Spread of the Smooth Otters in Singapore

Alvin Tan’s video of a family of Smooth Otters (Lutrogale perspicillata), known affectionately as the “Bishan Ten” is testimony to the success story of the spread of these otters in Singapore – see also HERE and HERE.

The Smooth Otters, once thought to be locally extinct, made a comeback in the 1990s when they were sighted at the Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve LINK. Since then more and more otters were seen in various locations, mainly in mangroves and river estuaries.

From the northern coastal areas, they spread south to Tanah Merah as well as the east and west coasts.

By 2007 these otters had moved into our Serangoon and Punggol Reservoirs, even to the urban Marina Bay and Bishan Park.

In 2007 we reported their presence at the Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve. By 2008 a family had definitely taken residence at the reserve – see also HERE.

In August 2012 they were seen swimming across Serangoon Reservoir towards Coney Island.

Currently these Smooth Otters can easily be viewed in many locations all over the main island. This is another success story coming soon after the proliferation of the once locally extinct Oriental Pied Hornbill (Anthracoceros albirostris) – see HERE, HERE, HERE and HERE.

Alvin Tan & YC Wee
Singapore
24th March 2016

This post is a cooperative effort between Birds, Insects N Creatures Of Asia and BESG to bring the study of birds and their behavior through photography and videography to a wider audience.