Hi everyone! Welcome back to my blog!

Two weeks ago, I mentioned that both the small clawed otters and the smooth coated are critically endangered which meant that they were facing an “ extremely high risk of extinction”. To clarify, the Singapore Red Data Book’s definition on critically endangered is, “there are fewer than 50 mature individuals, or if more than 50 mature individuals but less than 250, with some evidence of decline or fragmentation.” It was my mistake for using the WWF’s definition of critically endangered as it might cause some misunderstanding. I apologize for that.

Currently in Singapore, I found that there were an estimated 70 – 90 otters here with about 10 families (Turrell, 2020; Xu, 2019). Since, I would not say that they are declining in numbers, I suppose that the otters will now be categorised as ‘endangered’.The Red Data book’s criteria for the category ‘endangered’ is “there are fewer than 250 mature individuals and no other evidence of decline or fragmentation”.

Being endangered is not that great but it is certainly an improvement.

Although the number of otters are rising, they are still facing issues which slows down their population growth. These  issues, if left unchecked, could even reduce back the otter population. 

Based on what I found, my opinion is that interactions with humans are the  number one causes that will impede the population growth of the otters.

Granted that otters do have to face some natural predators. An example is the water monitor lizard, which might attack young otters (Turrel, 2020).

Let’s take a look at some of the more rampant ways human activities are directly or indirectly affecting the otters.

1) Road kills

Turrel (2020) cited that road accidents is the number one cause of death amongst otters. Such road accidents can kill up to 6 animals a year. Here is an example where a female otter was suspected  killed due to a road accident.

2) Illegal traps

Under the Wildlife Act, it is prohibited for someone to trap otters in Singapore (Khoo & Lee, 2020). Yet, there are still cases where otters were found dead in or near cages designed to catch them.  Although this is not rampant here, there are still people who still want to catch otters for their own personal reasons.  Such trapping devices can be lethal to otters. There was one otter that died in 2017 from this and another two died in 2018. 

3) Irresponsible fishing habits

It was only this month that an otter pup died due to having a hook stuck in its throat (Thet,2020). . 

Improper disposal of fish hooks by fishing enthusiasts can cause otters or even other animals to accidentally injure themselves.

The current number of otters in SIngapore  is less than a hundred which is so small. Every time an otter dies, it will significantly decrease the overall population of otters in Singapore. 

These are some issues faced by the otters. What other issues did I miss? Join me next to see whether otters are the only victims in these conflicts.

References

Pictures given permission to be used by Ottercity  https://www.facebook.com/ottercity/?ref=page_internal

Turrell, C ( 2020, March 11).  Cheeky otters are thriving in Singapore and adapting quickly to big city life.  National Geographic. https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/2020/03/urban-otters-singapore-wildlife/

Xu, K (2019, March 8). The otter sie of Singapore. Kontinentalist. https://kontinentalist.com/stories/the-otter-side-of-singapore

Khoo, M.D.Y.  & Lee, B.P.Y.-H. (2020, July 23). The urban Smooth-coated otters Lutrogale perspicillata of Singapore: a review of the reason for success. https://zslpublications.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/izy.12262?fbclid=IwAR2v_GF8Aj0GLDInk5Zl37vjlpJiUTz78xO5eJicWDZJ6nu1cvoTQhgStfo

Thet, Nyi Nyi (2020, September 6). 4-month-old island otter pup dies after getting fishing hook lodged in throat. Mothership https://mothership.sg/2020/09/coney-island-otter-pup-fishing-hook/