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---
title: Viral Video: Otters Play Keyboard At Smithsonian National Zoo
description: They're actually pretty good if you cut them a bit of slack. Since, you know, they're otters
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author: Samantha Grossman
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article:published_time: 2014-05-28T14:58:25.000Z
article:modified_time: 2026-10-01T08:52:54.033Z
og:title: Watch Otters Playing the Keyboard
og:description: Thanks for this, Smithsonian
og:url: https://time.com/123240/here-are-some-otters-tickling-the-ivories/
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og:image:alt: Asian Small-Clawed Otters play keyboard at Smithsonian's National Zoo
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twitter:title: Watch Otters Playing the Keyboard
twitter:description: Thanks for this, Smithsonian
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![](https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt224409f97c540f0a/6986910c55a8594ee3a80fb2/otters.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9)


# Here Are Some Otters Tickling the Ivories

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<!-- video src="https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/huElnLuV.m3u8" -->
## Video: Otters Play Keyboard at Smithsonian National Zoo

[Watch (HLS stream): Otters Play Keyboard at Smithsonian National Zoo](https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/huElnLuV.m3u8) (0:32)

![Otters Play Keyboard at Smithsonian National Zoo](https://cdn.jwplayer.com/v2/media/huElnLuV/poster.jpg?width=720)

_Published 2014-05-30. Otters play Keyboard at Smithsonian National Zoo (Video courtesy: Smithsonian's National Zoo)_


by 

[Samantha Grossman](https://time.com/author/samantha-grossman/)


## Samantha Grossman


May 28, 2014 2:58 PM UTC

by 

[Samantha Grossman](https://time.com/author/samantha-grossman/)


## Samantha Grossman


May 28, 2014 2:58 PM UTC

A group of Asian small-clawed otters got a chance to show off their musical talents by [playing a keyboard ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wsRlO4dQJGI)at the National Zoo. (It’s part of their “enrichment” program.)

Some are total slackers and just hang back, riding on the coattails of the other otters. But those who go for it, well, they _really_ go for it. Bravo.


## Transcript

[ MUSIC ]

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