There are two species of otters in SG – smooth-coated otters and Asian small-clawed otters. Like what you see here? The larger group on the right is the Bishan family, the largest family of otters in Singapore. Otters are carnivorous mammals in the subfamily Lutrinae.The 13 extant otter species are all semiaquatic, aquatic or marine, with diets based on fish and invertebrates.Lutrinae is a branch of the Mustelidae family, which also includes weasels, badgers, mink, and wolverines, among other animals. Singapore’s otter enthusiasts have fired back at calls to cull the seemingly emboldened critters to rein in their population. Small-clawed otters weigh around 5kg each and have been seen on offshore islands such as Pulau Tekong and Pulau Ubin in recent decades. The rescue centre currently houses 105 exotic wild animals from the illegal wildlife trade. Bishan-Ang Mo Kio Park. In 2017, the AVA received over 160 complaints about monkey attacks and behaviour. These air-breathing mammals live underwater and exist on a diet of seagrass. #2 Coney Island. Wild Singapore – Where to See Otters, Dugongs & Pangolin Otters. They live in large family groups and are often seen around Singapore’s nature reserves and coastal areas.While you might think the monkeys are cute, they can be aggressive when they feel threatened. “We attend to over 700 calls a month for wildlife in distress” explains Ms Boopal. There are more and more sightings of wild otters in Singapore in recent years. Wild Singapore – Where to See Otters, Dugongs & Pangolin, Traditional Foodie Gifts for the New Year. The island-state's waters have a distinct lack of predators, while the city's urban scape making it an ideal habitat for otter families in the area. It’s rare to see crocodiles elsewhere, but in February of this year, a 1.7 metre crocodile was captured by National Parks officers at Lower Seletar Reservoir and relocated into the wild. The otter species commonly seen here is the smooth coated otter, which can grow to nearly one metre long. For any of you interested, there's actually a story behind this. It’s thought the population is in the low hundreds.” A few live at Central Catchment Nature Reserve (MacRitchie Reservoir), and Bukit Timah Nature Reserve. Singapore Zoo’s key species is the Orangutan. They can grow quite large, over 2.5 metres and weigh over 300kgs. Estuarine crocodiles are listed as critically endangered – threats come from hunting (for skin and meat), and habitat loss. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Where Can I Find a Confinement Nanny in Singapore? Otters had almost disappeared from Singapore by the 1970s, due to waterway pollution. Orangutans. Dugongs are listed as critically endangered. If the animal looks distressed, lost or trapped call our 24hr wildlife rescue hotline 9783 7782 for assistance. This is truly an amazing place to spend in Singapore, I didn’t know there are so many thing to explore until I re-visit again few weeks ago. Croc enthusiasts should head to Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve, where several crocs have made their home. Wild boar These shy nocturnal creatures are hard to spot in the wild. Head to Flagham Brook to find both otters and water voles among birds such as nightingale, tawny owl, woodpeckers, lapwing and snipe. Otters in Singapore. teamseagrass.blogspot.com. This was soon increased to $100 to curb the growing problem. If you find crocodiles in an urban area, call the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority (AVA) on 1800 476 1600. One of the most effective ways to help dugongs is to preserve Singapore’s seagrass meadows. For baby animals such as birds or squirrels, we urge public not to remove them or bring home but to look for adult animals or call us with a photo for further action.” The Animal Concerns Research and Education Society (ACRES) works in wildlife rescue and rehabilitation and has a dedicated wildlife rescue centre. This combination of factors has led to their critically endangered status. Otters are seen fleetingly, especially in … If you want to learn more about these primates, the Jane Goodall Institute and National Parks run monthly guided monkey walks at MacRitchie Reservoir, Bukit Timah Nature Reserve and Lower Seletar Reservoir (janegoodall.org.sg/event). How Can a Couple Resolve or Avoid Misunderstandings? Visit the Team Seagrass website for information on this valuable habitat and volunteering opportunities. SINGAPORE: Three otters were spotted in the heart of Singapore's Central Business District on Sunday (Oct 28), swimming in a water feature … People are excited to see them especially in the urban jungle where sightings of wild animals are rare. The bigger Bishan otter family of 15 had started out in Bishan Park with just three pups. “As Singapore continues to rapidly urbanise, it is inevitable that pangolins start to venture into urban areas. A population of 70 otters in Singapore is small compared to the hundreds of thousands lost across China. Otters likely repopulated Singapore by swimming across the Johor Straits from Malaysia in the 1990s. If you find this article useful, do click Like and Share at the bottom of the post, thank you. There are several monkey species in Singapore, of which the Long-tailed Macaque is the most common. Pangolins are the world’s most heavily trafficked mammal, according to Wildlife Reserves Singapore. They now live all over the island—from the … The Otter Working Group Singapore is really happy to host Mr Woo Chee Yoong from Malaysian Nature Society as he shares with us early news of his studies at the very precious Kuala Selangor Nature Park. Most otters are believed to have swum across the Johor Strait from Malaysia, which explains why past sightings of otters were often located at … The Marina otters remained on the move, travelling between East … Although they seem very cute and cuddly, National Parks advisories warn that otters are wild animals and should be treated with caution, especially when otter pups are nearby. Their diet consists of fish, frogs, crabs, turtles etc. Join our mailing list here. National Parks estimates their population at around 1,500. The Bishan otters went south to prime territory Marina Bay and displaced the Marina otters. Jungle areas were extensively cleared in the mid-1800s for plantations, forcing the tigers into the open. Karola Clarke reports. 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When you entered the garden, you will see giant man made … There are more than 10 smooth-coated otter families in Singapore, in areas such as Sungei Buloh, Pasir Ris, Marina Bay and Changi, where they occupy mangroves, coasts, reservoirs, rivers and canals. In 2017, several were spotted near Pasir Ris Park, prompting warning signs at the beach. Singapore Garden By The Bay. Its enclosure is designed to simulate the flowing rivers where otters make their home. You can view the playful otters from two levels, the open-air upper level and a lower tier that provides an underwater view of the otters. Singapore is home to Estuarine Crocodiles, also known as saltwater crocodiles, which can grow to over five metres. They inhabit mangroves and coastal areas like Marina Bay, Sungei Buloh, Bishan-Ang Mo Kio Park and Pulau Ubin, where freshwater is plentiful. Hope otters stay safe & warm in the rain. Once thought to be extinct in Singapore, wild otters are making a comeback to the urban city state. Kids are especially thrilled to see wild otters and here are some places that they have been spotted recently and you can try your luck: Image Credit: Ottercity #1 Bishan Park Get parenting tips and stories straight to your inbox! What Should Parents Look for in a Leading Student Care Centre? Unfortunately, the enthusiasm displayed for this ‘sport’ led the tigers to extinction in Singapore, with our last wild tiger killed in the 1930s. According to National Geographic, there are roughly 90 otters that are part of 10 otter families recognizable to the general Singapore public. Humans are the main threat to the dugong population, as they are still illegally hunted for their meat, skin (for leather) and for traditional medicine. But a general waterway... Pangolin. But we’re glad to see that this particular family of otters is safe and sound, and even enjoying the aircon weather.. We hope that they’ll continue to live happily among us, and survive in this concrete jungle. In 2015, a big switch happened. Other good areas for otter spotting include Sungei Buloh Nature Reserve, Pulau Ubin, Serangoon, Bishan-Ang Mo Kio Park and Punggol. As wild animals often wander into urban areas, it’s important to know what to do when you encounter them. These social animals usually live in family groups. For example, a jump in sea otter numbers in southern Alaska in recent decades led to drops in the catch of Dungeness crabs there. Of course, luck may not always be on your side to spot them and the only way to really see them without disappointing your kids is to visit one of the parks by Wildlife Reserves Singapore: If you happen to see wild otters, do follow the guidelines by NParks below for a pleasant experience for both you and the otters. That otters have returned to this dense and growing city is itself remarkable, as is the fact that they have become a public craze and an international sensation. Lee Hsien Loong updated their cover photo. Our otters have been in the news recently, venturing beyond t ... heir usual haunts with lower human traffic during the circuit breaker. Advertisement There are approximately 90 otters living in … Otters are both agile on land and water. The main threats to pangolins in Singapore are urban development and roadkill. Took this picture of otters frolicking on a #jalanjalan at the Singapore Botanic Gardens in March. National University of Singapore (NUS) biology lecturer N. Sivasothi, who heads the OtterWatch facebook group (www.facebook.com/OtterWatch), estimates the population at about 80. According to the National Library Archives, during the 1860s more than 350 people were killed in tiger attacks. “Marina Bay, including Kallang and Singapore Rivers, are the best places to see the otters as there are permanent resident families there,” explains Sivasothi. You can also help the on-going research on the otters of Singapore by recording your sightings here. They are, to be sure, one highly visible outcome of this city-state’s commitment to supporting urban nature. Win a Gold-Dipped Natural Rose This Valentine’s Day, Come Away Movie Complimentary Passes Giveaway, Lego Classic Bricks Bricks Plate Sets Winners, TGIF Music Station: SCCC x YES 933 January 2021 Lineup 《周5音乐站》1月阵容, List of 250+ Places to Visit in Singapore for Free, 4 Places To See Snow In Singapore This Christmas 2020, Usher in the Year of the Ox at AMK Hub this Chinese New Year, Have A Pongal Day Out With The Indian Heritage Centre, Usher in 2021 with an Abundance of Golden Blessings with Jurong Point, Get Ox-cited for the Lunar New Year with IKEA, Festival of Lights 2020 – A Better Tomorrow at Jurong Lake Gardens, 4 Interesting Things To Do In Singapore This Weekend, Where to Donate Your Pre-Loved Toys, Books, Clothes and Home Furniture in Singapore. “Some of the main threats are roadkill, entanglement in fishing line, and plastics,” says Sivasothi. It seems like otters are so popular in Singapore that there will be a pop-up attraction inspired by the little fellas. Marina Bay. Roadkill claims an average of 6 to 8 pangolins a year.” To help pangolins, you can donate to the Wildlife Reserves conservation fund: wrs.com.sg, or volunteer with The Pangolin Story: thepangolinstory.wordpress.com, Yes, dugongs can occasionally be spotted in Singapore. It will another lovely eye-opener for otter watchers in Singapore! The greatest threat is the loss of seagrass habitats. Angelica Teo of pangolin research group, The Pangolin Story (https://thepangolinstory.wordpress.com/), explains: “As pangolins are nocturnal animals, they’re only active for a few hours each day, this makes them notoriously difficult to track. National Parks hosts regular crocodile talks at the Reserve (nparks.gov.sg). The otters have become a popular local and international attraction since they were first spotted in 2014. The government put a bounty on tigers, starting with $20 for every tiger killed. On March 18th, a Facebook page posted a video of a family of (Singaporean) otters climbing up the steps out of a Singapore river.There wasn’t a large crowd of people at the time since many stayed home to fight the pandemic spread of Covid-19. While listed as critically endangered in Singapore, they are most regularly seen at Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve and have been seen there since 1990s. On a trip to Singapore last year, I had the chance to see them for myself. These are smooth coated otters living in Singapore. Members of the Ottercity online community yesterday called on people suggesting the otters be hunted down and killed actually find some of the … Ms Anbarasi Boopal, Deputy Chief Executive of ACRES, explains their guidelines: “When sighting wildlife, the golden rules are to appreciate from a distance and never to feed them. Last month, Malay Mail reported that smooth-coated otters could be spotted at the 222-acre public park popular with the residents of Selayang and Batu Caves, usually hunting, frolicking, or just basking in the sun. In 2017, an otter bit a five-year-old girl at Gardens by the Bay. Otters had almost disappeared from Singapore by the 1970s, due to waterway pollution. The coronavirus lockdown in Singapore might have turned the country’s once beloved otters into its currently belligerent others. Get parenting tips and stories straight to your inbox! The Bishan otters went south to prime territory Marina Bay and displaced the Marina otters. Smallbrook Meadows - Here water weaves through wet woodland, wildflower meadows, marsh, ditches and ponds. . Otters have … The Bishan Otter Family, also known as the Bishan 10 and previously known as the Bishan 5, is a family of smooth-coated otters that reside in Singapore. Learning Chinese – Why You Should Start Them Young, TNAP X NMS Doraemon Collectibles Giveaway, TNAP Highlights: What’s New in Singapore January 2021, Where To Buy The Best Pineapple Tarts 2021, If you find this article useful, do click, Like what you see here? In recent years they’ve been spotted off Pulau Ubin. This led to the formation of the Macaque Working Group, comprised of agencies including the Jane Goodall Institute, National Parks, Animal Concerns Research and Education Society (ACRES), the AVA and several universities, to develop solutions to human-macaque tensions and educate the public on macaque behaviour. Dugong activity can also be seen in the ‘feeding trails’ they create through seagrass meadows as they methodically rip up the seagrass while swimming past. Trails have been seen off Changi, Pulau Ubin, Pulau Sekudu, Pasir Ris and the Southern Islands. Unlike most of us who have homes to return to, Singapore’s wildlife and stray animals may not be able to find easy shelter from the rain.. Kids are especially thrilled to see wild otters and here are some places that they have been spotted recently and you can try your luck: #1 Bishan Park They’ve also been seen at East Coast Park and Changi Beach. 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. Humans feeding the macaques is a big source of concern, as it can change the feeding patterns of the monkeys, and cause aggression or illness. They are highly aggressive and expansionist towards other otters, and are the most famous and well documented family in Singapore. Their scales and meat are prized in traditional medicine and for food. Pangolins are the world’s most heavily trafficked mammal, … An entire village near Bukit Timah was abandoned due to frequent tiger attacks in the area. 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