January 12, 2025

This Photo of the Week focuses on the return of a graceful, playful animal. We also find these camouflaged critters ... and marvel at a baby rhino and zebra who are BFFs. In the week’s breaking news, we select stunning images of the horrible L.A. wildfires.

PHOTOGRAPH BY RALPH PACE  

The otters are back! They are graceful, playful. They hug each other and give each other shoulder rides. Can you imagine a world without sea otters? It almost happened a century ago, after they were overhunted for their fur. Our Photo of the Week celebrates their return, to the delight of tourists. Why isn’t everyone happy?

Also: Breaking news of the week—apocalyptic photos from the Los Angeles wildfires 

PHOTOGRAPH BY STEFANO UNTERTHINER, NAT GEO IMAGE COLLECTION  

Can you spot this hidden animals? Camouflage is complicated. It comes in multiple styles, and some animals use more than one to fool predators. Test your animal-spotting ability.

Related: These wild honeybees, hidden in a tree, have their own secret world 

Also: See the best wildlife photos of the year  

PHOTOGRAPH BY CARE FOR WILD RHINO SANCTUARY    

The importance of friendship: Why can’t a zebra and a baby white rhino be best friends? They chase and race and play ball at this sanctuary in South Africa—and snuggle up together at night. See more!

Photography 101: Tracking a rhino that was the last of its kind 

Today’s Soundtrack: Those Damn Roches, Linda Thompson and Teddy Thompson

Bonus Track: Hammond Song, The Roches 

Thanks for reading today’s newsletter, which was edited and curated by David Beard and produced by Amanda Williams-Bryant. Sign up here to catch our future Photos of the Week newsletters.