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