The heartwarming story of Billy Mail and orphaned otter pup Molly takes centre stage in a national geographic documentary, now nominated for multiple awards

 In a remarkable story of friendship, Billy Mail’s connection with an orphaned otter pup named Molly has become the subject of an award-winning documentary. Mail discovered Molly in 2021 when she was alone and starving, near his Shetland home. What started as an attempt to observe the animal quickly turned into a bond that would change their lives. Despite otters being naturally cautious, Molly showed no fear, likely due to desperation, and quickly warmed to Mail and his family.

As Molly regained strength, she continued to visit the Mail household, becoming a regular part of their lives. The unique companionship was filmed by wildlife filmmaker Charlie Hamilton James, a National Geographic photographer. The documentary premiered at the South by Southwest festival and won an award at the Wildscreen festival. It has since earned several nominations for the US Critics’ Choice documentary awards.

Mail and his wife Susan moved to Shetland in 2018, and while Susan initially found the otter’s presence unusual, she soon found herself charmed by Molly’s antics, including rummaging through shopping bags and sneaking into the car. The Mails allowed a camera crew to document these daily interactions, with Susan admitting she was moved to tears when she saw the final cut of the film.

The film now streaming on National Geographic continues to inspire viewers with the heartwarming bond between man and otter, celebrating the unexpected beauty of their connection.