Class 10th Mijbil the Otter – Summary in English CBSE

Mijbil the Otter – Summary in English

“Mijbil the Otter” is an interesting story written by Gavin Maxwell. It tells us about the author’s experience of keeping an otter as a pet and the special friendship that develops between them. In the winter of 1956, the author travelled to southern Iraq. He decided that he wanted to keep an otter instead of a dog because his home, Camusfearna, was surrounded by water and was a suitable place for an otter to live. When the author shared his idea with a friend, the friend suggested that he get an otter from the marshes of the Tigris River, where many otters lived. The author and his friend went to Basra to collect the animal. However, there was a delay in receiving the author’s mail from England. After waiting for several days, the author finally received his mail and returned to his room. To his surprise, he found two Arabs waiting there with an otter for him. The author was delighted to receive the animal and soon began to understand its unusual nature. At first, the otter looked strange because its body was covered with mud and dirt. Its back appeared to have small scales, while the fur underneath was soft and brown, like the fur of a mole. It took several months for the otter to lose all the mud covering its body. The author named him Mijbil, or Mij for short. Later, zoologists identified the animal as a type of smooth-coated otter and gave it the scientific name *Lutrogale perspicillata maxwelli*, also known as Maxwell’s otter. When Mij first arrived, he was shy and kept away from the author. He preferred sleeping on the floor rather than on the bed. However, the next night he came closer and slept near the author’s knees. Slowly, Mij became comfortable in his new home and began exploring everything around him. The author discovered that Mij loved water more than anything else. He took the otter to the bathroom and allowed him to play in the bathtub. Mij became extremely excited and enjoyed splashing around in the water. Two days later, he managed to escape from the bedroom and find his way to the bathroom by himself. He even learned to turn on the tap. When water began flowing, he played happily in it. Later, when he could not turn the tap on, he showed his anger and frustration. This behaviour made the author realize how intelligent and curious Mij was. The otter soon learned to respond when the author called his name. He also enjoyed playing with different objects around the house. One of his favourite activities was pushing a rubber ball around the room as if he were playing football. He especially liked small objects that he could hold between his paws, such as marbles. The author was amazed by Mij’s playful nature and gradually became deeply attached to him.

After spending some peaceful days in Basra, the author had to prepare for his journey back to England with Mij. This was not easy because travelling with an animal required special arrangements. The British airline did not allow him to take Mij on its flight, so the author booked another airline to Paris and planned to continue from there to London. Before the journey, he decided to put Mij inside a travelling box so that the otter could become familiar with it. Unfortunately, Mij did not like being locked inside the box. On the day of the flight, the author went out for a meal and returned to find the box strangely silent. When he looked closely, he noticed blood around the air holes. He quickly opened the box and found Mij exhausted and covered in blood. The frightened otter had struggled so much that he had torn the lining of the box and injured himself. The author felt worried, but there was very little time left before the flight. The airport was about five miles away, and the plane was ready to leave. He carefully put Mij back into the box and hurried to the airport. During the journey, the driver drove very fast through the streets of Basra to make sure they reached the airport in time. The author finally boarded the aeroplane with Mij. He placed newspapers around his seat and gave a parcel of fish to the air hostess, explaining that it was food for his pet. After hearing what had happened to Mij inside the box, the air hostess suggested that the author allow the otter to sit on his knees. The author agreed and opened the box. Mij came out, but he soon disappeared from sight. Suddenly, there was noise and confusion inside the aeroplane. A woman screamed that she had seen a rat. The passengers became frightened and began looking around. The author searched for Mij and finally spotted his tail near the feet of an Indian passenger. During the confusion, the author’s face became covered with curry. The air hostess tried to calm everyone down and promised to help find the animal. Fortunately, Mij eventually returned to the author on his own. The incident was stressful, but it also showed how curious and adventurous Mij could be. After reaching London, the author stayed there with Mij for nearly a month. During this time, Mij continued to play with many objects, including marbles, rubber toys, and ping-pong balls. One of his favourite games involved a suitcase. He would place a ping-pong ball on its sloping surface, catch it as it rolled down, and then repeat the game again and again. He seemed to enjoy this simple activity for hours. The author was happy to see Mij playing freely and becoming more confident in his surroundings.

When the author began taking Mij for walks around the streets of London, the otter attracted a great deal of attention. The author took him outside on a lead to give him exercise and allow him to explore the world. Mij behaved almost like a playful child. He ran around, touched different things, and showed interest in everything he saw. During their walks, he often led the author towards the outside wall of a primary school. He would run and jump along the wall, which greatly amused the children and teachers. Many people in London had never seen an otter before, so they were often confused about what kind of animal Mij was. Some people guessed that he was a baby seal, while others thought he might be a walrus, a hippo, a beaver, a bear cub, or even a leopard. The author found these guesses amusing because Mij was simply an otter. He explained that otters belong to the same broad animal family as creatures such as weasels, badgers, stoats, and minks. People were curious and often stopped the author to ask questions about his unusual pet. One day, a labourer who was digging a hole in the street noticed Mij. He stopped working, put down his tool, came closer, and stared at the animal in surprise. Finally, he asked the author, “Here, Mister—what is that supposed to be?” The author considered this one of the most amusing questions he had received. Through these experiences, the story shows how Mij brought excitement and happiness into the author’s life. It also highlights the intelligence, curiosity, and playful behaviour of otters. The author’s relationship with Mij grew stronger as they travelled and spent time together. Although caring for an unusual pet sometimes created difficulties, the author enjoyed Mij’s company and learned to understand his needs. The story teaches us that animals have their own personalities and feelings. With patience, love, and proper care, humans can develop close bonds with them. “Mijbil the Otter” is not just a story about keeping a pet; it is also a warm account of friendship, trust, and the joy that animals can bring into our lives.

 

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