MIJBIL THE OTTER
Summary:
“Mijbil the Otter” is written by Gavin Maxwell, a Scottish naturalist. The story narrates the
author’s unique experience of adopting and living with an otter. After the death of his pet
dog, the author decided to have an otter as a pet. He obtained one through his friend from
the Tigris marshes in Iraq. The otter, whom he named Mijbil (or Mij), was initially shy,
restless, and suspicious, but gradually grew fond of Maxwell.
Soon, Mij began to show his playful and affectionate nature. He loved water, playing
endlessly with it, and inventing games with objects like marbles, balls, or even a damaged
suitcase. He displayed intelligence, mischief, and curiosity, keeping the author amused all
the time.
When Maxwell had to return to London, traveling with Mij became quite a challenge. Since
airlines did not permit animals directly, Mij had to be carried in a box. At the airport, Mij
created chaos when he escaped, running around the terminal, frightening people who had
never seen an otter before. Despite the difficulties, Maxwell successfully brought Mij to
London.
There too, Mij continued to charm people with his antics. Strangers mistook him for exotic
animals like a beaver, baby seal, or squirrel, as otters were unfamiliar in England. The story
beautifully shows the bond between man and animal, and highlights the joy and
companionship that pets bring into human life.
Theme:
Human-animal bond
Love for nature and wildlife
Joy of companionship
Short Question
1. What happened when the box opened in the airplane?
Answer:
When the box was opened, Mij went out of the box. He disappeared at a high
speed down the aircraft. There were cries all around. A woman stood up on
her seat crying, “A rat! A rat!”.
2. Why did Maxwell get his mail after five days and what did he do to get it?
Answer- Maxwell got his mail after 5 days due to some delay. He cabled and tried to
telephone in order to get his mail.
3. What was the first characteristic of the otter discovered by the narrator?
Answer:
The first thing that the narrator observed about the otter was that he liked to play with water.
When he was taken to the bathroom, for half an hour he went wild in the water with joy. He
was plunging, jumping and rolling in the water.
MCQ
1, How did Mijbil behave on the first night with Maxwell?
a) He slept peacefully
b) He tore the lining of the box and refused to come out
c) He bit Maxwell out of fear
d) He played happily with toys
2. What was Mijbil’s favorite activity?
a) Eating fish
b) Sleeping on Maxwell’s bed
c) Playing with water and creating games
d) Running after birds
3 . What was the reaction of the passengers at the airport when Mijbil escaped?
a) They laughed and enjoyed the scene
b) They ran in panic, not recognizing the animal
c) They tried to help Maxwell catch it
d) They ignored the incident
4. In London, what did strangers mistake Mij for?
a) A seal, a beaver, or a squirrel
b) A mongoose, a rabbit, or a cat
c) A lizard, a puppy, or a ferret
d) A rat, a hare, or a fox
5. What quality of Mijbil shows his intelligence?
a) He never trusted anyone
b) He invented games and could manipulate objects
c) He was always hungry
d) He obeyed commands like a trained do
6. Assertion (A): Mijbil was always attracted to water.
Reason (R): Otters are naturally semi-aquatic animals that love to swim and play in water.
a) Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A
b) Both A and R are true, but R is not the correct explanation of A
c) A is true, R is false
d) A is false, R is true
HOTS Questions
Q.1 “Pets are not just animals; they become companions.” How does this story justify the
statement?
Q2. Compare Mijbil’s behavior in Iraq and London. What does it reveal about adaptability in
animals?
