Back from the brink, with bite

There is no doubt climate change has had a dramatic impact on species worldwide.

However, in a tiny, urbanised, concrete jungle, one animal has managed to prosper.

Singapore’s otter population has dramatically increased since the 1980s, when local extinction was a genuine fear.

But this feel good story of adaptable otters beating all the odds comes with an unexpected bite, and some locals have the marks to prove it.

Tylah Tully investigates how Singaporeans are trying to co-exist with the territorial otter.

Video: Tylah Tully.

There are currently 170 smooth-coated otters in Singapore, across 17 families. Photo: Tylah Tully
Professor of biological sciences at the National University of Singapore, N. Sivasothi, is fondly known as ‘The Otterman.’ Photo: Tylah Tully
Marjorie Chong has been volunteering as an ‘otter watcher’ for five years. Photo: Tylah Tully
The ‘otter watchers’ volunteer their time every week to track the otter population. Photo: Tylah Tully
Professor N. Sivasothi’s students join the ‘otter watcher’s’ to write reports on various, otter-related, topics. Photo: Tylah Tully
The otters live in the city centre. Photo: Tylah Tully
A $170 million, government funded, clean up of the Singapore river contributed to the otter’s return. Photo: Tylah Tully
When fish populations increased, the otters returned. Photo: Tylah Tully
There are 13 different species of otters across the world. The small-claw otter is also native to Singapore. Photo: Tylah Tully.
Graham Spencer was attacked by a family of otters in the Botanical Gardens. Photo: Tylah Tully
Graham said he thought he was going to die during the attack. Photo: Tylah Tully
Sign in the Botanical Gardens where Graham was attacked. Photo: Tylah Tully
A male otter frolicking at Marina Barrage Singapore. Photo: Tylah Tully.
The Otter Working Group want to educate people about the dangers of approaching wild animals like otters. Photo: Tylah Tully