Mijbil the Otter Summary Class 10 English

About the Author: Gavin Maxwell

Gavin Maxwell was born on July 15, 1914, and died on September 7, 1969. Known best for his work with otters, he was a naturalist, idealist, and novelist. Ring of Bright Water, published in 1960, was his best-selling book. This explains how he returned from Iraq with an otter raised in Scotland. The otter, called Mijbil, was later determined to be a previously undiscovered subspecies of the Smooth-coated Otter, later given a quite fancy name Lutrogale perspicillata maxwelli, in honor of his owner Gavin Maxwell. After selling over a million copies of this book, it was later turned into a movie. Unfortunately, the subspecies Lutrogale perspicillata maxwelli may have fared less because it is thought to have gone extinct due to the widespread flooding of its natural habitat in Iraq.

Maxwell was born and raised in the little town of Elrig in Dumfries and Galloway, located north of Port William. He was born rich, as his family had previously owned estates in that location for many generations. Maxwell worked as an instructor for the Special Operations Executive before being an author, which coordinated Britain's efforts to carry out covert operations across the globe during the Second World War.

Off the west coast of the Isle of Skye, Maxwell bought the island of Soay after participating in the war. He made an attempt to create a basking shark fishery on that island between 1945 and 1948. Unfortunately, the business didn't last long, suffered losses, and eventually it collapsed. Gavin Maxwell attributes this to inexperience and poor preparation. He has penned down this journey in his debut book, Harpoon at a Venture, released in 1952. Maxwell needed to learn how to catch the sharks because there was no infrastructure in place. Maxwell established himself as a conservationist long before most people understood what a conservationist was by raising concerns about the over-exploitation of whale populations and other animal populations, despite the nature of the industry as it is portrayed in the book.

The author called a cottage in Camusfeama, Scotland, his home. Jonnie was his pet dog. After being in the company of his pet dog, Jonnie, for so long, its death took a huge toll on the author's personal life. So, he made the decision to get a new pet. He had no desire to own a dog. He made a visit to Southern Iraq in 1956. By then, he had convinced himself to choose an otter over a dog as his pet. Because a lot of water surrounded his Scottish property, an otter could therefore live quite comfortably there.

The author told a friend about this concept. He agreed with the plan and advised him to capture an otter from the Tigris marshes in Iraq. Otters, according to him, were plentiful there. They made the decision to travel to Basra in search of an otter.

Maxwell built a house on the Scottish mainland in Sandaig, which lies south of Glenelg. He authored his renowned "otter books" here, including Ring of Bright Water (published in 1960), The Rocks Remain (published in 1963), and Raven Seek Thy Brother, the third book in the trilogy, which was released in 1969.

Gavin Maxwell has left behind a legacy of work that continues to be popular today. The Eilean B�n Trust and Bright Water Visitor Center are both places that honor him. These places now run a tourist center, taking visitors to the lighthouse, wildlife shelters, and a portion of the lighthouse residence where Maxwell's "long room" has been rebuilt. Additionally, people may get a portion of the island's lighthouse cottage for vacation rentals. Since Maxwell's time, the island of Eilean B�n has undergone significant change. It was connected to both the mainland and the Isle of Skye in the early 1990s thanks to the building of the two sections of the Skye Bridge, which opened in October 1995. September 7, 1969, was the sad day on which this great and idealistic author died due to cancer.

Mijbil the Otter Summary

"Mijbil the Otter" is a heartwarming and charming story written by Gavin Maxwell. The story revolves around the author and his journey of keeping an otter named Mijbil as his pet. The story is set in the early 1950s in Scotland, where the author resides in a house near the sea. The author's love for nature and animals is evident throughout the book.

The story has a simple start to it, where the writer and his friend are found on their way to Basra. The author describes his decision to domesticate an otter at one point in their journey because he feels immense feelings of loneliness after losing his companion pet dog, Jonnie. His friend suggested that he obtain one from the Iraqi Marshes along the Tigris River because, apparently, otters there were as widely abundant there as the mosquitos. Unfortunately, only his friend's mail had arrived at the destination, which he was informed about as soon as he landed in Iraq. After a few days of waiting together, the friend moved out while the narrator was still awaiting his mail.

After five long days and testing out his patience to the highest level, he finally received his mail, after which, when he got back to his room, he found an otter that was evidently caught by a local fisherman, and some Arabs were assisting the otter. The otter was resting peacefully in a sack; after handing over the precious sack to him, the Arabs also provided him with a message from his friend. When he opened the letter, it said: "Here is your otter...". After some thoughtful consideration, he gave the otter the name Mijbil (Mij in short). The author agreed to collect the otter and was thrilled to have it as his pet. The author was fascinated by the otter's playful and affectionate nature, and he spent most of his time playing with Mijbil. The author's fascination with Mijbil grew when he learned that Mijbil is a rare type of otter found only in the marshes of Iraq.

Mijbil the Otter Summary Class 10 English

The otter was a little animal resembling a miniature dragon, as his traits were fearless, assertive, and a rebel of sorts. Initially, it was covered with muck from head to tail. Its velvety skin was supple underneath the muck. He had the appearance of a mole in chocolate brown. The author had to scrub the mud off his body for many days. Mijbil was first neither hostile nor friendly. He was just distant and uninterested. He spent the first night sleeping on the ground. He slept between the author's knees the following night after falling onto his bed.

Mijbil began to get curious about its surroundings. For him, the author designed a body belt. Mijbil appreciated his bath as he was carried to the bathroom. He was quite ferocious when it came to playing with water, and the author was mentally prepared to face it as he was well aware of the fact that otters have a deep affinity when it comes to water. It leaped and tumbled in the bathtub with joy. Mijbil enjoys playing with water and quickly mastered how to open the faucet on his own, which clearly shows his curiosity and intellect when water is involved.

According to the writer, Mij enjoys spending the majority of time playing with rubber balls and marbles. The author's relationship with Mijbil grows stronger as the days go by. Mijbil becomes a part of the author's life, and he takes him everywhere he goes. The author also teaches Mijbil several tricks, which amuse both him and the otter. However, the author soon realizes that keeping an otter as a pet is challenging. Mijbil is a wild animal requiring a lot of attention and care. The author also faces several challenges, including finding the right food for Mijbil and dealing with his destructive behavior.

The author's love for Mijbil is evident throughout the story, and he goes to great lengths to take care of him. The author even builds a special enclosure for Mijbil, where he can swim and play in the sea. The author's dedication to Mijbil is admirable, and it shows how much he cares for the otter.

Eventually, after some good time spent, it was time for both of them to go back to England. He feared the idea of getting Mij to Camusfeama and England because he was still determining whether the otter would find that place welcoming or not. He was aware that British Airways would not allow animals to fly through their planes. So, he had to make reservations for flights with another airline to Paris and then from there to London. The airline recommended that Mij be transported in a box. An hour before leaving for the airport, the author placed Mij in the box so that Mij could become used to it.

The flight was only ten minutes away from the time of departure, and they had 5 miles to travel to reach the airport. The car's driver went quite quickly. The plane was ready to take off. He sped inside. Newspapers were spread across the area around his seat. He gave the airline hostess the package for the otter. She helped the author and suggested that he maintain the animal perched on his knee. But Mij soon emerged from the confines. He vanished quickly after that. The plane descended into mayhem all of a sudden. Squawks and shrieks could be heard everywhere. He managed to get a curry on his face from the plate of the Indian sitting beside him while attempting to grab the otter. The flight attendant gave him her word that she would locate the otter. Trusting her, the author sat down again. The otter eventually approached him and sat on his lap.

Mij gradually adapted to its surroundings in London. Usually, his little toys kept him busy enough to notice that they were thousands of miles away from Mij's home country. It started ping-pong balls and marbles games. The game Mij used to play with his damaged bag also astounded the author. Mij was frequently taken for walks by Maxwell, and the Londoners would imaginatively speculate about his pet. Some referred to Mij as a young seal, beaver, or squirrel; quite astonishingly, a few others would call the otter a hippo.

In conclusion, "Mijbil the Otter" is a heartwarming story that showcases the bond between humans and animals. Gavin Maxwell's writing style and his realistic approach toward storytelling really add charm to the story and keep the audience engaged in it, and his love for nature and animals is evident throughout the book. Gavin Maxwell's writing style is simple yet engaging.

The story highlights the joys and challenges of keeping a wild animal as a pet and the importance of taking care of them. Maxwell's deep love for Mijbil and his dedication to taking care of it and understanding its needs and desires is a testament to the strong bond that can develop between humans and animals. "Mijbil the Otter" is a touching and memorable story that will leave readers feeling both happy and sad. It is a beautiful tribute to the power of love and the beauty of nature.