Otter in the Wildlife Park is totally embracing Tiktok’s “Interpretive Dance” trend like a boss

Have you seen the latest TikTok trend where people show off their pets’ dancing skills? TikTokers call it “interpretive dance” and it’s pretty entertaining! Tanganika Wildlife Park, located in Goddard, Kansas, decided to jump on the trend and featured an adorable otter dancing to an interpretive dance, and the otter dances as if he knows the beat of the music!

You may be wondering how a 5 second video can be so cute, but once you watch it, you’ll see what the hype is all about. It’s as if he can feel the music in his soul. Make sure the sound is on as you watch the otter dance to the beat (it’s perfect!)

I think it’s safe to say the Otter nailed this feat! Tanganyika fans left hundreds of comments on the Otter’s outstanding performance. @Tori yelled, “YOU CAN DANCE??? IS THAT REAL???” and Tanganika replied, “That’s their potty dance.” Maybe we should have given them some privacy! @Muneca spoke for us all when they said: “Big fan of the little wiggles!” and @Lisa added: “This one wins. I don’t make the rules.”

Why do otters dance?

Yes, otters seem to dance when they need to go potty. It’s cute, but don’t be fooled, they’re getting ready to go. KUOW shared what Michelle Wainstein, a wildlife biologist who studies otter feces along the Green and Duwamish rivers, had to say about the dance: “We have wonderful footage of what we call the scat dance. They will dance a little with their back feet and lift their tail a little and do their thing.”

While it may seem like they’re dancing, experts point out that it’s actually tapping and that they don’t just do it when they need to use the facilities. Patch Farms discusses the topic: “Researchers have observed groups of adult otters energetically tap dancing together while socializing. These Otter dance parties help strengthen social bonds within the group.”

This tapping, as cute as it is, is a form of communication that allows otters to socialize and find food. You let others know that food is nearby by tapping on them. Patch Farms points out: “Otters are very adept at using their paws to tap and dislodge invertebrates such as snails, crabs and abalone from rocky surfaces along the seashore. Their rapid tapping helps dislodge shellfish that are firmly attached to rocks and also helps otters locate creatures hidden in crevices or buried under mud.”

While tapping seems to be an important form of communication in the otter world, for those of us who observe it, it’s just a nice thing. Bonus points for Tanganyika if you share it with all of us so we can learn more about the otters!

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