Otter dies after suspected hit-&-run along AYE, another driver stops & helps to bury it

A man was driving along the Ayer Rajah Expressway (AYE) in the wee hours of the morning on Friday (Oct. 10) when he noticed a group of otters crossing the road.

However, he soon discovered that one of the otters was injured, and believed that it was a victim of a hit-and-run.

Otter was "writhing in pain"

In a post on Facebook, the driver shared his car's dashcam footage, which had captured the incident.

In the video, a group of five otters could be seen crossing the road to right side of the expressway, while one was spotted lying down in the middle of the road, seemingly unable to move.

The driver shared that he was in the midst of ferrying a passenger at the time, and had asked the passenger if he could step out of the car for a while.

He then alighted and went over to the otter, who was lying on the ground.

He described the otter as "writhing in pain and bleeding", and suspected that the injured otter was the victim of a hit-and-run.

Helped to carry the otter to the side of the road

When the driver bent down to pick the injured otter up, the rest of the otters could be seen peeking out from behind the bushes.

He added that the otters were making sounds of distress.

The driver then carried the injured otter to the left side of the expressway, and laid it down before calling for help.

Unfortunately, as he was doing so, the otter succumbed to its injuries and died.

Buried the otter

According to the driver, by that time, the other otters had crossed back onto the left side of the expressway where the man was.

In the video, they could be seen running across the road while dodging passing vehicles.

The driver said that he later moved the dead otter's body further inside, beyond the barricade and left it alone for a while as the rest of the otters crowded around it.

After they left, the driver proceeded to bury the body of the dead otter under a tree.

He also wrote that the drivers of another two cars had stopped and helped to block traffic as he brought the otter across to the other side of the road, and expressed his gratitude towards them.

Otter's body has been recovered

In response to Mothership's queries, National Parks Board (NParks) Group Director, Wildlife Management, How Choon Beng confirmed that they were alerted to a road accident involving a Smooth-coated otter along AYE.

When the NParks team arrived at the site, the otter was found dead and its body has since been removed and sent to Mandai Wildlife Group for a post-mortem examination.

How also urged people to drive with caution near forested areas and be alert to animals crossing.

"Members of the public are reminded not to handle injured wild animals on their own."

ACRES' response

Speaking to Mothership, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Animal Concerns Research & Education Society (ACRES), Kalai Vanan, said that ACRES was only informed of the incident through the Otter Working Group.

He added that roadkill incidents remain a significant issue in Singapore.

"As urbanisation continues, more animals are forced to cross roads to move between fragmented habitats, increasing their risk of being struck by vehicles."

He expressed his appreciation to the driver who stopped to help the fatally injured otter, saying that "his considerate actions may have prevented the rest of the otter family from being hit as well".

Kalai also urged drivers to act responsibly in similar situations.

If they encounter wildlife on the road or witness an accident involving an animal, they should:

1. Find a safe place to stop their vehicle.
2. Avoid approaching the animal directly, as injured wild animals may react defensively.
3. Take photos or videos if possible, and note the exact location.
4. Call the relevant authorities or agencies immediately for assistance.

Drivers can also contact:

• NParks 24-hour Animal Response Centre: 1800-476-1600
• ACRES (for wildlife): 9783-7782
• Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) (for dogs, cats, and small pets such as rabbits and hamsters): 6287-5355 ext. 9

Kalai added that ACRES will continue to advocate for greater driver awareness and stronger mitigation measures to reduce the occurrence of roadkill incidents and protect Singapore's wildlife.

Top photos via Marcus Lee/Facebook