Otters spotted in Bukit Panjang's newly revitalised Pang Sua pond

Lydia Lam Straits Times 15 sep 17;

SINGAPORE - Otters have been spotted in Bukit Panjang, with the OtterWatch Facebook page requesting for information from the public to help in its study of the mammals.

Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan on Friday (Sept 15) shared a video on Facebook of the creatures frolicking in Bukit Panjang's Pang Sua pond, which was revitalised as a wetland park in March this year.

The clip he shared shows two otters feasting on orange fish - which they are often photographed making a meal of.

The OtterWatch page said little is known about the newly sighted family.

It called for residents and visitors to share photos and videos of the otters if they are spotted.

Otter watcher Jeffery Teo told The Straits Times that the otters were likely from the Kranji area.

He added that otters have been previously spotted in Bukit Panjang, and a carcass was discovered there last year.

"They are always exploring," he said. "Last year, one or two otters were killed at Junction 10 shopping centre nearby. They got lost and tried to cross roads."

Mr Teo is also a member of the Otter Working Group, which is a volunteer group set up with several government agencies including the National Parks Board, the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority and PUB last year.

He said the group is aware of otter activities in Bukit Panjang but it receives "very few reports of them".

Otters can be found in several areas in Singapore, with the Bishan family the most well-known. There are also otters sighted in the Marina Bay area, Changi, Kallang and Pasir Ris.