Popular Post PhillipBlunt Posted December 10, 2021 Popular Post Share Posted December 10, 2021 (edited) Michelle Butterfield 4 hrs ago A bevy of smooth coated otters lookout to the city skyline at the Gardens by the Bay on August 8, 2021 in Singapore.© Suhaimi Abdullah / Reuters A British citizen living in Singapore said he feared for his life after he was pinned down by a pack of otters and bitten more than 20 times. Graham George Spencer told The Straits Times that his visit to the Singapore Botanic Gardens this week went awry when a runner on a path passed him and a friend, aggravating a nearby pack of otters. The group of animals charged the runner, who was able to dodge the smooth-coated creatures and keep running. They then set their sights on Spencer. "All of a sudden, they must have thought I was (the runner)," he told the news agency. "I actually thought I was going to die. They were going to kill me." Spencer said the otters swarmed his feet, biting at his ankles and causing him to fall down. Once the otters had him on the ground, they attacked his legs and buttocks. Spencer's friend was able to fend off the animals by screaming at them. “I was bitten 26 times in 10 seconds. If it wasn’t for my friend, I don’t think I’d still be here. I’d be dead,” he told local outlet Today. Spencer said he and his friend sought shelter at the visitor centre, running all the way there with the otters in hot pursuit. He was sent to a nearby hospital, where he was treated for 26 wounds, some of which required stitches, and was treated with antibiotics. Otter attacks on humans are very rare, but not unheard of, Tan Puay Yok, group director of the Singapore Botanic Gardens, told The Straits Times. The L.A. Times reports that the approximately 100 to 150 otters living in Singapore have become an increasing nuisance over the years. A roving gang of otters, known locally as the Zouk family, are believed to be the same group that attacked Spencer. In the past year they have been spotted swimming in condo pools, traipsing through the lobby of a children's hospital, and eating their way through thousands of dollars worth of expensive koi fish at a spa. Calls to cull the animals have been met with pushback from local otter enthusiasts. Some have suggested deterring the otters with rubber bullets and airhorns. Singapore's national parks board has issued an advisory on what to do if you cross paths with an otter, reports the BBC. "DO NOT touch, chase or corner the otters. Observe them from a distance. Going too close to the otters may frighten them," it has warned. And we thought we had it bad with the sea lion that grabbed that kid. Blood-thirsty otters are a whole other ball of wax, let alone a whole bevy of them. Edited December 10, 2021 by PhillipBlunt 1 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dekey Pete Posted December 10, 2021 Share Posted December 10, 2021 Is this an article from The Onion? 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EternalCanuckFan Posted December 10, 2021 Share Posted December 10, 2021 Is this the "Take Back Singapore" moment for the otters? 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ghostsof1915 Posted December 10, 2021 Share Posted December 10, 2021 Just now, EternalCanuckFan said: Is this the "Take Back Singapore" moment for the otters? Release the Otters against Bejing! 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhillipBlunt Posted December 10, 2021 Author Share Posted December 10, 2021 3 minutes ago, Ghostsof1915 said: Release the Otters against Bejing! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhillipBlunt Posted December 10, 2021 Author Share Posted December 10, 2021 7 minutes ago, Dekey Pete said: Is this an article from The Onion? Negative. Global News, Reuters, New York Post have all ran the story. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhillipBlunt Posted December 10, 2021 Author Share Posted December 10, 2021 8 minutes ago, EternalCanuckFan said: Is this the "Take Back Singapore" moment for the otters? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gurn Posted December 10, 2021 Share Posted December 10, 2021 If those otters were the same size as these ones, the man would be dead. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giant_otter " Males are between 1.5 and 1.7 m (4.9 and 5.6 ft) in length from head to tail and females between 1 and 1.5 m (3.3 and 4.9 ft). The animal's well-muscled tail can add a further 70 cm (28 in) to the total body length.[21][22] Early reports of skins and living animals suggested exceptionally large males of up to 2.4 m (7.9 ft); intensive hunting likely reduced the occurrence of such massive specimens. Weights are between 26 and 32 kg (57 and 71 lb) for males and 22 and 26 kg (49 and 57 lb) for females.[" 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Drive-By Body Pierce Posted December 10, 2021 Popular Post Share Posted December 10, 2021 This sounds like it could be a scene from an Austin Powers movie when he stumbles into one of Dr. Evil's traps. Otters with frickin laser beams attached to their heads! 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bishopshodan Posted December 10, 2021 Share Posted December 10, 2021 I have a large family of them living under my garage. True story. Here's a pic. 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post PhillipBlunt Posted December 10, 2021 Author Popular Post Share Posted December 10, 2021 3 minutes ago, bishopshodan said: I have a large family of them living under my garage. True story. Here's a pic. You're so dead. 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bishopshodan Posted December 10, 2021 Share Posted December 10, 2021 Just now, PhillipBlunt said: You're so dead. I'm a British citizen too! ( well, dual) 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
6of1_halfdozenofother Posted December 10, 2021 Share Posted December 10, 2021 They like koi fish, eh? I hear koi fish are considered invasive species in a lot of waterways and lakes. Someone would make a killing if they did a North American tour with a family of otters... Ok, I'll see myself out. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CanuckleHorse Posted December 10, 2021 Share Posted December 10, 2021 They must not be tasty Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhillipBlunt Posted December 10, 2021 Author Share Posted December 10, 2021 Just now, 6of1_halfdozenofother said: They like koi fish, eh? I hear koi fish are considered invasive species in a lot of waterways and lakes. Someone would make a killing if they did a North American tour with a family of otters... Ok, I'll see myself out. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HKSR Posted December 10, 2021 Share Posted December 10, 2021 I can't make heads or tails of this article. On one hand, the article seems to be trying to be serious... on the other hand... "A roving gang of otters"?? Seriously? LMAO 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bishopshodan Posted December 10, 2021 Share Posted December 10, 2021 My otters look way tougher than in the OP. Must be the good fishing in the bay, I love them. The garage is detached so, I'm not bothered about the occasional fishy smell when they are having dinner. I talked to a wildlife person and they told me they don't poop where they eat and sleep, so I appreciate that. Also, most of my neighbours say they get the odd rat in their out buildings. Not me...the rats stay away from team bishop otter. 1 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil_314 Posted December 10, 2021 Share Posted December 10, 2021 30 minutes ago, EternalCanuckFan said: Is this the "Take Back Singapore" moment for the otters? Planet of the Otts. I wonder if they'll welcome Steve as their leader. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post JoeyJoeJoeJr. Shabadoo Posted December 10, 2021 Popular Post Share Posted December 10, 2021 FYI, otter gangs are a thing. 1 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4petesake Posted December 10, 2021 Share Posted December 10, 2021 (edited) They have gang warfare too. (In Singapore as well.) Never mind, @JoeyJoeJoeJr. Shabadoo Is too damn quick for me! I’ll just back away slowly… Edited December 10, 2021 by 4petesake 1 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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