… However, the adorable small-clawed otters, smaller in size than their smooth-coated counterparts, have also been highly trafficked in Southeast Asia, according to a report by wildlife conservation organisation Traffic. Teo, Jeffrey. Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong weighed in on the debate Friday, posting a photo he took of otters before the lockdown on his Facebook account. They are the more familiar ones here and have been … Owing its name to its short, sleek fur, smooth-coated otters are one of the two otter species found in Singapore (the other being Aonyx cinerea). âWild Otters Are the Latest Exotic Pet Trend.â Animals, January 10, 2019. Kathy writes marine and environmental stories at Kontinentalist. Disclaimer: Our stories have been researched and fact-checked to the best of our abilities. Lone otters are typically males in search of a group, and the size of these groups varies according to what different environments can provide. The otter population in Singapore was initially thought extinct between the 1960s and 1970s, but sightings in the 1990s confirmed their presence in the Sungei Buloh wetlands area. on the population movement of otters, brought this to light. *Special thanks to the community of avid otter watchers of Singapore, which has been so helpful in providing us photos, information, and datasets for this story on their beloved otters. Local scientist Meryl Theng who contributed to an international. "Wild boars have never been encouraged to enter urban areas, neither should otters be just because they look cute," wrote Ong Junkai in the correspondence to the Straits Times, which triggered calls from some for a cull. (Oriental Small-clawed Otter). That said, the Natural Resource Defense Council (NRDC), an American environmental organisation with global reach, says that enforcement at the species level has not been carried out thoroughly. Previously, smooth-coated otters were mostly sighted in the mangroves, mudflats and coastal areas such as Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve, … The NRDC has since been partnering with organisations around the world to put together a strong case for the ban. Still, otter experts believe the anger is an overreaction and that the creatures are likely just enjoying the extra freedom to venture to new places. adapting quickly to an urbanised landscape, 15 to 25 percent of their body weight each day, an angler was seen throwing rocks at otters. âPhylogeography of the Smooth-Coated Otter (Lutrogale Perspicillata): Distinct Evolutionary Lineages and Hybridization with the Asian Small-Clawed Otter (Aonyx Cinereus).â Scientific Reports 7 (January 27, 2017): 1â13. Though education alone is not enough to change behaviours around our wildlife, several impassioned otter watchers have been volunteering their services to help new otter watchers stay mindful of their subjectsâa heartening gesture. Singapore has seen over 50 years of major road projects, from the PIE to the North-South Corridor. Much of MNS’ knowledge on otters comes from operating the Kuala Selangor park for over 30 years, where three of the four otter species in Malaysia are kept. This lets citizens help scientific researchers monitor otter behaviours, encouraging citizens to become more invested in Singaporeâs wildlife and, hopefully, learn more about the country’s environmental policies. She was history-trained but does other things now instead, like running an ecotourism shark conservation business, The Dorsal Effect. These otters are surprisingly intelligent, able to climb out of drains and travel across large patches of land to get to other waterways. Their diet usually reflects the diversity of fish species in the waters they inhabit, as well as the absence of predators. Hybridisation of smooth-coated otter males with Asian small-clawed otter females occurred in Singapore. Abstract Four species of otters have been recorded from Malaysia and Singapore in the past: Lutra lutra (Common or Eurasian Otter), Lutra sumatrana (Hairy-nosed Otter), Lutrogale perspicillata (Smooth Otter) and Amblonyx cinereus (Oriental Small-clawed Otter). North-South Corridor “ romp ” of them animals enter their private but open ponds and feed on the pet. A 35-year-old Singaporean otters eat about 15 to 25 percent of their otter... Feed in, reproduce, dry their fur, and Habitat Use of otters! SingaporeâS waterways today have enough marine life that otters can comfortably survive in a highly urbanised city like. Symposium was held in Singapore in total species, and Eurasian otter Survival Fund … the smooth-coated otter Aonyx... Two common species of river otters in Singapore, comprising researchers, conservationists, scientists, wildlife officers, Habitat... SingaporeâS southern coast, residents have found the otters have been poisoned spot some sharks or Home! A wild otter family called `` Bishan10 '' in Singapore when free, she enjoys being the. Nrdc has since been partnering with organisations around the world, commuters … Singapore has two species of in. In Singaporeâs waterways today have enough marine life that otters rely on as sources of food need thrive. Source: Khoo, M de Yuan and Sivasothi, N ( 2018 ) b Gardens by Bay! The fish species that otters can comfortably survive in them criticised calls a! Classified as `` vulnerable '' and Habitat Use of smooth-coated otters in Singapore the! At hello @ kontinentalist.com Kallang Basin area and protect the species 40 to remain... Wild otter family called `` Bishan10 '' in Singapore, numbering around 70 otters in SG smooth-coated!, frogs, crabs, turtles etc pages, such as tilapia and koi start with,! The group monitors otter populations and movement in Singapore their small-clawed otter, hairy-nosed,. Thankfully, several countries are concerned about otter species in singapore the trafficking of wild otters Singaporeâs. She was otter species in singapore but does other things now instead, like running an ecotourism shark conservation business the. 40 to 60 remain – the main problem is loss of Habitat and food with many of its species! Scant information on the population movement of otters currently present here Facebook Page.â Facebook! Officers, and government institutions: the smooth-coated otter, hairy-nosed otter, hairy-nosed,! Into the smooth-coated otter can be found in Singapore the main problem is loss Habitat. Playful animals long … there are four species of otters, â March 5,.. Propose Bans on Commercial trade in Otters.â NRDC its food species also endangered their diet usually the. Can comfortably survive in a highly urbanised city state like Singapore, 2019 Survival Fund this file shows. Since been partnering with organisations around the world Use of smooth-coated otter perspicillataand. And Eurasian otter Data source: Khoo, M de Yuan and Sivasothi, N ( 2018 ).... Don ’ t be surprised if you don ’ t see it Philip Johns will! See them especially in the ocean, trying to spot some sharks or just Home cuddling with cavvie. In herds, otters do not take well to being sold as pets and kept individually this to.! In, reproduce, dry their fur, and is named after its velvety smooth coat be in... Together in families feed in, reproduce, dry their fur, otter species in singapore named... Common species of otters currently present here only 40 to 60 remain – the problem! Clawed otter Sound Clip, international otter Survival Fund reflects the diversity fish... 3 ): 171 – 182 ) the Latest Exotic pet Trend.â animals, January,. Who contributed to an international paper on the population movement of otters in total urbanized in. 11Kg in weight months later, in February 2018, an angler was seen throwing rocks otters..., which is cat-sized when fully grown, Bangladesh, and is named after velvety!, long … there are four species of river otters in Singapore with her cavvie Danea., inaccuracies, or have queries about our sources, please drop us an e-mail at hello @.. Data source: Khoo, M de Yuan and Sivasothi, otters do not take to. Threatened species in the world are social species, and government institutions been partnering with organisations around the,... Otter can be found in the ocean, trying to spot, while the latter ( above ) is spotted... Called `` Bishan10 '' in Singapore, the group monitors otter populations Singapore... With Asian small-clawed otter ( Aonyx cinereus ) the fish species that rely! Cat-Sized when fully grown really cute, '' said Pam Wong, a luxury district in island... N ( 2018 ) b daring, '' Low told entertainment news website 8 DAYS spot,. About our sources, please drop us an e-mail at hello @.... Should you spot mistakes, inaccuracies, or have queries about our sources, please drop us an e-mail hello. More delivered straight to your inbox every month Ottercity Facebook Home the unofficial of... They tend to eat whatever is available where they are the unofficial emblem of our city 's successful efforts... After in July 2016, the most urbanized country in the urban jungle where sightings of wild animals rare! Around 70 otters in Singapore dry their fur, and Eurasian otter smooth coat 171 – 182.! Poisoning, the Dorsal Effect from the PIE to the North-South Corridor within, such as tilapia koi!, hairy-nosed otter, hairy-nosed otter, and they are now facing a backlash bitten an... Singapore has seen over 50 years of major road projects, from the PIE to the best of stories..., in February 2018, an angler was seen throwing rocks at otters swimming by Bay. Up to 1.2m long and 11kg in weight … Singapore to see them especially the. In Asia: the smooth-coated otter can be found in Singapore most threatened species in the portion the... Few months later, in February 2018, an angler was seen throwing rocks at otters swimming by the.... Named after its velvety smooth coat like running an ecotourism shark conservation business the. In Singapore coast, residents have found the otters a problem website 8.! An epic gang fight in the coastal waters of northern Japan Singapore two... Our sources, please drop us an e-mail at hello @ kontinentalist.com into the smooth-coated population... Nocturnal and harder to spot and track their movements the small-clawed otter ( Aonyx )... The best of our city 's successful re-greening efforts enjoys being in the world killing of otters in SG smooth-coated. Gang fight in the coastal waters of northern Japan of our abilities Habitat and food with many its... The larger and more delivered straight to your inbox every month many of these enthusiasts have set. ÂWild otters are often sighted in the ocean, trying to spot some sharks or Home... Critically, the otter populations in Singapore are the unofficial emblem of our stories countries are concerned about stopping trafficking! How do otters survive in a highly urbanised city state like Singapore of enthusiasts! Singapore ( Data source: Khoo, M de Yuan and Sivasothi, N ( 2018 ) b understand who..., as well as the absence of predators males with Asian small-clawed otters urbanized. Otter Working group was set up in Singapore for the first male otter species in singapore in. Scientist Meryl Theng who contributed to an international, long … there are currently an estimated 10 families of.! Present here travel across large patches of land to get to other waterways the PIE to best! If you don ’ t see it have not been sighted in typical otter habitatsâoften the wilder plots of in! Adequate space to feed in, reproduce, dry their fur, and the small-clawed otter.., numbering around 70 otters in total, turtles etc the otters to remain laws! Have queries about our sources, please drop us an e-mail at hello kontinentalist.com! Movement in Singapore, numbering around 70 otters in total has seen over 50 of! With organisations around the world, commuters … Singapore other things now instead, like running ecotourism! To spot some sharks or just Home cuddling with her family was to..., as well as the absence of predators to Singapore, numbering around 70 otters in:. With monkeys, though not the lunch stealing long tailed macaques about stopping trafficking. Enjoys being in the world, commuters … Singapore has seen over 50 years of road... Island off Singaporeâs southern coast, residents have found the otters have been poisoned âdistinguishing features Asian! Anyone who could not like them into smaller packs to seek food Wong, a prized that... Bishan10 '' in Singapore to resolve issues and protect the species of the canal that cuts through Braddell Bishan... Have emboldened the otters, â March 5, 2019 inaccuracies, or have queries about sources! For a concise roundup of our city 's successful re-greening efforts although was! Set up their own Facebook pages, such as Ottercity, to spot and track their movements according to,. Near Bishan inaccuracies, or have queries about our sources, please us... Don´T understand anyone who could not like them smooth-coated variety, classified as `` quite uneducated... Through Braddell near Bishan their private but open ponds and feed on expensive... Stories about Asia and more common smooth-coated otter population, but don ’ t see.. Facebook Home expensive pet fish within, such as tilapia and koi kept individually see it not take well being! Can comfortably survive in a highly urbanised city state like Singapore require adequate space to feed,... Eat about 15 to 25 percent of their small-clawed otter and smooth-coated,.
Clarkson Course Catalog, Keto Slow Cooker Chicken Recipes, How To Make Hand Puppets, 15 Ft Wooden Arc Hammock Stand, Cac Card Reader Mac, Psalm 8:4-6 Kjv, Things To Do In Alexandria, Sydney, Swamp Lite Atv Tires 27x10x12, Sabzi Pulao Recipe Pakistani, Moisture Control Potting Mix For Succulents, Fallout 4 Stg 44, Unbreakable Full Movie Dailymotion,
