By 2014, the otter population had expanded to the west and south coasts of Singapore, and the current population had begun breeding by 2015. https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/2019/01/wild-otters-popular-exotic-pets/. They are the more familiar ones here and have been … Most of Singapore´s otters are the smooth-coated variety, classified as "vulnerable". There are laws against the trapping and killing of otters in Singapore. 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. Accessed January 14, 2019. The otters have been heralded as a major success and they are the unofficial emblem of our city's successful re-greening efforts. Otter groups here told The New Paper that they get messages from fans across the globe asking where to find the animals if they were to visit Singapore. Group Bull. Their diet usually reflects the diversity of fish species in the waters they inhabit, as well as the absence of predators. These sightings are of much delight to conservationists, as the presence of otters usually signals the health of the waters they are seen in. Accessed February 28, 2019. Smooth-Coated Otters in Singapore Sound Recording by Philip Johns. 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 former is nocturnal and harder to spot, while the latter (above) is commonly spotted … 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. One of the few wildlife species well-adapted to urban environments, otters are popular enough in the Garden City to be featured in David Attenborough’s Wild City documentary about Singapore in 2015, as well as in BBC Earth’s Wild Cities in 2019. http://www.otterspecialistgroup.org/Bulletin/Volume35/Vol35_Iss3_Index.html?fbclid=IwAR3ym9QO54h5_T3-kFltGZo0NhDFg-SDN82abyznrNRFXbc9tELFllIhYbY. “Distinguishing Features between Asian Small-Clawed Otters and Smooth-Coated Otters,” March 5, 2019. The most high-profile incident was a raid on a pond at a spa shuttered due to the pandemic. 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. Moretti, Beatrice, Omar F Al-Sheikhly, Monica Guerrini, Meryl Theng, Brij K Gupta, Mukhtar K Haba, Waseem Khan, Aleem Khan, and Filippo Barbanera. (Oriental Small-clawed Otter). If there is less food around, otter families will split up into smaller packs to seek food. Although there was no known proof of actual rat poisoning, the otter died soon after in July 2017. “Asian Countries Propose Bans on Commercial Trade in Otters.” NRDC. Housing one of the world’s largest collections of freshwater fauna, the park features over 6,000 animals including 40 threatened species. The otters of Singapore have proven flexible in adapting quickly to an urbanised landscape, having had to cope with very little space to dry off their fur. Should you spot mistakes, inaccuracies, or have queries about our sources, please drop us an e-mail at Singapore has about 80 smooth-coated otters, also known as Lutrogale perspicillata - one of 13 otter species in the world. One of the first male otters sighted in the Marina Bay family was suspected to have been poisoned. 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. 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 subjects—a heartening gesture. image caption There are two species of otter native to Singapore; the Bishan 10 are smooth-coated otters image copyright Rebecca Bailey image caption In … Accessed February 25, 2019. Velvety smooth coat Habitat Use of smooth-coated otters `` I simply don´t understand anyone who could not like.. Well to being sold as pets and kept individually some sharks or just Home cuddling with cavvie! 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