Marine Biologist REACTS to Casual Geographic / The TRUTH About Sea Otters

A marine biologist reacts to Casual Geographic's viral video about the disturbing behaviors of sea otters, as well as comments suggesting to "do more research" about why female sea otters have nose scars. Which is a bold thing to say to a marine biologist who has worked hands on with sea otters for over a decade.

00:00 - Casual Geographic Sea Otters
01:00 - Marine Biologist Background
02:00 - Why Do Female Sea Otters Have Nose Scars?
02:45 - What Do Male Sea Otters Do to Females?
04:45 - Sea Otters and Baby Seals
05:40 - Otters are Evil?
06:49 - Are Sea Otters Dangerous?
07:50 - Marine Biologist Reacts to Casual Geographic
09:08 - KPassionate

Casual Geographic knows his stuff and I encourage everyone to follow his social media. However, my sea otter reaction video WAS made in response to the countless comments I that appear on all of my sea otter videos. I simply want to encourage viewers to remember that Casual Geographic's wildlife TikToks, and my videos as well for that matter, are meant to entertain as well as educate. Sometimes this means being a little dramatic.

Casual Geographic's original video on sea otters:

So what is the truth about otters? Are sea otters the menacing predators of viral lore? Or are otters the most adorable animal on the planet? Is it possible that the truth about otters is somewhere in between? Well, I can absolutely confirm that Casual Geographic has done his research. Sea otters are the largest member of the weasel family, a family that includes wolverines and honey badgers, and otters are just as mischievous, determined, and dangerous as their more infamous cousins. So I should be clear that this Casual Geographic reaction is not meant to criticize him or his videos.

Sea otter mating behavior can be aggressive. Male sea otters will sometimes bite a female sea otter on the nose in order to prevent her from escaping. Which is why many female sea otters have nose scars. But it's important to note that these hyper aggressive mating behaviors are happening in California where the sea otter population is booming. The population growth is WONDERFUL news but the problem is that these southern sea otters are not expanding their range. This is important because male sea otters are solitary and will establish a territory. These male otters will then patrol and fiercely defend that territory from other males. And all the female sea otters within that territory are his to breed with as long as he can fight off other male competitors. Because the sea otters in California are not expanding their range, there are hundreds of male sea otters, typically juveniles or geriatric males, without a territory and thus unable to breed. Not because they don’t want to, but because the dominant male sea otters won’t let them.

Sources:

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[Ruosteinenknight]

He did another one about otters(among other animals) called "without otters the world would be on fire", which is exactly what it says. He makes it clear that without seaotters we all would be much worse off as they're a keystone species.

[aikens]

I love seeing a marine biologist confirming and setting the record straight. Casual Geographic definitely does his research. Yes he says some animals are morally corrupt (see his videos on penguins) but he does it for laughs he has definitely said in more then one video their is no morality in nature. Love his content and yours as well. Thanks for the edutainment

[anonview]

I've been watching Casual Geographic for a few months now and some of his viewers can be ridiculous. The reason he gives over the top descriptions is so that others can get interested in animals and nature. Unfortunately, some people think they can be experts themselves by just watching his uploads... which are meant for entertainment.

[jrmckim]

The biggest thing is that he gets people to stop and learn about animals without it being "boring". I'm a teacher and found that making something funny helps kids remember it better. I've been a huge fan of his for years.... before it was "cool". He's a good guy all around.

[calebrands]

As a big fan of Casual Geographic, I'm glad to see that you're on good terms with him. As for his use of comparing human morals with animals, I see it more as a method to be more entertaining rather than a way to intentionally demonize animals since he has made it clear that animals will be animals and he still clearly loves them. Never have I watched one of his videos and thought a whole species was evil. If anything, he's made me like animals even more and reignited my facination with zoology. I'm even rewatching Planet Earth. (I feel a similar way about the show: River Monsters.) It's facinating to look at the dark side of nature, but it becomes a problem when people generalize whole species based off singular facts.

I think it's insane that people told you to "do your research" when you're a marine biologist. It would be like if I told Bethany Hamilton to get good at surfing. In the words of Casual Geographic himself: "Orangutans are endangered and dumbasses on the internet are kind of overpopulated."

Personally, I think he's too good for TikTok.

[SiverFangBlackWing]

7:50 Casual Geographic actually tackles that in a way. As he says in the beginning that video is because he told people to name any animal and he could “ruin it”and they chose otters. He was pointing out that all animals have a negative side to them and you can make any of the sound bad if you wanted. Test him, he’s probably already done it with your favorite animal.

[JN-rzfx]

While Casual Geographic did his research, there are a lot more who spread misinformation. It's worrying and alarming that people are actually telling professionals in their field to "do their research".

[JeffRebornNow]

I discovered my cat reading Kant the other day. He was not impressed with the arguments in "Critique of Practical Reason, " and said that the "moral imperative" was bullshit. He was determined to continue killing birds, chipmunks, and baby bunnies.

[fossilfueled]

To be fair, Casual Geographic has also mentioned about seals violating penguins... he's pretty indiscriminate about which animals he ruins for people :)

[ChrimsonFoxdon]

The “you can love an animal and still respect that it’s a wild animal” is so true. I see many people just… not comprehending that. Like they think a wild animal will be as obedient as their dog. I also remember seeing a clip of a family putting a little girl on the back of a wild sea Lion to take a picture. Did not end well

[alegriah]

Excellent video, especially the part about morality being a human concept and not something we should expect of animals. Love this series.

[corydalton]

Love how a couple of weeks after this post Casual Geographic added an addendum to his sea otter content. You are changing the world KP!

[A.Lien]

I love how you say “Nature is indifferent and doesn’t have morality” goddamn that’s so true and some people just don’t get it

[jlpeters]

Thank you for setting the record straight. Ironically, humans have done far worse than any otter has ever done, and otters aren't judgmental.

[chloemae]

Please do more casual geographic breakdowns! I'm here from his channel and loved this vid. I think it's funny how a lot of his viewers are so blind to his actual intentions with making those videos. He loves animals and knowing those facts doesn't change that. And it definitely doesn't make the animals somehow evil 😂

[Elizabeth-hnyd]

Excellent video, KP! I’m a scientist too (entirely different field), and I’m so impressed by your ability to explain marine biology in an accurate, accessible, and appealing way. I really love the way you promote scientific thinking: consultation of source materials, putting individual facts into a larger context, and the importance of expertise. Thank you!!

[Nighteyes]

If learning one bad thing about an animal makes you hate this animal, well you should hate humans too ! Thanks KP for this video, loved it !

[ThePsychicClarinetist]

I'm late, but I love this video! I loved Casual Geographic's videos (and still do love them) from the moment I found them, and respect his honesty and his humor is immaculate. You perfectly outline how people take relevant information from relevant contexts and make irrelevant, biased statements using them. I took a Wolf Behavior class in college last semester, and it was so fascinating to understand wolves on a deeper level. That same professor also teaches an Animal Behavior course as well, which I'm considering taking in the future (I'm a music major so my schedule ends up ridiculously packed very often). My point in bringing up that class ties into what you said about context. The professor would always say "Which wolves where?", which I believe she also got from a mentor or someone before her, and she used that phrase to help the students evaluate context and how we frame what animals do into said contexts. I think some people on the internet take context for granted; it's always important. I'm very glad that you mentioned that and also mentioned how ridiculous it is to hate an animal based on a claim that only applies to the minority. Same can be applied to other human beings and to fandoms, TBH. That said, I have a bias against dolphins that I should finally address.

Thank you for such an informative video, and the clips of those adorable otters! 🧡 I love the work Marine Biologists do, you guys are so inspiring. Maybe my next degree will be in that. 😁

[ironxtj_]

I love how well you explain the slight inaccuracies and other subjects, it really brings a lot of insight and context to things that should definitely get more recognition. Many facts in the animal kingdom are commonly exaggerated or misunderstood, so really love the video and would love for it to get more exposure, keep up the amazing work.

[metalmikey]

brilliant video love how you didn't hate on his videos, you confirmed what he was talking about, he just has a dramatic way of explaining situations that have been documented in nature. Plus you make sure to remind everyone, that morals is a human thing and shouldn't be expected of any other animal. sure you can see human behaviour in other animals especially pets, but thats behaviour it learns from their owners and people around them. Nature isnt evil it isnt good....its just survival at the end of the day.