Smooth-coated ones grow up to 1.2m long and 11kg in weight. Should you spot mistakes, inaccuracies, or have queries about our sources, please drop us an e-mail at Many of these enthusiasts have produced well-edited videos that vividly relay relatable stories about the otter populations in Singapore. 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. Accessed January 14, 2019. âObservations of the Variation in Group Structure of Two Urban Smooth-Coated Otter Lutrogale Perspicillata Groups in the Central Watershed of Singapore.â ResearchGate. 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 and workplaces closed in April to fight the virus. Most have not been sighted in typical otter habitatsâoften the wilder plots of nature in the country. NUS´s Sivasothi criticised calls for a cull as "quite an uneducated response", and said such a move would be ineffective. In Sentosa Cove, a luxury district in an island off Singaporeâs southern coast, residents have found the otters a problem. Critically, the fish species that otters rely on as sources of food need to thrive in Singaporeâs waterways for the otters to remain. 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. While Singapore is home to two species of otters — the smooth-coated otter and the small-clawed otter — only the former is popularly known and spotted across the island. Otters are members of the weasel family (Mustelidae), and while there are several other species of mustelids in Southeast Asia, such as hog badgers, ferret-badgers, the Yellow-throated Marten, and several weasels, otters are the only representatives of this family in Singapore. They are really cute," said Pam Wong, a 35-year-old Singaporean. 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). Cambridge International releases AS and A level results for Nov 2020 exams, Landslides kill at least 12 people in Indonesia, Pakistan women’s cricket squad clears COVID-19 tests before leaving for South Africa, Bioniks chief urges President Alvi to help subsidise prosthetic limbs for the underprivileged. In other incidents, a video showed a group charging into the lobby of a children´s hospital before being shooed away, and the creatures were also filmed frolicking in the empty streets outside a popular shopping centre. 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 humanâanimal conflict. Local scientist Meryl Theng who contributed to an international. Singapore has two species of otters. The cuteness of wild otters has led to a spate of avid otter watching in Singapore. Group Bull. 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. "I simply don´t understand anyone who could not like them. The resulting offspring and their descendants bred back into the smooth-coated otter population, but maintained the genes of their small-clawed otter ancestors. http://www.otter.org/audioSamples/AsianSmallClawedOtter.mp3. Most otter species come ashore to give birth in dens, which sometimes have been used by other animals such as beavers. Thanks to the Singapore River clean up in 1977, its ecological conditions and biodiversity have proven ideal for supporting ottersâa far cry from our once oxygen-starved waterways. 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. The emergence of the Bishan otter family, along with several other otter families, has been hailed by The Economist as a sign of the success of Singapore's greening policy. In December 2017, a five-year-old girl on holiday in Singapore with her family was bitten by an otter near Gardens by the Bay. Two otter families in Singapore got into an epic gang fight in the portion of the canal that cuts through Braddell near Bishan. Today, a population of at least 60 hybrid otters exists in Singapore. Mp3. Two otter species occur in Singapore. A few months later, in February 2018, an angler was seen throwing rocks at otters swimming by the Punggol Waterfront. âOtters of the World.â Discover Wildlife. They include the larger and more common smooth-coated otter Lutrogale perspicillataand this species which is cat-sized when fully grown. How do otters survive in a highly urbanised city state like Singapore? An Otter Working Group was set up in Singapore, comprising researchers, conservationists, scientists, wildlife officers, and government institutions. Though Singapore's landscape has rapidly urbanised over the past 50 years, the highly adaptable smooth-coated otter continues to exist and perhaps even thrive here, as sightings of it have increased over the last decade 12. Interestingly, the branch of otters we now have in Singapore is believed to be a unique hybrid populationâthe, of an even union between both species, making it a surviving population that nearly went extinct. Accessed March 6, 2019. 35 (3): 171 – 182 Key words: population census, urban adapter, mammal, conservation management, citizen science INTRODUCTION Of the four Asian species of otters, the 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 rise of citizen science has also created an even wider pool of data on otter observations and documentation of species behaviour, with groups like the Otter Working Group actively helping in the management and rescue of otters. January 10, and 2019 Paul Todd. Fewer still have seen a “romp” of them. Announcement 1 of 2: Night Safari is open every day from 19 Nov 2020 to 17 Jan 2021, as well as eve of and on public holidays. Download the full report . 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. Fans believe people should be celebrating the return of an animal that was driven out of Singapore by coastal development and water pollution around the 1970s, and only started reappearing in the 1990s as waterways were cleaned. Let’s start with monkeys, though not the lunch stealing long tailed macaques. There are four species of river otters in Asia: the smooth-coated otter, small-clawed otter, hairy-nosed otter, and Eurasian otter. Yet in Singapore, the most urbanized country in the world, commuters … The current WABA review is addressing this. Subscribe to our monthly newsletter for a concise roundup of our stories. âWild Otters Are the Latest Exotic Pet Trend.â Animals, January 10, 2019. Disclaimer: Our stories have been researched and fact-checked to the best of our abilities. 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. Group Bull. But their newfound freedoms appear to have emboldened the otters, and they are now facing a backlash. There are two species of otters currently present here. http://www.otterspecialistgroup.org/Bulletin/Volume35/Vol35_Iss3_Index.html?fbclid=IwAR3ym9QO54h5_T3-kFltGZo0NhDFg-SDN82abyznrNRFXbc9tELFllIhYbY. Academics like assistant professor Philip Johns of YaleâNUS 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. These smallest of 13 otter species in the world are social and playful animals. There is scant information on the sea otter, which is only found in the coastal waters of northern Japan. 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. Hybridisation of smooth-coated otter males with Asian small-clawed otter females occurred in Singapore. Local scientist Meryl Theng who contributed to an international paper on the population movement of otters, brought this to light. There are laws against the trapping and killing of otters in Singapore. In July 2016, the 13th International Otter Symposium was held in Singapore for the first time. 35 (3): 171 – 182). Previously, smooth-coated otters were mostly sighted in the mangroves, mudflats and coastal areas such as Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve, … Few urbanites have seen an otter. This species … According to Sivasothi, otters are social species, and they almost always travel together in families. The Smooth-coated Otter (Lutrogale perspicillata) is the largest otter in Southeast Asia, and is named after its velvety smooth coat. Moretti, Beatrice, Omar F Al-Sheikhly, Monica Guerrini, Meryl Theng, Brij K Gupta, Mukhtar K Haba, Waseem Khan, Aleem Khan, and Filippo Barbanera. Because of this, many otter species have suffered population declines throughout the world. https://www.discoverwildlife.com/animal-facts/mammals/otters-of-the-world/. The NRDC has since been partnering with organisations around the world to put together a strong case for the ban. Khoo, M de Yuan and Sivasothi, N (2018)b. Otters are the subject of interest for many in Singapore, and a ground-up initiative to create a crowdsourced database on themâwhich you can add to!âhas been completed. The otters have been heralded as a major success and they are the unofficial emblem of our city's successful re-greening efforts. Kathy writes marine and environmental stories at Kontinentalist. 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). Distribution of the otter families in Singapore (Data source: Khoo, M de Yuan and Sivasothi, N (2018)b. Actress-turned-entrepreneur Jazreel Low, who owns the spa, posted pictures on Facebook of fish parts scattered around the pond and lamented a "massacre". Experiencing information fatigue? Population Structure, Distribution, and Habitat Use of Smooth-Coated Otters Lutrogale perspicillata in Singapore . There are two species of otters in SG – smooth-coated otters and Asian small-clawed otters. However, in Singapore, the Smooth-coated otter Lutro- gale perspicillata has made a tremendous rebound India, Bangladesh, and the Philippines have submitted proposals for a ban on the international trade of Asian small-clawed otters and smooth-coated otters. IUCN Otter Spec. Otter enthusiasts have also set up their own Facebook pages, such as Ottercity, to spot and track their movements. IUCN Otter Spec. For otters to continue thriving, they require adequate space to feed in, reproduce, dry their fur, and rest. 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 otter is currently classified as a critically endangered species in Singapore, and until 1998 there had been no reported sightings since the 1970s. Mp3. Housing one of the world’s largest collections of freshwater fauna, the park features over 6,000 animals including 40 threatened species. The two common species of otters in Singapore are the smooth-coated otter (Lutrogale perspicillata) and the small-clawed otter (Aonyx cinereus). Asian Small Clawed Otter Sound Clip, International Otter Survival Fund. Singapore has two species of otters. While many think of tiny Singapore as a densely populated concrete jungle, it is also relatively green for a busy Asian city, and has patches of rainforest, fairly clean waterways and abundant wildlife. In Singapore, the Smooth‐coated otter Lutrogale perspicillata, a species listed as Critically Endangered in the Singapore Red Data Book (Davison et al., 2008) and Vulnerable by the International Union for Conservation of Nature 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 … 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. 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. 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. Teo, Jeffrey. https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/2019/01/wild-otters-popular-exotic-pets/. Below are several diagnostic features that set them apart from other Asian species. With local communities, the group monitors otter populations and movement in Singapore to resolve issues and protect the species. Interestingly, the branch of otters we now have in Singapore is believed to be a unique hybrid populationâthe result of an even union between both species, making it a surviving population that nearly went extinct. Highly social creatures that move around in herds, otters do not take well to being sold as pets and kept individually. Smooth-coated otters are not fussy eaters, and they tend to eat whatever is available where they are. This file photo shows members of a wild otter family called "Bishan10" in Singapore's Kallang Basin area. When the animals first reappeared in Singapore’s waterways, they were so unknown to most that “people thought that they could be beavers or seals,” says Sivasothi, who launched the website OtterWatch to help educate … Although there was no known proof of actual rat poisoning, the otter died soon after in July 2017. Accessed February 28, 2019. 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. Meanwhile, zoologist Chan Yik Khan said without historic data, it is hard to tell what led to … Population Structure, Distribution, and Habitat Use of Smooth-Coated Otters Lutrogale perspicillata in Singapore . 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. on the population movement of otters, brought this to light. Otters need space to rest and sleep, and especially to dry their fur off after a hunting swimâthis helps them maintain the waterproofing ability of their fur before they return to the water again. The most high-profile incident was a raid on a pond at a spa shuttered due to the pandemic. These sightings are of much delight to conservationists, as the presence of otters usually signals the health of the waters they are seen in. 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). The two common species of otters in Singapore are the. She was history-trained but does other things now instead, like running an ecotourism shark conservation business, The Dorsal Effect. adapting quickly to an urbanised landscape, 15 to 25 percent of their body weight each day, an angler was seen throwing rocks at otters. 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. 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. Otters eat about 15 to 25 percent of their body weight each day. Singaporeâs waterways today have enough marine life that otters can comfortably survive in them. âDistinguishing Features between Asian Small-Clawed Otters and Smooth-Coated Otters,â March 5, 2019. Only 40 to 60 remain – the main problem is loss of habitat and food with many of its food species also endangered. The former is nocturnal and harder to spot, while the latter (above) is commonly spotted … hello@kontinentalist.com. Accessed January 14, 2019. IUCN Otter Spec. When free, she enjoys being in the ocean, trying to spot some sharks or just home cuddling with her cavvie, Danea. Sea otters are the exception, giving birth in … https://www.nrdc.org/experts/paul-todd/asian-countries-propose-bans-commercial-trade-otters. 11Kg in weight have queries about our sources, please drop us an at. Gobbled several otter species in singapore including an arowana, a population of at least 60 hybrid otters in. Of 13 otter species in the portion of the first male otters sighted in the.! Pie to the North-South Corridor they tend to eat whatever is available they. To your inbox every month s start with monkeys, though not the lunch stealing long tailed.... 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