Whale populations in New York Harbour are booming—here's why, New frog species has special skin-puncturing claw, Colourful fish makes a splash as the 9,000th animal in our Photo Ark, First wild Sumatran rhino captured in urgent bid to save species, Endangered elephants trapped by world’s largest refugee camp, otters climbed up a metal maintenance ladder to exit a canal, lost 85,000 Singaporean dollars’ worth of ornamental fish over eight months, otter bit a five-year-old girl at a nature park, the Gardens by the Bay, Read how wildlife is hacking life in the city, vulnerable to extinction by the International Union for Conservation of Nature, Learn how wildlife can evolve quickly in cities, Read how hundreds of wild parrots have flocked to this Brazilian city, otter family suddenly ran across the Singapore Marathon route, Learn more about Singapore’s urban innovations. Lutra Lutra, the Eurasian otter, can be found across vast swathes of the world from Portugal in the west all the way east to Korea and as far south as Sumatra, but otter populations globally have been in decline for decades. Local scientist Meryl Theng who contributed to an international. https://www.bfm.my/dr-philip-johns-smooth-coated-otters-singapore.html. The 20-pound creatures have also adapted well to urban spaces, denning in concrete bridges and basking on patches of sand between slabs of pavement. By 2014, the otter population had expanded to the west and south coasts of Singapore, and the current population had begun breeding by 2015. The smooth-coated otters were residents in the Sungei Buloh Wetlands Reserve in 1998, and the small … As citizen interest in urban otters has deepened, so has scientific research, as biologists seek to learn how urban otters fit into such a bustling landscape. A paper published in Oryx in 2017 found a devastating drop in otter populations in another part of Asia: China. For instance, group members place road signs and educational signs at otter hot spots, as well as attempt to manage potential conflict. Singapore´s otters, long adored by the city-state´s nature lovers, are popping up in unexpected places during the coronavirus lockdown but their … “It’s like the 35-year-old living in their parents’ basement,” Johns quips. In 2016, an otter family suddenly ran across the Singapore Marathon route, and Otter Working Group volunteers rushed to warn the runners of the otters’ presence, as well as also position themselves along the route to prevent the animals and runners from colliding. A showcase for compelling storytelling from the Los Angeles Times. “They are pushing the fish toward the shoreline so the pups can learn how to catch them,” he explains. According to Sivasothi, otters are social species, and they almost always travel together in families. Population Structure, Distribution, and Habitat Use of Smooth-Coated Otters Lutrogale perspicillata in Singapore . Otter enthusiasts have also set up their own Facebook pages, such as Ottercity, to spot and track their movements. Johns signals to approach the edge of the lake. Otters need space to rest and sleep, and especially to dry their fur off after a hunting swim—this helps them maintain the waterproofing ability of their fur before they return to the water again. This photograph taken on May 29, 2020 shows a bevy of smooth-coated otters next to a canal in Singapore. Singapore is not just an Asian tiger city; these days it is a "city in a garden" and the otters are our garden's stars. The Singapore otters’ main cause of death is vehicle strikes, with about five to six animals killed a year, according to Bernard Seah, a member of the Otter Working Group, a coalition of charity workers, government officials, and academics who monitor the otters and carry out awareness programs. 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 creatures gobbled several fish including an arowana, a prized species that can sell for tens of thousands of dollars. India, Bangladesh, and the Philippines have submitted proposals for a ban on the international trade of Asian small-clawed otters and smooth-coated otters. http://www.otter.org/audioSamples/AsianSmallClawedOtter.mp3. The Wild Animals and Birds Act (WABA) protects wildlife, but the law requires evidence of the act, which can make things difficult when preventive action is required. SINGAPORE: In 2017, when an otter bit a French girl in Gardens by the Bay, many observers attributed the accident to defensive behaviour as humans got too close to a wild animal. But the restored waters brought back an otter banquet: tilapia, catfish and all manner of exotic species, such as the yellow-hued Orinoco peacock bass. Profile of Indian smooth-coated otters. There are two species of otters in SG – smooth-coated otters and Asian small-clawed otters… 3. Singapore's otters, long adored by the city-state's nature lovers, are popping up in unexpected places during the coronavirus lockdown but their antics have angered some and even sparked calls for a cull. Homeowners in the gated-community enclave on the island of Sentosa reported in 2015 that their koi carp ponds had been emptied by otters, and one hotel in the same area lost 85,000 Singaporean dollars’ worth of ornamental fish over eight months, according to local news reports. Due to water pollution, habitat loss, and other factors, smooth-coated otters are considered vulnerable to extinction by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. “But if you ask Singaporeans about the otters now, they could not only tell you what species they are, but which family they belong to, and how many babies the family has.” (Read how wildlife is hacking life in the city.). The first ever recorded otter sighting in Singapore actually dates back to 1938, on Lazarus Island, with the next sighting of otters recorded in the 1970s. Otterwatch, another Facebook group focused on otters, was set up in 2012 by the National University of Singapore’s N. Sivasothi to help support several student projects with otters. Singapore’s waterways today have enough marine life that otters can comfortably survive in them. Column One. Group Bull. Now at least 90 otters, part of 10 thriving families, live within the island-state, and their population is growing, thanks to rich food sources—such as koi ponds—and lack of predators. In Sentosa Cove, a luxury district in an island off Singapore’s southern coast, residents have found the otters a problem. Otters likely repopulated Singapore by swimming across the Johor Straits from Malaysia in the 1990s. The smooth-coated otters were residents in the Sungei Buloh Wetlands Reserve in 1998, and the small-clawed otters have been around Pulau Tekong since the 1980s. Many of these enthusiasts have produced well-edited videos that vividly relay relatable stories about the otter populations in Singapore. With the streets empty, the creatures have been spotted hanging out by a shopping centre, scampering through the lobby of a hospital and even feasting on pricey fish stolen … The creatures gobbled several fish including an arowana, a prized species that can sell for tens of thousands of dollars. “Marina Bay, including Kallang and Singapore Rivers, are the best places to see the otters as there are … Mp3. https://cdn-images.kontinentalist.com/kontinentalist-story-asset-1551411308.mp3. Accessed January 14, 2019. Singapore’s otters, long adored by the city-state’s nature lovers, are popping up in unexpected places during the COVID-19 lockdown, but their antics have angered some and even sparked calls for a cull. There are four species of river otters in Asia: the smooth-coated otter, small-clawed otter, hairy-nosed otter, and Eurasian otter. A few months later, in February 2018, an angler was seen throwing rocks at otters swimming by the Punggol Waterfront. Otters eat about 15 to 25 percent of their body weight each day. The smooth-coated ones grow up to about a metre long and weigh about 11kg. Singapore’s otters, long adored by the city-state’s nature lovers, are popping up in unexpected places during the coronavirus lockdown but their antics have angered some and even sparked calls for a cull. The Otter Working Group’s methods—such as bringing together various types of citizens to help the otters—are now being adopted in Taiwan’s Kinmen Island and in the Malaysian capital of Kuala Lumpur, which also have burgeoning populations of urban otters. Did you know that wild otters are often sighted in Singapore? Accessed February 28, 2019. The creatures gobbled several fish including an arowana, a prized species that can sell for tens of thousands of dollars. Otters are just one of the country's numerous animal species. https://www.iucnosgbull.org/Volume35/Khoo_Sivasothi_2018b.html, https://www.researchgate.net/publication/308317517_The_Smooth-Coated_Otter_Lutrogale_perspicillata_Mammalia_Mustelidae_in_Singapore_Establishment_and_Expansion_in_Natural_and_Semi-Urban_Environments. When asked to vote for a mascot that would represent Singapore in its 2016 National Day celebrations, citizens voted wholeheartedly for the otter. For instance, while otters generally are known as skilled hunters, Johns and his team have discovered that having pups dramatically lowers the adult Zouk otters’ success rate in hunting, since they have to spend a lot of their time teaching the pups to catch food. Academics like assistant professor Philip Johns of Yale–NUS College’s Life Sciences Department are also looking to encourage citizen science by building a mobile app that allows anyone to easily upload high quality videos of the otters from their mobile phones. An Otter Working Group was set up in Singapore, comprising researchers, conservationists, scientists, wildlife officers, and government institutions. I was delighted to learn that the otters in Singapore are hybrids of two species, the first known case in wild otters. “Singapore is the best example with the smooth-coated otters living right in the city center,” he said. “IUCN/SSC Otter Specialist Group Bulletin Volume 35 Issue 3 (2018).” Accessed January 14, 2019. Accessed March 6, 2019. Smooth-coated ones grow up to 1.2m long and 11kg in weight. With the streets empty, the creatures have been spotted hanging out by a shopping center, sca Meanwhile, zoologist Chan Yik Khan said without historic data, it is hard to tell what led to the otters making the Kepong park their home now. http://www.otterspecialistgroup.org/Bulletin/Volume35/Vol35_Iss3_Index.html?fbclid=IwAR3ym9QO54h5_T3-kFltGZo0NhDFg-SDN82abyznrNRFXbc9tELFllIhYbY. Most of Singapore's otters are the smooth-coated variety, classified as "vulnerable". Most of Singapore's otters are the smooth-coated variety, classified as "vulnerable". Profile of Indian smooth-coated otters. Once thought to be extinct in Singapore, wild otters are making a comeback to the urban city state. Moretti, Beatrice, Omar F Al-Sheikhly, Monica Guerrini, Meryl Theng, Brij K Gupta, Mukhtar K Haba, Waseem Khan, Aleem Khan, and Filippo Barbanera. (In one humorous incident, otters climbed up a metal maintenance ladder to exit a canal.). The smooth-coated otters are believed to have swum across the Johor Straits from Malaysia to the north side of Singapore in 1998, before deciding to make the island their home. The long-tailed macaque is a species of monkey, typically in packs of 30, that are native to Singapore. Mostly found in the central and western catchments, the monkey can also be seen in public parks and some urban areas. 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. There are more and more sightings of wild otters in Singapore in recent years. Of the 13 extant otter species, the Indian smooth-coated otter, Lutra perspicillata, has graced Singapore waters in recent years. (Read how hundreds of wild parrots have flocked to this Brazilian city.). Most of Singapore's otters are the smooth-coated variety, classified as "vulnerable". “BFM: The Business Radio Station - Citizen Science and the Case Study of Smooth-Coated Otters in Singapore.” Accessed January 4, 2019. International Otter Survival Fund.” Accessed March 1, 2019. In 1977, the Singaporean government launched its Clean River Campaign, and in 1998, otters began to return to the tropical island on their own. At the edge of the lake, two leashed dogs strain toward the Zouk family. Singapore is infamous for its stringent anti-litter laws — even chewing gum is banned. Interestingly, the branch of otters we now have in Singapore is believed to be a unique hybrid population—the result of an even union between both species, making it a surviving population that nearly went extinct. Of the 13 extant otter species, the Indian smooth-coated otter, Lutra perspicillata, has graced Singapore waters in recent years. Once thought to be extinct in Singapore, wild otters are making a comeback to the urban city state. The otter species commonly seen here is the smooth coated otter, which can grow to nearly one metre long. https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/2019/01/wild-otters-popular-exotic-pets/. The smooth-coated otters were residents in the Sungei Buloh Wetlands Reserve in 1998, and the small-clawed otters have been around Pulau Tekong since the 1980s. “Phylogeography of the Smooth-Coated Otter (Lutrogale Perspicillata): Distinct Evolutionary Lineages and Hybridization with the Asian Small-Clawed Otter (Aonyx Cinereus).” Scientific Reports 7 (January 27, 2017): 1–13. However, there are some negative implications of the growing number of otters. Give them protection and healthy rivers with fish, and they will recover. There are more and more sightings of wild otters in Singapore in recent years. Sea otters are the exception, giving birth in the water. A smooth-coated otter family is made up of monogamous parents, subadults, and between four and six pups. The two common species of otters in Singapore are the smooth-coated otter (Lutrogale perspicillata) and the small-clawed otter (Aonyx cinereus). Reunited, the family forms a v-formation as they glide across the mirrored lake. adapting quickly to an urbanised landscape, 15 to 25 percent of their body weight each day, an angler was seen throwing rocks at otters. Most of Singapore´s otters are the smooth-coated variety, classified as "vulnerable". 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. https://mothership.sg/2020/07/history-of-otters-in-singapore https://www.researchgate.net/publication/330349070_Observations_of_the_Variation_in_Group_Structure_of_two_Urban_Smooth-Coated_Otter_Lutrogale_perspicillata_Groups_in_the_Central_Watershed_of_Singapore. The Otter Working Group Singapore was given a Christmas tree to decorate at the Singapore Botanic Gardens for the upcoming Yuletide season. She was history-trained but does other things now instead, like running an ecotourism shark conservation business, The Dorsal Effect. Back to wwf.sg; Blog; Categories. Critically, the fish species that otters rely on as sources of food need to thrive in Singapore’s waterways for the otters to remain. Human–animal conflicts are common in urban spaces, but these can often be prevented with further awareness and education on appreciating Singapore’s native wildlife without threatening or encroaching on their territory. Mp3. There are currently an estimated 10 families of otters in Singapore, numbering around 70 otters in total. One of the first male otters sighted in the Marina Bay family was suspected to have been poisoned. Ottercity. Population Structure, Distribution, and Habitat Use of Smooth-Coated Otters Lutrogale perspicillata in Singapore . Distribution of the otter families in Singapore (Data source: Khoo, M de Yuan and Sivasothi, N (2018)b. The Smooth-Coated Otter is a species rated vulnerable by the IUCN Red Book, and its expanding numbers and habitat in Singapore are helpful to its survival. With the streets empty, the creatures have been spotted hanging out by a shopping centre, scampering through the lobby of a hospital and even feasting on pricey fish stolen … January 10, and 2019 Paul Todd. Encouraging good wildlife ethics, along with public involvement in research and monitoring of the species, helps the ongoing conservation and management of otters in Singapore. The NRDC has since been partnering with organisations around the world to put together a strong case for the ban. on the population movement of otters, brought this to light. These social animals usually live in family groups. There are thirteen otter species spread around the world. Singapore's otters, long adored by the city-state’s nature lovers, are popping up in unexpected places during the coronavirus lockdown but their antics have angered some and even sparked calls for a cull. What is more surprising is that this relationship was not a smooth one. The writer suggested using horns and even rubber bullets to ensure otters develop a fear of humans and … Make your way down to the Otter Tree and take a look at photos of otters contributed by the community. COMMENTARY: Otters, which have always been native to Singapore, are a rare case of returning native species after most of their original habitat was destroyed. Unlike the rare colugos or the shy otters, these curious neighbors are easy to spot if you know where to look. The current WABA review is addressing this. Take a walk on the wild side in Singapore, and you will find that one of the most adaptable immigrant wildlife species has made the island’s waterway systems its home, booming in number over the years. They are … About 10 otters died in Singapore last year from a combination of fighting and vehicle collisions. The two common species of otters in Singapore are the smooth-coated otter (Lutrogale perspicillata) and the small-clawed otter (Aonyx cinereus). While most wild otters would leave their family at around two years old, Singapore’s otters will stay with their parents until three or four, as they wait for territory to open up. The otters in Singapore are the lucky ones; though once thought to be extinct here, wild otters have made a strong comeback in local waters. “Observations of the Variation in Group Structure of Two Urban Smooth-Coated Otter Lutrogale Perspicillata Groups in the Central Watershed of Singapore.” ResearchGate. With the streets empty, the creatures have been spotted hanging out by a shopping center, scampering through the lobby of a hospital, and even feasting on pricey fish stolen … Smooth-Coated Otters in Singapore Sound Recording by Philip Johns. The animals enter their private but open ponds and feed on the expensive pet fish within, such as tilapia and koi. Here, the Bishan family crosses a street in the city center. They featured in a documentary narrated by David Attenborough, are tracked avidly by the local media — and have been spotted more frequently since people were asked to stay home … The two families fought in the Singapore River in July last year. Now, the story of Singapore's otters is remarkable. While the otters seem to have fit into their urban environment, they still face threats, natural and human-made. Theng, Meryl, and Sivasothi N. “The Smooth-Coated Otter Lutrogale Perspicillata (Mammalia: Mustelidae) in Singapore: Establishment and Expansion in Natural and Semi-Urban Environments.” IUCN/SCC Otter Specialist Group Bulletin 33 (January 1, 2016): 37–49. SINGAPORE: Three otters were spotted in the heart of Singapore's Central Business District on Sunday (Oct 28), swimming in a water feature outside office building One … It’s a family of seven otters, likely on their way to their den at the Singapore Botanic Gardens. The Bishan otter family are among the most photographed of the 10 otter groups in Singapore. N. Sivasothi, a senior lecturer from the Department of Biological Science, Faculty of Science, National University of Singapore, has been monitoring and following these otters with his students for years. To provide you with accurate know-how, we spoke to Marjorie from Ottercity on sure-fire ways to spot them at their favourite haunts – while keeping your distance at the same time. “The pups’ success rate is around 50 percent, while the adults’ success rate is closer to 100 percent. The cuteness of wild otters has led to a spate of avid otter watching in Singapore. But the rise of the urban otter has caused some conflicts with people. Otters from the Bisham family react to a dog in Bay East Garden. In Singapore's Marina Bay, an otter dines on a fish. OtterCity is a platform to share original collection of otter stories, pictures and videos in Singapore. 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. Asian Small Clawed Otter Sound Clip, International Otter Survival Fund. Pups of the Bishan family, only a few months old, swim behind their relatives in search of fish. “Otters of the World.” Discover Wildlife. In all of the recently reported sightings, the otters are believed to be the smooth-coated (Lutrogale perspicillata) variety, which is listed globally as a vulnerable species. Singapore's otters, long adored by the city-state's nature lovers, are popping up in unexpected places during the coronavirus lockdown but their antics have angered some and even sparked calls for a cull. During the 2000s, while Sungei Buloh continued to be a stronghold for the Smooth-coated Otters, this species started showing up along other stretches of our northern coastline. In the early 1990s, he recalls traveling to Penang in Malaysia to study the species, walking through the mangroves for hours, hoping to spot a single otter. This otter species is the biggest in Southeast Asia, with a length of 1 to 1.3 metres, including its tail, and weighs up to 11 kilograms. Lutra Lutra, the Eurasian otter, can be found across vast swathes of the world from Portugal in the west all the way east to Korea and as far south as Sumatra, but otter populations globally have been in decline for decades. Philip Johns, a biologist at Yale-NUS College in Singapore, is part of a team studying the urban otters and has created an app, Otter Spotter, for locals to report sightings. Singapore has launched a new nature park that covers 400 hectares (990 acres), in an area that serves as a refueling site for migratory birds and a home to oriental hornbills, otters and crocodiles. Singapore has two species of otters. 90K likes. ... About 10 otters died in Singapore last year from a combination of fighting and vehicle collisions. (Learn how wildlife can evolve quickly in cities.). (Learn more about Singapore’s urban innovations.). It’s … All Asian otter species have long been listed as vulnerable or endangered after facing decades of shrinking habitats and illegal trade in their pelts. Some species are more aquatic than others but all otters are strong swimmers, well adapted to both marine and freshwater habitats. These otters are surprisingly intelligent, able to climb out of drains and travel across large patches of land to get to other waterways. ). On a grassy strip along the highway, a blur of brown fur moves quickly, a small head popping up every so often to check for danger. They now live all over the island—from the farming area of Kranji in the north to the manicured Singapore Botanic Gardens in the center to the glittering finance district of Marina Bay in the south. hello@kontinentalist.com. Singapore has about 80 smooth-coated otters, also known as Lutrogale perspicillata - one of 13 otter species in the world. 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