Local groups are trying to minimize negative interactions between people, pets, and otters. Scent markings are just as important for communication. According to Sivasothi, otters are social species, and they almost always travel together in families. Some hunters are pushing back. By 2014, the otter population had expanded to the west and south coasts of Singapore, and the current population had begun breeding by 2015. 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. IUCN Otter Spec. SINGAPORE - Two more foreign worker dormitories have been placed under isolation, as Covid-19 cases among these sites continue to rise.. Read more at straitstimes.com. “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. But the rise of the urban otter has caused some conflicts with people. Accessed January 14, 2019. 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. After spending the morning fishing, the Bishan family rest ashore for a few hours. It's a far cry from 50 years ago, when Singapore’s rivers were choked with rotting animal carcasses, garbage, and sewage. Moretti, Beatrice, Omar F Al-Sheikhly, Monica Guerrini, Meryl Theng, Brij K Gupta, Mukhtar K Haba, Waseem Khan, Aleem Khan, and Filippo Barbanera. 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. “Otters of the World.” Discover Wildlife. Local scientist Meryl Theng who contributed to an international. This species is smaller in overall size and somewhat cuter to most people. http://www.otterspecialistgroup.org/Bulletin/Volume35/Vol35_Iss3_Index.html?fbclid=IwAR3ym9QO54h5_T3-kFltGZo0NhDFg-SDN82abyznrNRFXbc9tELFllIhYbY. Very un-otter-like, if you were to ask me. 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. Copyright © 1996-2015 National Geographic SocietyCopyright © 2015-2021 National Geographic Partners, LLC. These otters are surprisingly intelligent, able to climb out of drains and travel across large patches of land to get to other waterways. Pages in category "Ethnic groups in Singapore" The following 38 pages are in this category, out of 38 total. Otter babies: Babies are born in a litter of 1-2, in a den dun in the river bank. By Kirsten Han. Many said and feared that otter population will grow so big that they will take over and run Singapore - since 6-7 years ago when they first appeared in city. “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.). “Asian Countries Propose Bans on Commercial Trade in Otters.” NRDC. Sightings of otters begin to increase in 2015, with urban greening and the cleaning of waterways cited as the reason for their comeback. By the mid-1980s, Singapore’s otters had disappeared because of pollution and development. For National University of Singapore biologist Sivasothi N, the arrival of the Singapore otter—and its popularity among residents—is a welcome development. The group was created in a bid to promote awareness and public education to protect of the now-native otters, as well as to mitigate potential increases in human–animal conflict. The Singapore River otters seen lazing along the Singapore river on Saturday (Oct 26). Monitor Lizard Fights Otters In 1 Vs 7 Fight Using Its Tail. The otter species commonly seen here is the smooth coated otter, which can grow to nearly one metre long. Their diet usually reflects the diversity of fish species in the waters they inhabit, as well as the absence of predators. Agriculture is a major source of air pollution, killing an estimated 17,900 people in the U.S. every year, according to a new study. There is scant information on the sea otter, which is only found in the coastal waters of northern Japan. There are currently an estimated 10 families of otters in Singapore, numbering around 70 otters in total. Sign up for more inspiring photos, stories, and special offers from National Geographic. Additionally, the team has found that to cope with the lack of available land, the otters are changing their behavior—for instance by living with their parents longer. This is irrational fear, not based on science nor facts. While the otters seem to have fit into their urban environment, they still face threats, natural and human-made. Netizens speculated that the incident happened at the KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital in Singapore, as otters were spotted on their premises. hello@kontinentalist.com. For otters to continue thriving, they require adequate space to feed in, reproduce, dry their fur, and rest. From the 1970s to the 1980s, there were no verifiable records of otters in Singapore. of course, This is also means what I've conflicts. https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/2019/01/wild-otters-popular-exotic-pets/. Swimming down the stream at Bishan-Ang Mo Kio Park, the 10 Marina otters eventually found the seven Zouk otters near the McDonald's bridge. Reunited, the family forms a v-formation as they glide across the mirrored lake. Places around Singapore where you can spot otters. so I talked about you know what is my cats are you'll prevent seating. 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. Singapore’s otter enthusiasts have fired back at calls to cull the seemingly emboldened critters to rein in their population. January 10, and 2019 Paul Todd. Source: Otter Working Group Singapore In Singapore, smooth-coated otters have adapted well to human environments, and have been observed to use urban structures like gaps under buildings as alternatives for holts. Namibians allege ReconAfrica disposed of wastewater unsafely, without permits, and ignored concerns about potential impact of oil drilling on water and wildlife. Does drinking water reduce side effects after a COVID-19 shot? Please be respectful of copyright. Here’s how to help preserve the landscape. 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. SINGAPORE - The two most well-known otter families here have clashed again, more than a year after a fight that resulted in the death of at least one otter … A new bevy of baby otters was born in the heart of the city this month, drawing much attention from residents and passers-by who came across them at the Singapore … Often the times, otters are cute and cuddly. http://www.otter.org/audioSamples/AsianSmallClawedOtter.mp3. The young stay with the parents in a family group for some time. Singapore Is Trying to Forget Migrant Workers Are People The outbreak in crowded dorms has brought out the city-state’s prejudices. Mp3. Singapore has further strengthened our defences against the COVID-19 (Coronavirus Disease 2019). “The only problem we foresee now is a lack of space for these territorial animals.”. Answer to: How many different five-letter permutations can be formed from the letters in the word "category"? Source. Such research may also be crucial information for how the species—found throughout much of Asia, from India to Myanmar (Burma) to Malaysia—can adapt to new environments. 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. The bloody history of anti-Asian violence in the West, Survivors recall the terror of the first F5 tornado. Critically, the fish species that otters rely on as sources of food need to thrive in Singapore’s waterways for the otters to remain. With a vocabulary of 12 different calls, these otters can be a noisy bunch. 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 … Otters also need to feed while looking for a place to settle in, he said. That’s really exciting,” he says. The cuteness of wild otters has led to a spate of avid otter watching in Singapore. The Singapore Tourism Board is stepping up on precautionary measures for your safety and well-being. There are currently an estimated 10 families of otters in Singapore, numbering around 70 otters in total. We encourage you to use our e … 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. Playing around near the Beach Volleyball courts at the National Stadium They also use staircases and ladders to get in and out of concrete canals with vertical or near‐vertical banks. And blue, so the water is clean. Otter sightings are dime a dozen nowadays ... Singapore’s wilderness is home to many exciting animals. Kathy writes marine and environmental stories at Kontinentalist. On March 18th, a Facebook page posted a video of a family of (Singaporean) otters climbing up the steps out of a Singapore river. Thankfully, several countries are concerned about stopping the trafficking of wild otters. Singapore´s otters, long adored by the city-state´s nature lovers, are popping up in unexpected places during the coronavirus lockdown but their … 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. SINGAPORE - SingPost has been fined $100,000 for failing to meet standards on the delivery of basic letters and registered mail here in 2017, in its highest fine to date. “Distinguishing Features between Asian Small-Clawed Otters and Smooth-Coated Otters,” March 5, 2019. While some civility is expected of humanity, animals certainly do not play by these rules.. A lone monitor lizard was recently spotted fighting off 7 otters along a body of water, showing off a rather unique tail technique. However, we hope that they take care during their travels around the city, given … Singapore. But the hospital has stepped forward to clarify that the video of the otters eating the koi fishes were not taken at the hospital, and must’ve happened somewhere else. The Zouks were first driven from a part of the Singapore River. Because of these high profile and publicized incidents, some people say there are too many otters and others say they should be culled. (Learn more about Singapore’s urban innovations.). The otters rise up out of the water, and suddenly the pups disappear. 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. The otters have their own food in the environment and their natural eating habits keep the ecosystem healthy. Accessed March 6, 2019. Why renewable energy is seeing a new dawn, How tiny Monaco became a giant in ocean conservation, Meat production leads to thousands of air quality-related deaths annually, ‘Megadrought’ persists in western U.S., as another extremely dry year develops, This Chinese monk’s epic, east-to-west travels rivals Marco Polo’s, How white planters usurped Hawaii's last queen. *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. Most have not been sighted in typical otter habitats—often the wilder plots of nature in the country. “They are pushing the fish toward the shoreline so the pups can learn how to catch them,” he explains. When free, she enjoys being in the ocean, trying to spot some sharks or just home cuddling with her cavvie, Danea. There are now at least 60 otters in Singapore, found in places such as Pasir Ris, Sungei Buloh, Bishan-Ang Mo Kio Park, Pulau Ubin and Gardens by the Bay. However depending on the workload you may end up spending more hours per week. Normal working hours are 40-45 hours per week. 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. After all, not everybody can be bought over by their overwhelming cuteness. How were China's legions of terra-cotta warriors made? At the same time, Singapore is also celebrated as a centre of urban wildlife—our population of nearly 60 smooth-coated otters are well-loved. If there is less food around, otter families will split up into smaller packs to seek food. These ranchers are bringing it back. 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. 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. In-depth stories about Asia and more delivered straight to your inbox every month. Essentially, the two families had switched territories. We won't be giving details to protect it but we would like to share with you what an Asian Small-clawed Otter roaming Singapore looks like. “Ottercity Facebook Page.” Ottercity Facebook Home. However other languages, such as Malay, also influence Singapore English. 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. Advertisements Image: Facebook. 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. 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. “Observations of the Variation in Group Structure of Two Urban Smooth-Coated Otter Lutrogale Perspicillata Groups in the Central Watershed of Singapore.” ResearchGate. https://cdn-images.kontinentalist.com/kontinentalist-story-asset-1551411308.mp3. FAQs. For instance, group members place road signs and educational signs at otter hot spots, as well as attempt to manage potential conflict. The two common species of otters in Singapore are the smooth-coated otter (Lutrogale perspicillata) and the small-clawed otter (Aonyx cinereus). One of the first male otters sighted in the Marina Bay family was suspected to have been poisoned. adapting quickly to an urbanised landscape, 15 to 25 percent of their body weight each day, an angler was seen throwing rocks at otters. A PUB’s cleaning contractor found the dead otter at 11.40am. “It’s a really healthy population,” Johns says. “Wild Otters Are the Latest Exotic Pet Trend.” Animals, January 10, 2019. FDA clears the way for adolescents to get vaccinated, Dutch tulip farmers hope for a post-pandemic boom, See millions of years of history while beachcombing in San Francisco, Hiking a desert park? In the last three to four years, otter sightings have become the Singaporean equivalent of cat videos. There are four species of river otters in Asia: the smooth-coated otter, small-clawed otter, hairy-nosed otter, and Eurasian otter. After the nation began a cleanup campaign, the animals slowly returned. 35 (3): 171 - 182. The Bishan family swims in Marina Bay with the iconic Singapore skyline in the background. There are about 90 otters in Singapore, with four to 16 in each family, according to Sivasothi. There is an active citizen science effort to study and monitor the otters, and there is a Facebook … (Photo: AFP) Smooth-Coated Otters in Singapore Sound Recording by Philip Johns. Members of the Ottercity online community yesterday called on people suggesting the otters be hunted down and killed actually find some of the alleged nuisances before demanding their deaths. A smooth-coated otter family is made up of monogamous parents, subadults, and between four and six pups. PUB informed the Otter Working Group and the dead otter was handed over to Wildlife Reserves Singapore for a post-mortem, where investigations are ongoing. There, two pups are nestled safely among the muddy tree roots, waiting for their parents to give the all-clear. 35 (3): 171 – 182). Khoo, M de Yuan and Sivasothi, N (2018)b. Have a great Sunday ahead! 2.2k votes, 118 comments. The otters are almost universally loved in Singapore, though there have been some conflicts, especially when they have raided koi fish ponds. The amount of space an otter needs depends on how much food is available, but they can maintain a large territory; one animal can travel nine miles a day. Asian Small Clawed Otter Sound Clip, International Otter Survival Fund. The Zouks were first driven from a part of the Singapore River. Despite these run-ins, the Singaporeans are generally fond of their cheeky neighbors. 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