Speech by SMS Desmond Lee at the Opening of the 13th International Otter Congress

Jul 4, 2016

Good morning. I am glad to join you at the opening of the 13th International Otter Congress. 
a) This is the first time Singapore is hosting this congress. 
b) To all our delegates, a warm welcome to Singapore.

The return of the otters 

Experts and conservationists like you would know that otters were actually once part of the primeval Singapore landscape. 
a) Two of Asia’s four species of otters are recorded here – the smooth-coated otter and the small-clawed otter.

However, by the early 90’s, as our landscape changed dramatically, only a small population of the small-clawed otter remained in our islands in the northeast. 
a) In fact, throughout Asia, due to habitat loss and exploitation, the smooth-coated otter and the small-clawed otter were categorised as ‘Vulnerable’ species on the IUCN Red List in 2008. 
b) The IUCN reviewers, who are present here today reached this conclusion based on information patterns from all over Asia.

In recent years, however, the population of otters in Singapore has started growing again. They have come out of the remote islands in the northeast, and turned up unexpectedly in urbanised areas. 
a) Last year, 3 smooth-coated otter pups appeared in Bishan - Ang Mo Kio Park, exciting many Singaporeans. More recently, a family of 10 otters was spotted in the Central Business District in Singapore.

This could have been a result of our focus on greening up the city, but also ensuring that we have a thriving flora and fauna too. We also cleaned up the Singapore River. 
a) The Singapore River was once a black, anoxic and stinking river, uninhabitable to all living things.
b) However, through the foresight and political will of our founding Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew, and more than a decade of intense and consistent work, the health of the river has recovered dramatically. 
c) The river is now a catchment for freshwater, and a space for recreational use. The ecosystem within has recovered enough to welcome and support smooth-coated otter populations which now fish and reproduce here.

The re-emergence of otters in Singapore is also the result of other deliberate measures. 
a) For example, we retained and developed green areas in the form of nature reserves, nature parks and nature areas. 
b) The greening of the landscape throughout the island, and in recent years, the naturalisation of some formerly concrete canals also contributed to our otter recovery efforts. 
c) As part of our species-recovery efforts for the oriental small-clawed otter in Pulau Ubin, we also unveiled a design for new otter dens, or “holts” in May. 

Today, there are some 50 smooth-coated otters in Singapore’s rivers and coasts.

The challenges of co-existence of wildlife in urban environments 

However, the appearance of otters in urban Singapore gives rise to new challenges. 
a) Our urbanite city dwellers have to learn how to react and respond when they encounter otters. 
b) Fishermen may have conflicts with otters hunting for food in the same areas. 
c) And occasionally, we read news about otters who feast in a homeowner’s pond full of expensive koi! 

In a large country, it is possible to mitigate human-animal or human-nature conflicts by creating large natural sanctuaries and habitats for wildlife, away from the hustle and bustle of human urban centres – a “Live and Let Live” approach to biodiversity conservation.

But in highly dense cities such as Singapore, where the city is the state and the state is the city, that is simply not possible. 
a) So the approach of biophilic cities must be one of co-existence and active community partnership in stewarding our natural resources and managing human-nature encounters. 

This is the approach we strive to take for otters and other wildlife in our city.

To help ensure co-existence between otters and city dwellers, we need to continue our efforts to raise awareness and involve the community: 
a) Through events and festivals (e.g. Festival of Biodiversity) and school-related programmes, we can educate the public on what to do when they encounter otters in the city. 
b) We can promote habitat enhancement and get the community involved in the process. 
c) We can also encourage citizen science efforts through sharing reports and photos, and invite friends and family to otter-watch and appreciate the environment which contributes to their presence here. 

A story of partnership and rescue

Let me end off with a story of what can be achieved when we work with the community – Singaporeans may have heard about it, but our foreign friends may not. And Siva and Adrian will probably share more details with you in their presentation later. 
a) In May, an otter cub was alone in its family holt. Its family was nowhere to be seen. While trying to look for its parents and siblings, it fell into the canal and was in danger of drowning. 
b) Luckily, a man saw this and rescued the cub. The cub was only 6 weeks old. A group of people carefully fed, dewormed, and nursed the cub back to health. They even gave the cub a name – ZooToby. 
c) When ZooToby was ready, this group of people searched out its family. They released the cub from a distance and the otter family saw the cub from far away and approached it – cautiously at first, and then faster and faster, breaking into a run. 
d) They nuzzled ZooToby joyfully, and then whisked it away to safety, before scurrying into the vegetation to celebrate their reunion. 
e) Today, ZooToby is doing well with its family. It was treated tenderly by its rescuers, but I think it likes its family more. 

This group of people is called the Otter Working Group, which comprises both members of the community, Government agencies and members from OtterWatch, which is made up of otter enthusiasts.

a) I am glad to formally announce its formation. The group will be chaired by Dr Adrian Loo, Director of the National Biodiversity Centre with the National Parks Board. 
b) Partners of the working group include Agri-Food & Veterinary Authority (AVA), Animal Concerns Research & Education Society (ACRES), National University of Singapore (NUS), PUB, and the Wildlife Reserves Singapore (WRS). 
c) This is the kind of good we can do when the community, NGOs and Government work together. 

Conclusion

The presence of otters and other wildlife has made our City in a Garden a more wonderful place to live in. We must continue to do more. 
a) There is much for us to learn from the rest of the world. 
b) I hope you will all have a rich and engaging time during the Congress.