January 14, 2026
SINGAPORE – The National Parks Board (NParks) is studying measures to control the population of otters in Singapore, including sterilisation.
In response to The Straits Times’ queries, an NParks spokesperson said on Jan 13 that the board adopts a “science- and community-based approach” to the management of otters in Singapore.
“Together with the Otter Working Group and our community of otter watchers, NParks monitors the otters regularly to better understand their population, distribution and movement patterns, and takes action to pre-empt or mitigate conflict where possible,” said the spokesperson.
The Otter Working Group is a partnership of several entities and members of the public that collectively works on otter conservation in Singapore.
The NParks spokesperson added that its “holistic” population management strategy includes measures such as exclusion, habitat modification and translocation, as well as studying long-term population control measures, which include sterilisation.
News network CNA had earlier on Jan 13 reported sterilisation as a possible NParks measure to manage the otter population here. The report also detailed instances of otter-related conflict, including several where the mammals entered homes and ate pet fish.
The NParks spokesperson told ST that the board received an average of over 600 feedback cases a year in 2024 and 2025, comprising mostly sightings.
The CNA report also said NParks has been conducting daily patrols since the start of January to look for signs of otter activity. If otters are spotted in a residential area, NParks teams will guide the animals away from the area.
Ms Cyrena Lin, director of wildlife management and outreach at NParks, said in a video interview with CNA that should otter activity persist in the area, translocation – the human-assisted movement of animals from one area to another – would be considered as a “last resort”.
For example, if an otter family has established a holt in a residential area, there may be concern for public safety as the animals may display protective behaviour if they have pups. NParks will then intervene to relocate the family to a more natural habitat, Ms Lin said.
A 2023 ST report said that there were about 170 smooth-coated otters here, up from about 80 in 2017. Wildlife experts told ST in 2022 that overpopulation is not a concern as competition for territory among the aquatic mammals native to Singapore naturally limits their numbers.
Called “a symbol of Singapore” by tech giant Google in 2023 , Singapore’s otters first rose to international fame in 2016 when English broadcaster David Attenborough made a documentary about their lives. Since then, they have also been
featured in a BBC Earth documentary shining a spotlight on Singapore and its beloved furry denizens.
However, cases of human-animal conflict have also increased as the otter population continues to grow – a man was bitten by an otter at Kallang Riverside Park in 2022 after trailing a pack of them to take a photo.
There have also been several cases where home owners found their expensive pet koi dead , holding otters responsible for the carcasses left behind.
In a 2023 ST report, NParks said that each month since 2022, it had received about eight cases of feedback on otters foraging for food in residential estates.
NParks previously advised home owners who keep ornamental fish to take steps to prevent otters from entering their homes. These include sealing gaps in fences and gates and setting up tall barriers around ponds, or covering them with netting or panels.
The NParks spokesperson said otters are curious by nature and will not attack unless they are provoked or feel threatened. When encountering them, members of the public should keep a safe distance, and avoid feeding, touching, chasing, cornering or approaching them, especially when there are pups, as the adults can be protective of their young when approached by humans.
Those seeking advice on otter exclusion measures can reach NParks online at https://www.avs.gov.sg/feedback or call the Animal Response Centre helpline on 1800-476-1600. More information about otters can also be found on the NParks website at https://go.gov.sg/nparks-otters