Comments | otters: Olympic otter caricature

otters

Olympic otter caricature

Aug 24, 2008 04:55

This is a photograph of a colored pencil drawing that used to hang in the main building of the "Otter Zentrum" in Hankensbüttel, Germany (Google Earth: 52 43'55.64 N, 10 37'11.69 E). I took the photo during my visit there for the V. International Otter Colloquium in September, 1989.

( Read more... )

media, 1989 trip

Comments 5

higgs_raccoon September 4 2008, 15:20:38 UTC

Germany didn't make a bid for the Olympics in 1992, though the Netherlands did (proposing Amsterdam). In Dutch, that would be "Olympische Spelen", which might be the "O.S." on the otter's shirt.

The logo for Amsterdam's Olympic bid seems to include the three vertical Xs seen next to the otter in your photo, so maybe that's it.

I couldn't guess if he was a concept sketch for an official mascot, or just a piece of artwork someone did to show their support for the bid.

I'm impressed! anonymous September 7 2008, 00:03:07 UTC

Hello :) I stumbled over your blog and album while looking for otter pictures. I portray a river otter in the virtual universe called SecondLife, and because curious about their habits.

I've truely enjoyed reading your blog and looking at the pictures in the album. Good job! I wish you continued luck in your research.

OH, to take a look at Merri, the otter I portray in Second Life, you can go to this url for a looksee.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/little_wet_otter/2802604382/

Thanks for the great read! I'll reccomend your site to others interested in such blogs and photos.

Jeanne

Re: I'm impressed! otters September 14 2008, 09:36:11 UTC

Thank you for your kind words! I like your SL avatar. Very cute! :-)

Ottomatic otterz! mejeep August 20 2009, 18:00:31 UTC

There was an otter mascot in 2002 (along with Coal Bear, Powder Bunny and Copper Coyote):

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Otto_the_otter.jpg

http://en.beijing2008.cn/paralympic/paralympichistory/mascots/n214071431.shtml
Salt Lake City 2002 Mascot 'Otto' -- otter

The mascot for the Paralympic Winter Games in Salt Lake City 2002 was Otto the otter. Ancient Indian tribes considered the otter to be one of the most powerful of all animals. After being nearly wiped out by pollution and overtrapping the river otter has been reintroduced to Utah and can be seen along the banks of the Green River and near Flamig Gorge. The otter was chosen as the official mascot of the Salt Lake 2002 Paralympic Winter Games because he embodies vitality and agility, and represents the spirit of every Paralympian.

Olympic otter anonymous February 19 2010, 11:48:13 UTC

Hi Scott,

This otter was made by Lammert Joustra requested by me for our Dutch Otterstation Foundation. We have send this mascotte to the Dutch Olympic Committee as an official candidate logo for the Olympic games in Amsterdam in the year 1992. The three red crosses on the Greek column are the logo of Amsterdam. Unfortunately the Games went to another country.

Nevertheless it was fun to come up with this idea and above all Lammert Joustra did a great job in drawing this attractive strong fellow.

Perhaps also interesting to note that around that time the otter went extinct in our country, but that our organization managed to reintroduce this otter species (Lutra lutra) successfully in 2002 - 2004.

drs ing. Addy de Jongh,
director Dutch Otterstation Foundation,
Dutch Representative IUCN/SSC Otter Specialist Group

N.B. Please send your original picture of this otter to me (addydej [AT] xs4all [DOT] nl).

http://www.vriendenvandeotter.nl