April 18, 2016, 06:09 PM 
If your news feed has been alive with countless pieces of news about the exploits of otters in Singapore, be prepared for more.
This is because the otter population is thriving just fine here, so much so that it is relatively easy spotting those mammalian critters these days compared to just five years ago.
According to MyPaper, N. Sivasothi, a research associate at the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum and National University of Singapore lecturer, who has studied otters since 1994, said there are now at least 50 otters here, including unarguably Singapore's most prominent Bishan-Ang Mo Kio family of 10 otters.
As a testament to their adaptability, otters these days can be seen in man-made habitats and waterways in Bishan, Marina Bay, Punggol-Serangoon and even Changi, East Coast and Tanah Merah.
Previously, otters were sighted mainly at Sungei Buloh and Pulau Ubin. They are believed to have originally hailed from Malaysia up north, where upgrading development works along the coast might have driven them from their habitats.
The boom in the otter population here is accompanied by the growth of the otter-watching community, with an informal group consisting of about 20 participants who follow, take photos and videos of otters in action.
The 13th International Otter Congress, organised by the IUCN/SSC Otter Specialist Group, will also be held in Singapore for the first time this July.
Related articles:
Otter pup injured by hook above right eye appears to be okay now, self-heals like Wolverine
Bishan-AMK Park otters have 5 new baby pups, which makes them a family of 10 in total
Bishan-Ang Mo Kio Park mommy otter has triplet babies
Video shows Bishan-Ang Mo Kio Park otters successfully integrating, mingling with S’poreans
Otter pup injured by fishing hook in Toa Payoh appears to have self-healed like Wolverine
Otter family of 5 enrols into St Andrew’s Junior College
Otter family of 5 succumbs to touristy pressure, visits Flower Dome at Gardens By The Bay
Otters totally S’poreanised, visit SG Heart Map Festival @ Float before rest of public gets there
Otter family of 5 are really just dogs in disguise, played tag with cameraman at Kallang River
Top photo via Chun Kit Soo, a.k.a. Fast Snail
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