Gavin Maxwell was a Scottish naturalist best known for his work with otters, chronicled in his book Ring of Bright Water. In 1956, Maxwell traveled to Iraq and was given an otter named Mijbil that he brought back to Scotland. Over time, Maxwell bonded with Mijbil and observed his playful behavior and habits as he acclimated to life in Scotland, far from his native marshes in Iraq. Maxwell documented their relationship in his popular book.