“I have been obsessed with otters since I was a kid. I have no idea why. They’re damn cute – we know that. But beyond that, its perhaps the mystery of them that appeals to me.

Growing up in the UK, otters were rare and shy, and people didn’t know much about them. That made them an attractive species to work with because, not only did I get to spend time with them and photograph them, I got to learn a huge amount about them and catch a glimpse into their secretive lives.

Since then, I have filmed and photographed them across the world, from 6ft long giant otters in the Peruvian Amazon to the super furry sea otters off California. I have seen literally tens of thousands of otters in my life and I never ever get bored of watching them. They are playful and fun, social, loving and intelligent. They’re kind of the ultimate animal, in my opinion.”

charliehamiltonjames.com
www.instagram.com/chamiltonjames

My Big 5

Otter
Hyena
Cheetah
Wolf
Grizzly Bear