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Vol 9 No 3 otters: water puppies of the reserve Hillgrove secondary school adopts the reserve singapore's first wetland reserve: what does this mean? reintroduction of native mangrove flora some interesting notes on the sunbirds volunteer training at mawai eco camp Commonwealth secondary school student volunteers home on high		water puppies of the reserve by ramarkrishnan r k assistant park officer Many believe that the ecology of this reserve must have improved with the arrival of the otters. They started breeding and have increased from a single otter sighting back in 1994 to at least six otters sightings based on reported sightings by staff and visitors. As many have hoped, it looks like they may have decided to stay and have a family in the reserve. Have you seen them? Yes, we are talking about the smooth otters (Lutra perspicillata), which have been sighted in Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve since 1994 to 2002. If you have not seen them, what are you waiting for? Just make a trip down to the Reserve to catch a glimpse of these rare mammals, which are adapted to life in water and on land, and whose playful nature would delight almost everyone. They are skilful swimmers and catching fish is child's play to them. They are usually sighted while swimming and foraging for fish during low tide, when it is easier for them to trap fish in the swallow waters. My first encounter with the otters was way back in early 1997 when I first saw an otter at a distance in a low tidal pond. In November 1998, I sighted a pair swimming and catching fish at Sungei Buloh Besar River. Since then, it seemed the family has expanded with the arrival of their first pup in 1999 and their second pup by 2000. The latest sighting of 6 otters was in February 2002, and this has posed other questions as to how many otters there are in the reserve now. Areas where otters were sighted: Sungei Buloh Besar Sungei Buloh Kechil Pulau Buloh Mangrove Arboretum Fresh Water Pond Hide 2E Hide 2A Hide 1A On November 11th 2002, I sighted the otters again at Route 3 Fresh Water Pond. There were two adults with two pups, who were busy chasing fish but were not able to catch any. The next thing that struck me was seeing that the adults were catching fishes and leaving them on the grass bund for the pups. By then the pups had given up the chase and came to the bund to help themselves to the fish left by the adults. The adults were now busy catching and feeding on fish themselves. Sensing my presence, they started to move back into the undergrowth. When I went near to check on the area where they had been feeding, I found remains of half eaten fish. There were Green Chromide, Common Tilapia, whose tail parts were left uneaten. A few Estuarine Catfish were also found with their head parts uneaten. On 12th November 2002, at a bund separating a pond at the opposite side of the first sighting, I found the otters' sprint site (a place where an otter leaves his droppings to advertise their presence to potential mates or competitors). The sprint looked dry, and on the next day I saw fresh sprint at the same site. This could be their potential resting and feeding place, so do go looking for them at the Fresh Water Pond Area, but always remember to be quiet, and keep your distance so you do not frighten them.
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