This is the moment two of Singapore’s most well-known otter families clashed in a bitter territorial row.
Video of the war shows the two families, the Bishan otters and the Marina otters, squeaking in rage as they charged towards each other in the still waters of the Kallang Basin in Singapore.
The two families clash in the water, before the conflict is brought to the muddy shores of the inner-city basin.
As the two families viciously attack each other, the Marina family can be seen splitting up and retreating from the Bishan family.
The otter families were seen squeaking in rage as they charged towards each other in the still waters of the Kallang Basin, Singapore
The two families clash in the water, before the conflict is brought to the muddy shores of the inner-city basin
It was reported that subsequent footage showed the Bishan otters pursuing their rivals on land
The Straits Times reported that subsequent footage showed the Bishan otters pursuing their rivals on land.
The footage, from 2018, reportedly showed just a snippet of the hour-long fight for territory between the two otter families, who have clashed for several years.
The Bishan family, known locally as the Bishan Ten, originally lived in Bishan-Ang Mo Kio Park, but in 2015 moved a few miles south to Marina Bay, where they pushed out the Marina otter family.
Since then, they have fought several times, with one battle in 2017 resulting in the death of an otter pup from the Marina family.
Biology lecturer N. Sivasothi, who heads the OtterWatch group, which tracks the activities of otters in Singapore, told The Straits Times that it’s rare to see physical contact being made in otter fights.
‘Physical contact happens when one family is much stronger than the other, there is very strong motivation to drive off another group, or when repeated encounters build up to extreme action.
Otters are territorial carnivores, and have to control large enough swathes of territory to feed their families
In 2016, readers of The Straits Times chose the Bishan otters to represent Singapore for the country’s 51st birthday
The Bishan family, known locally as the Bishan Ten, originally lived in Bishan-Ang Mo Kio Park, but in 2015 moved a few miles south to Marina Bay
‘In the footage, the Marina otters break away without pursuing contact – they must have sized up the odds and broke off.’
Otters are territorial carnivores, and have to control large enough swathes of territory to feed their families, Mr Sivasothi said.
‘There are limits to the number of animals in any area, such as food and space. Weaker individuals are killed, or are driven away to poorer habitats which cannot support large families,’ he added.
‘Attempts at intervention are ultimately futile, as environmental limits will force these clashes between wild animals.’
Despite the feud, the liveliness of the otter families is a point of pride for Singapore’s residents, as it reflects the success of the city-state’s efforts to increase its water quality.
In 2016, readers of The Straits Times chose the Bishan otters to represent Singapore for the country’s 51st birthday, beating out ‘Singlish’, the name for the mix of English, Chinese and Malay that is spoken in Singapore, the Singapore passport, and the USB stick, which was reportedly invented by a Singaporean company.
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