Ooh, what’s that furry creature spotted near Marina Barrage?
It came to sleep and have a bit of a sun tan along the shores of the Marina Barrage.
No worries and no harm done, but it did create quite a stir when it slinked out of the water on Thursday morning.
Revealed to be an otter, it even gamely posed for photos.
Winston Chew, 43, who works in the finance industry, said that he saw the otter coming out of the water while walking near Marina Barrage at around 8:30 am.
“It crossed the walkway and onto the grass area, rolling and having fun…,”said Chew, who estimated the body of the black, furry long-tailed creature to be about half a meter excluding its tail.
The animal gave chase after Chew tried to come closer to take a photo.
“I think it wanted to play or was looking for breakfast… I wasn’t sure if it will bite!”
The animal stopped chasing after Chew when it saw some birds in the area and became distracted.
It was still on the grass patch when Chew left.
Chief executive of Animal Concerns Research & Education Society (ACRES) Louis Ng said this is the first time he’s heard of an otter being spotted near Marina Barrage.
The animal welfare group receives frequent calls from the public on otter sightings. Most are sighted in Pasir Ris Park and the Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve.
“Otters don’t bite so long as you do not provoke them,” said Ng.
He advised the public to watch them from a distance and avoid approaching them to take photos.
National Geographic describes the otter as an aquatic member of the weasel family and is found along the coasts of the Pacific Ocean in North America and Asia.
The sea otter spends most of its time in the water but, in some locations, comes ashore to sleep or rest. Sea otters have webbed feet, water-repellent fur to keep them dry and warm, and nostrils and ears that close in the water.
