Sunday, 17 Apr 2022
Otters from the 'Zouk family' attracting the attention of curious on-lookers at the Alexandra Park Connector, on April 6, 2022. - The Straits Times/ANN
SINGAPORE, April 17 (The Straits Times/ANN): Otters spotted in local waters and elsewhere in Singapore have received much media attention recently, including global coverage, but Singapore residents are divided on views over their thriving numbers.
Some people find them a menace, while others call for coexistence with the animals.
The aquatic mammals have been in the limelight following recent incidents, including a jaunt at the Istana last month and an episode where an otter bit a man in the calf at Kallang Riverside Park earlier this month.
International media outlets such as BBC and National Geographic have also reported on otters adapting to Singapore's urban setting.
On April 6, The Straits Times joined Bernard Seah, 53, and other volunteers from the Otter Working Group on their morning expedition to Alexandra Canal to observe a romp of 14 otters, known famously as the "Zouk family", go about their morning activities.
The volunteers were among a crowd of more than 20 people lining the canal to watch the otter family forage for their breakfast in the water.
The Otter Working Group is made up of members of the public and various government and animal welfare agencies vested in the welfare of otters.
After an hour in the canal, the otters returned to land and crossed Prince Charles Crescent, sneaking into Tanglin View condominium. Upon being promptly ushered out by a security guard, they made their way into the ponds at the Alexandra Canal water play area.
Of the 12 members of the public ST spoke to, nine said they were fascinated by the creatures or did not mind them.
Bryce Tan, a financial service manager who was jogging along the Alexandra Park Connector, said it was interesting to be so close to wildlife.
The 38-year-old said: "There are so many high-rise buildings and construction in Singapore that we don't come close to wildlife, other than birds and insects, very often."
A handful of people, however, find the otters a threat.
Retired shipping manager Yeo Hock Chew, 73, who lives in Pasir Panjang, said he fears for the safety of his seven koi after otters were seen roaming near his house.
"Our island is too well connected with waterways of rivers, canals, streams, drains and creeks, enabling otters to move easily across our land," he said, suggesting that the population be controlled by neutering some of the animals.
Graham Spencer, who suffered more than 20 wounds after being attacked at the Singapore Botanic Gardens by otters believed to be part of the Zouk family last November, said: "I'm badly scarred forever because they are very deep wounds.
"Every now and then, I get dreams and flashbacks of what happened. I'm still trying to get over it."
The maid agency owner, who is in his 60s, now avoids dimly lit areas in the gardens, and is extra cautious when he walks past undergrowth in the area where he was bitten.
"Why don't we give them their own lake with fish so people can enjoy them and we can control (their activity). That way, we will not have to worry about them stripping people's ponds of their koi," he added.
Seah, who has been shadowing otters since 2012, said the Zouk family is known to be the most human-tolerant otter family in Singapore.
But due to the animal's protective nature, the adults are especially cautious and wary of their surroundings if there are young pups in the family, he said.
Photographer Tan Yong Lin, 32, who tracks otters twice a week, said the idea that the otter population is rising beyond control could be due to the prevalence of their photos on social media.
"When you see a lot of otter content online, there's the impression that otter numbers are rising. But many people are taking photos of the same family," he said.
As part of efforts to educate the public on interacting with otters, the Otter Working Group conducted a workshop for a group of 11 instructors from outdoor experiential learning institution Outward Bound Singapore (OBS) recently.
Tay Chiew Guat, a master training consultant from OBS, told ST that it was important for the organisation and its educators to learn how to coexist with the animals as there are two families of otters, the Punggol Otters and Halus Otters, within the school's programme operation areas in Punggol Road and Coney Island, which is near Lorong Halus.
Amanda Soh, an OBS instructor and team manager, said otters residing in Singapore's waterways provide the public an opportunity to admire the animals and learn how to coexist with wildlife.
She said: "With urbanisation, it is inevitable that the living spaces of humans and otters coincide. When awareness is raised to react or respond to otters positively, we will be able to coexist instead of being in constant conflict."
Engineer C.K. Ang, 52, the jogger who was bitten by an otter earlier this month, said: "I shared my experience to remind the public to give otters their space. I don't want the public to say just cull the animals. It was not their fault, it was my fault.
"We should learn how to live with wild animals and not react (negatively) just because of one incident."
- The Straits Times/ANN
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