Otter Population Control and Management Strategies in Residential Estates

Mr Yip Hon Weng asked the Minister for National Development in light of destructive activity by otters in private residential areas (a) what direct population control measures are currently being assessed or implemented; and (b) whether the Ministry will implement a comprehensive management strategy that relieves residents of the financial and logistical burden of implementing their own defensive measures.

Mr Chee Hong Tat: The National Parks Board (NParks) adopts a science- and community-based approach for the management of otters. To manage human-otter conflict and ensure public safety, NParks works closely with community partners, like the Otter Working Group (OWG), which includes academic experts, members of the nature community and other Government agencies.

We have jointly developed measures to trap and relocate otters away from areas with heightened potential for human-otter conflict and used olfactory deterrents to guide otters away from residential areas. NParks is also studying sterilisation as a possible long-term population control measure.