The Challenge and Charm of Photographing Giant River Otters

Northern Pantanal, Brazil

Photographing wildlife in the Pantanal is always an adventure, but giant river otters take things to another level. If you’ve ever tried to capture them through a lens, you know just how fast and unpredictable they are.

They never stop moving… Ever!

From the moment they appear, they’re in constant motion, gliding through the water, diving for fish, wrestling with each other, or chattering loudly to their family members.

Shutter speed is everything. If it’s not high enough, you’re left with nothing but blurred streaks of fur and splashes of water. The challenge is keeping up—tracking them, anticipating their next move, and hoping the perfect moment aligns with your camera pointed at them and in focus.

But the real magic comes from their personalities.

Giant river otters are endlessly entertaining. They’re loud, expressive, and always full of drama. They live in tight-knit family groups, which means there’s always something happening—siblings squabbling, the young ones begging for food, or the entire clan working together to hunt.

Their faces are constantly changing, shifting between playful, intense, curious, or downright hilarious.

The best part?

You never know what kind of look you’ve captured until you scroll through your images later.

These otters are always on the move, traveling down the river in their never-ending search for food.

Keeping up with them is a challenge in itself, trying to figure out where they will pop up. But that’s part of the fun. They may test your reflexes, but they also reward you with some of the most dynamic and unforgettable shots of the trip.

It’s no surprise they’re a fan favorite every time we visit the Pantanal. Their energy, personality, and non-stop action make them one of the true highlights of the experience.

So, if you ever find yourself face-to-face with a group of giant river otters, be ready. Crank up your shutter speed, stay locked in, and shoot as much as you can—because you never know what expression you’ll get next.

And that’s what makes photographing them so addicting.