Eurasian otter and pup, Estonia Jan. 12, 2026

Eurasian otter and pup, Estonia

The clue isn"t the tracks in the snow—it"s the frosted faces peeking out like they"ve just discovered winter. Estonia is one of Europe"s best places to spot Eurasian otters, thanks to its clean rivers, wide wetlands and snack-filled coastline. This protected species was named Estonia"s Animal of the Year in 2024. While globally considered near threatened, their population here has grown substantially, reaching an estimated 2,000 in recent years, up from a historic low of just 300 before the turn of the millennium.

© Sven Zacek/naturepl.com

palette

Today in History

Where two continents meet
Jan. 12, 2024Bukhansan National Park, South Korea
Jan. 12, 2025Crescent-tail bigeye fish, Great Barrier Reef, Australia

More Desktop Wallpapers:

How sweet to be a star, floating in the blue.
Dec. 29, 2024Borobudur temple, Java, Indonesia
Hide-and-go-seek world champion
Jan. 29, 2024Gollinger Waterfalls, Salzburg, Austria
Celebrating our looming lunar neighbour
Nov. 4, 2023American bison
Butterfly, fly away
Mar. 14, 2024Happy Pi Day!
Oct. 25, 2023Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, Utah
The worlds most exclusive beach?
Apr. 10, 2024Siblings Day
Remembering D-Day
Oct. 25, 2024Frankenstein Friday
Sep. 14, 2024Rapa Nui National Park, Easter Island, Chile
All is calm
Where did you drop the fish, son?
May 8, 2025World Donkey Day
Nov. 22, 2023Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming
Positively purple peaks
Feb. 23, 2024Haghartsin Monastery, Armenia
Sep. 18, 2023Milky Way over Southwest Alentejo and Vicentine Coast Natural Park
Apr. 19, 2025Zion National Park, Utah, United States
May 29, 2025Miravet, Catalonia, Spain
Aug. 30, 2023International Whale Shark Day
Go hug a mountain, if you can
Dec. 12, 2025Capilano Suspension Bridge Park, Vancouver, British Columbia
Nature at its colourful best
Sep. 8, 2025International Literacy Day
May 12, 2024Mothers Day
May 20, 2024Victoria Day