The identification of the Al-Ebra Umm Al Sijian otter in Basra was uncertain. The site is close to Hatt’s (1959) previously recorded Eurasian otter, and our current observations at Al-Ebra Umm Al Sijian are of animals resembling this species, but further research and sampling from Al-Ebra Umm Al Sijian is needed to be certain.

Mar 9, 2025 · The moniker “Maxwell’s Otter” is not a random designation; it’s deeply rooted in the story of an extraordinary encounter and a significant contribution to zoological science. The otter in question, affectionately known as Mijbil, was a creature of a previously unknown subspecies.

The Mesopotamian Marshes, also known as the Iraqi Marshes, are a wetland area located in southern Iraq and southwestern Iran as well as partially in northern Kuwait. [7][1][2][3][4] The marshes are primarily located on the floodplains of the Euphrates and Tigris rivers bound by the cities of Basra, Nasiriyah, Amarah and a portion of southwestern...

He was in Basra preparing to go home when I managed to obtain an otter, which I sent to him. This, very dark in colour and about six weeks old, proved to be a new species. Gavin took it to England, and the species was named after him. The otter became woven into …

Jun 18, 2019 · Maxwell lovingly gave it the name Mijibil. The otter was procured from Basra through the efforts of Wilfred Thesiger. Bringing it to Scotland wasn’t easy. British Airways refused to transport it. Maxwell had to bring it to Paris first through Air France, and then bring it to Scotland through train.

smooth-coated otter (the endemic subspecies maxwelli) has proven by current research to be thriving in the southern Iraqi marshes with an additional remarkable sighting in northern Iraq (Kurdistan Region).

Oct 13, 2023 · The advent of the otter was a life changing event for Maxwell. The otter looked like a dragon as it was coated with mud. In between the mud a chocolate brown mole with velvet fur could be seen. It took Maxwell a month to remove all the dust from his body. The otter was named ‘Mijbil’ , ‘Mij’ for short.

Eurasian otters killed by aquaculture owners in Basra, Southern Iraq, to try to protect their fish ponds, shared by Climate Change & Wildlife...

Maxwell expressed his desire to his friend to have an otter as a pet. His friend sent two Arabs with an otter to Basra. This is how he got an otter in Basra. 5. When did Maxwell realise that the otter loved water? One day Maxwell took the otter in the bathroom. The otter jumped with joy into the bathtub. It remained there for a long time.

In summary, Maxwell got Mijbil, the otter, from the Tigris marshes in Iraq. His friend arranged for the otter to be delivered to him in a sack at the Consulate-General in Basra. This marked the beginning of their unique and special friendship.