Vol 2 No 1
Jun 95

A Haven for Migrant Birds

Sightings of Smooth Otters
at Sungei Buloh

One Night Rambler's Experience
at Sungei Buloh

First Anniversary Celebrations

Bird Ringing Station
at Sungei Buloh

VIP Visits		   Sightings of
the Smooth Otter
at Sungei Buloh

A large otter was sighted on Christmas Eve in 1994, on three occasions by staff of Sungei Buloh Nature Park. The otter was first spotted at 1.15 pm swimming in the channel between Sungei Buloh and Pulau Buloh. At 2.45 pm it was seen again, this time scratching the soil along Route 1 of the Park. And at 4 pm the same day, it was observed for about 15 minutes before it disappeared into the water.

The otter was quite large, with a sleek outline and a tail that was flattened on the underside. Based on the descriptions given, the individual was most probably a Smooth Otter (Lutra perspicillata Geoffroy 1826). If this identification is correct, it would be the third record of the species being sighted in Singapore. The first record was of a male, collected in 1938 from Lazarus Island, to the south of Singapore. The second otter sighting was recorded at Sungei Buloh in 1990.

On 28 December 1994, N. Sivasothi, a graduate student from the National University of Singapore, came to the Park to look for the otter. Siva is working on the ecology of otters for his Masters of Science degree. After trekking along the bunds, he smelled a familiar scent. His nose led him to a sprint site—a place where the otter leaves his droppings. The droppings have a very musky smell which serves to advertise the otter's presence to potential mates or competitors. The sprint site was at Sungei Buloh Kechil where the Smooth Otter was previously spotted in 1990.
The otter was again sighted on 15 February 1995 at about 6.30 in the evening. It was low tide then, and the animal was apparently on a fishing trip in the Sungei Buloh Besar. It ran along the mud bunds, and dived into the water at a school of fish. Then it swam to a small island nearby, and started scratching itself. Scanning its surroundings, the otter realised that it was being watched by observers from the bridge. It dived once more into the water, and disappeared into the mangroves.

Otters are found in Singapore, although in small numbers. It is not known whether these animals are resident in the Park or visitors from the Straits of Johor. Sightings of this uncommon carnivore at the Park indicate the importance of Sungei Buloh as a conservation site, not only for the birds, but also for other wetland fauna.
   
© Sungei Buloh Nature Park