June 09, 2021, 06:44 PM
A human in Singapore walked into a family of otters and the resulting video quintessentially captured how it feels bumping into squeaky, furry mammals for the first time in an urban environment.
Li Hua Tang, who posted the video on Facebook group Nature Society (Singapore), told Mothership that the encounter happened to her niece, at a building in the National University of Singapore (NUS), on June 8.
Family of 10 enters the building, gather at entrance
In the short 24-second video, the otter family, identified as the Zouk family, are seen scampering into a building, one after the other.
Image via Li Hua Tang Facebook
The first of the pack entered and looked around curiously, before being joined by the rest of the smooth-coated brethren.
Image via Li Hua Tang Facebook
In response to meeting the otter family for the first time, the woman is heard asking, "What are you all doing? Omg hao duo orh [Omg so many]."
As the Zouk family paused and congregated near the door, the woman questioned if they were lost, before apologising as she had to rush off to work.
"Are you all lost? I need to go I'm sorry, I need to go and do work sorry".
Tang, who posted her niece's video, explained to Mothership that not all otters are typically this adventurous.
The chance encounter simply happened to be with the infamous Zouk family.
Background on the Zouk family
Other than at this NUS building, the Zouk family has been spotted exploring a Pasir Panjang estate, as well as Bishan-Ang Mo Kio Park in the past.
According to past articles, otters from the Zouk family are especially adept at navigating through urban spaces, much better it appeared than the other otter families in Singapore.
That's because the family has failed to secure a territory of its own, unlike other otter families, such as the Bishan and Marina otters.
According to NParks, these are some things to take note of, should you chance upon these little creatures:
- Do not touch, chase or corner them. Observe them from a distance, as getting too close may frighten them.
- Do not talk loudly and do not use flash photography. Noise and light may scare and provoke the otters.
- Do not feed them. The otters have their own food in the environment and their natural eating habits keep the ecosystem healthy.
Top image via Li Hua Tang Facebook
If you like what you read, follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and Telegram to get the latest updates.