On my final day in the Peruvian Amazon, after two weeks travelling along the Madre de Dios River, a violent storm swept across the rainforest. As torrential rain hammered the river's surface, two giant otters suddenly emerged from the water, pausing for just a second before disappearing beneath the waves again.
It was an unforgettable encounter. Giant otters are an endangered species and among the most sought after wildlife sightings in the Amazon. Knowing I was not going to get another opportunity, I raised my camera and took the shot. The rain was so relentless that water found its way into my camera, leaving it unusable for the next three days. Looking back, it was a small price to pay for such a rare moment.
Their wild population is estimated to be between 2000 and 5000 adults.
