Search

Smooth Otters taunting Saltwater Crocodile

on 12th September 2015

Early one morning in March 2014, SgBeachBum was at the Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve observing a Little (=Striated) Heron (Butorides striatus) chasing bugs when he encountered a pair of Smooth Otters (Lutrogale perspicillata) swimming in the water.

Basking on the mangrove mud nearby was a large Saltwater Crocodile (Crocodylus porosus). The otters left the water to encounter the crocodile. When the otters came too close to the crocodile, the latter suddenly sprang to life, snapping at one of them. Otters and crocodiles do not share a cordial relationship and frequently gnash teeth at each other.

Both otters kept “barking” at the crocodile while moving around it. The smaller of the two was actively taunting the 2m plus crocodile repeatedly while the larger (quite obviously a male) kept a slightly wider minimum distance.

After getting taunted quite a bit, the crocodile again lunged at the closer smaller otter, moving about two feet forward in a flash.

After some time the otters lost interest and slinked away.

This account was initially posted HERE.

SgBeachBum
Singapore
September 2015

If you like this post please tap on the Like button at the left bottom of page. Any views and opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the authors/contributors, and are not endorsed by the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum (LKCNHM, NUS) or its affiliated institutions. Readers are encouraged to use their discretion before making any decisions or judgements based on the information presented.

YC Wee

Dr Wee played a significant role as a green advocate in Singapore through his extensive involvement in various organizations and committees: as Secretary and Chairman for the Malayan Nature Society (Singapore Branch), and with the Nature Society (Singapore) as founding President (1978-1995). He has also served in the Nature Reserve Board (1987-1989), Nature Reserves Committee (1990-1996), National Council on the Environment/Singapore Environment Council (1992-1996), Work-Group on Nature Conservation (1992) and Inter-Varsity Council on the Environment (1995-1997). He is Patron of the Singapore Gardening Society and was appointed Honorary Museum Associate of the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum (LKCNHM) in 2012. In 2005, Dr Wee started the Bird Ecology Study Group. With more than 6,000 entries, the website has become a valuable resource consulted by students, birdwatchers and researchers locally and internationally. The views and opinions expressed in this article are his own, and do not represent those of LKCNHM, the National University of Singapore or its affiliated institutions.

Other posts by YC Wee

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Categories
Archives

Overall visits (since 2005)

Live visitors
768
7028
Visitors Today
51721916
Total
Visitors

Clustrmaps (since 2016)