'Otter Game Of Thrones': Zouk Mum and Dad had injuries before going missing, then she's found dead
Did an outsider cause the death of an otter family matriarch?
That is what a series of events leading to the death recounted by an otter watcher seems to suggest.
The otter known as Zouk Mum was found dead in a canal in Potong Pasir on June 28. Facebook user Jess Emmet said she was one of the otter watchers who made the "devastating discovery".
She posted in the Singapore Wildlife Sightings Facebook group on June 30 that we wanted to give "some context" leading to the discovery.
She wrote: "At the start of June, watchers noticed at least one loner (sometimes more) persistently shadowing the family (basically stalking closely behind the family). The Zouks seemed on high alert during this period and could be seen searching and chasing off loner(s) regularly.
"A couple of weeks later, Zouk Mum and Dad had visible bad injuries likely from fighting."
But the otter watchers did not see how the animals got their injuries.
"Within days of the bad injuries appearing, Zouk Dad was ousted from the family. Shocking given how close and loving mum and dad had always been," recounted Ms Emmet.
"A loner was seemingly accepted by the family. Shortly after, Zouk Mum also went missing, but the loner remained in the family."
[Developing Story] Both dad and mum of Zouk, the largest and most beloved otter family in Singapore, are both missing... Posted by Ottercity on Friday 21 June 2024
Ms Emmet said the otter watchers could only guess what happened.
"It’s very difficult to also not incorrectly humanise otters to explain their behaviour (though in my head I’m watching otter Game Of Thrones!)"
The otter watchers searched for the missing otters and Zouk Dad was spotted alive at Botanic Gardens. "If you see an otter with a very bad open head wound, it might be Zouk Dad," said Ms Emmet.
HAVE YOU SEEN AH PA? After missing for nearly a week, Zouk Ah Pa was finally spotted this evening 27 June at Swan Lake,... Posted by Myottermelon on Thursday 27 June 2024
"Friday morning (June 28), I joined a fellow watcher in the Potong Pasir area who had already followed the Zouks down the Kallang River from Bishan all morning.
When I arrived, the Zouks were just about waking up from their short nap and start heading down the river. As they normally do, they were catching fishing and messing around on the banks.
"The Zouks suddenly started making their curious squeak sounds and become hyper-focused on something further down the bank."
The otters were squeaking at something in the grass.
"I knew in my gut and heart, it was her!" wrote Ms Emmet.
"The Zouk family did not stay long before they carried on down the river, but I feel they were able to say goodbye (and there’s me going humanising otters I know, but I’m sad I need to believe that)!"
The otter watchers called the National Parks Board, who came and removed the carcass.
[Breaking News] It is with a heavy heart that we announce the passing of our beloved friend, Zouk mum, the matriarch of... Posted by Ottercity on Thursday 27 June 2024
The Zouks are so-called as the family was first spotted near the former Zouk site at Jiak Kim Street in River Valley.
The otters were recently featured in an episode of BBC Earth.
Battling the traffic in Singapore one paw at a time Stream #Mammals on #BBCPlayer now to follow this smooth-coated otter's journey to reunite with its family. Posted by BBC Player on Wednesday 17 April 2024
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