Written answer by Ministry of National Development on managing otters in residential areas

Apr 8, 2025

Question No: 7459

Question by: Mr Lim Biow Chuan

To ask the Minister for National Development in view of the regular feedback on otter cases received by NParks each month since 2022, what are NParks' further plans for managing otters that have moved into residential areas and are destroying fishes in residential homes.

Answer:

Otters are native to Singapore and human-otter conflicts arise from time to time.

To manage such conflicts, NParks works closely with community partners like the Otter Working Group. This Group includes government agencies, academic experts and members of the nature community. We have jointly developed measures, such as cordoning off areas where adult otters may display protective behaviour in the presence of young otters, and using olfactory irritants to guide otters away from residential areas. To safeguard public safety, NParks may also trap and relocate otters away from areas of intensified human-otter conflict.

NParks also carries out public engagement and outreach, including school assembly talks and public webinars, to raise awareness on wildlife management. NParks will continue to conduct house-visits and town hall sessions with residents affected by otter-related disamenities, and share advisories for the community on how to guard against otter intrusion. For instance, in areas where otters are prevalent, homeowners who keep ornamental fish are advised to install wire mesh and other barriers to prevent otters from entering their homes.

NParks will continue to monitor the otter population in Singapore closely and review the current suite of measures to manage the otter population.