7 Comments
User's avatar
Betty Carlson's avatar

I remember reading and seeing "Ring of Bright Water," but, unlike "Born Free," I hadn't thought about it in decades.

How did the woman "indirectly" cause the death of Mijbil? I wondered about that.

I also enjoyed looking at the species of otters -- some's faces are very different!

Expand full comment
Caroline McCormick-Clarke🐆🧀🎨✍️'s avatar

Thank you so much for your feedback Betty. I’m glad you remember the film too. From my research I learnt Kathleen Raine was looking after Mijbil whilst Gavin Maxwell was away on business. A “domesticated” otter, Mij escaped and was killed in a ditch by a roadworker, who thought Mijbwas a wild otter. Though in my opinion, why would anyone kill a wild or domesticated otter? But I suppose the 1950s were a different time and some people may have viewed otters as a predator of fish maybe, impacting Scottish fishing catches?

Expand full comment
Betty Carlson's avatar

How sad! Yes, perhaps that was the reasoning.

Expand full comment
Michael Clarke's avatar

Beautifully written article,very informative

So good I read it twice

The otter is a truly remarkable creature

Very well done to the author

Expand full comment
Caroline McCormick-Clarke🐆🧀🎨✍️'s avatar

Thanks so much Michael- a fascinating species.

Expand full comment
Francey's avatar

une loutre en français but not very common on the east side or the alpine region so it doesn’t come up in literature a lot. Pity, a wonderful animal. Thanks Caroline.

Expand full comment
Caroline McCormick-Clarke🐆🧀🎨✍️'s avatar

Thank you Francey - glad you enjoyed the read.

Expand full comment