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Managing the return of a charismatic species in an urban environment

Singapore is a city-state in southeast Asia that has undergone large-scale urbanisation. In 2022, it ranked as the world’s third most densely populated country. Remarkably, in the late 1990s, the smooth-coated otter Lutrogale perspicillata, absent for three decades due to extensive habitat loss, made a resurgence by taking up residence in Singapore. Since then, otters have been spotted across the island, making use of the coastlines and waterways. They have even been found in the highly-urban city centre.

In response to these circumstances, the Otter Working Group was formed in 2013 and formalized in 2016, comprising government agencies, institutions, NGOs, and members of the public. The primary objective of this group is to monitor otter-related issues and address them through a multidisciplinary approach. This case study aims to detail the establishment and activities of the Otter Working Group.

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