Man attacked by otters in Botanic Gardens wants them protected, not culled

Singapore — The otters who attacked a British man recently in the Botanic Gardens apparently got the wrong man.

It was a case of mistaken identity for Graham George Spencer, who had gone for his usual early morning walk in the gardens at around on Nov 30 and ended up fearing for his life when a family of some 20 otters set upon him near the park’s entrance on Napier Road.

Mr Spencer, who owns a maid agency and lives in Singapore, said it was another man, a runner, who ran into the path of the otters and spooked the pack as they were crossing.

The runner, he said, managed to dodge the pack, but they then turned on Mr Spencer, felled him, pinned him down and sank their teeth into him 26 times within a matter of seconds.

“I actually thought I was going to die. They were going to kill me,” he told TODAY online. But a friend of his who was about 15 paces away ran towards him, yelling and screaming to scare off the animals.

Pursued by the otters, his friend helped him to a visitor centre, where the park staff tended to some of Mr Spencer’s wounds.

Then he went to Gleneagles Hospital which is next to the park, where he had some of his wounds stitched, had anti-tetanus shots and was also given antibiotics to take. He’s been back three times for treatment, he said.

The bill? $1,200 so far.

Mr Spencer figured that he had been about 4 m distant from the otters and ready to let the otters cross when they suddenly “went crazy” and lunged at him.

The otters began biting his ankles, making him fall down face-first. Then they got at his legs, buttocks, and fingers.

When his friend nearby ran screaming towards the otters to scare them off, the animals hesitated just long enough for Mr Spencer to get up and get away from them, Today reported on Dec 8.

They declined an ambulance and walked to Gleneagles Hospital’s emergency department, as it was quicker.

The National Parks Board (NParks), which oversees the park, confirmed it was in contact with Mr Spencer.

More than one side to story

A post by a local otter photography page Myottermelon on Thursday observed that the story is incomplete and that there was another side to it. Referring to a photo of a runner being chased by otters, the post said:

“What we do not see here is part one of the story – that the otters were having a relaxing family bonding time rolling on the dried leaves when all of a sudden, a fast-moving, big-sized potential predator dashed towards the family.”

The post noted there were young pups with the family, and the adults felt threatened and instinctively acted defensively by chasing away the “giant intruder”.

“When we are observing and photographing otters, we would advise people to keep a distance and ask runners to slow down and wait for the otters to move away or make a detour if possible,” noted Myottermelon.

Most people do heed such advice, but some still insist on speeding past the otters and “even jumping over them!”

“It always puzzled me… why are these runners always in such a great hurry…are they all training for the Olympics?”

The post commented that in this latest incident, the otters didn’t attack without reason. “We are only such a small island, and every living thing deserves a space to live. Most animals do not attack humans unless provoked.”

The gardens’ group director, Dr Tan Puay Yok, told Today that incidents of otter bites in the park are rare, but visitors should still be mindful.

“Visitors to green spaces should be mindful of their surroundings, observe wildlife from a safe distance, avoid feeding or approaching them, especially when there are pups as the adults can be protective over their young when approached by humans.” /TISG

Read related: Elderly man attacked by otter along Kallang River, warns others of potential danger

Elderly man attacked by otter along Kallang River, warns others of potential danger