they use for different purposes, from warning calls to playful sounds. The complexity of their communication suggests a certain level of intelligence.
We can see that clearly, otters do exhibit some level of intelligence. Let’s move on to the next question: how would we even know whether otters are happy?
Sea Otter Happiness Index: Approaching Infinity
1.) Otters are known for their playfulness. They slide down mud and snow banks, juggle pebbles, and wrestle with each other. Play not only refines life skills but is also indicative of happiness, manifesting only when basic needs are met. For otters, it underscores a deeper truth: in moments of abundance and security, the spirit gravitates towards play.
2.) Social ties run deep among many otter species. Acts of grooming and synchronized hunting rituals exemplify not just social constructs, but deeper shared emotions.
3.) The healthy otter, free of stress or ailment, naturally seeks play and camaraderie, which is a sign of inner peace. In contrast, an unwell or stressed otter might exhibit less playful tendencies, revealing its emotional state.
4.) While comprehensive otter studies are sparse, most mammals exhibit similar neural responses to pleasurable activities. Analyzing neurotransmitters like dopamine in playful otters might provide glimpses into their emotional world.
5.) Otters have a range of vocalizations and body language that researchers can interpret. Positive vocalizations or relaxed body postures during play or social interactions can be indicators of happiness.
6.) Monitoring stress hormones, such as cortisol, can shed light on an animal’s emotional state. Reduced levels during playful sessions could denote contentment and peace.
7.) Observing differences between otters in the wild and those in captivity also offers insights. Their unwavering zest for life, regardless of their environment, suggests these behaviors are innate, resonating with their natural state of equilibrium and fulfillment.
In conclusion, otters are pretty smart and if you watch the sea otter cam for 5 minutes, it’s clear that the otters have reached a level of happiness and contentment that most humans can only dream of. I would like to be more like an otter. I think it would be nice if we all turned into otters.