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In Singapore last week, an older man was taking a morning walk in a park and spotted a pack of otters on the path ahead of him. At the same time, a jogger ran t

In Singapore last week, an older man was taking a morning walk in a park and spotted a pack of otters on the path ahead of him. At the same time, a jogger ran through the pack and startled them (some reports said trampled one of the pups). The reaction of the pack was to attack the nearest human - the older man: As the runner ran past Spencer and disappeared into the distance, the otters instead set their sights on Spencer and "went crazy". "I didn't move quick enough and they just jumped me and they [were] on me and severely bit my ankle, made me buckle, and they jumped on my bottom and pushed me. And these things like... massive... [these] things [are] like dogs." Spencer said that the otters even tried to bite his face, but their teeth sank into his finger instead when he raised his hands to defend himself. https://mothership.sg/2021/12/otters-bite-man-botanic-gardens/ https://mothership.sg/2021/12/otters-bite-man-botanic-garden... (Warning - graphic)

lgvln 5y ago
FYI, he ran into the path of a pack of otters during his morning run and that is the reason why he was “attacked”. It is very possible he stepped onto an otter while doing that too, which would explain their behaviour. What is interesting is he lawyered up, fabricated a fantastical story and somehow got the attention of Western media, all to seek compensation from the park. (And how many people believed him) Play stupid games, win stupid prizes. Think twice about running head-on into a pack of animals regardless of their size.
- lgvln 5y ago
  My comment is getting downvoted but I still stand by my opinion that otters are not inherently aggressive like how a lion or tiger is. Extra care should be taken when dealing with wild animals, even if they look small and adorable. Running into a pack of wild animals is not something anyone should do.
peanut_worm 5y ago
Otters are relatives of weasels and badgers and like their relatives they are very aggressive.
- lgvln 5y ago
  I believe they are aggressive only to the extent of defending their territory or defending their pups. In fact, all carnivorous animals can be aggressive. They are not aggressive like how a lion or tiger is to humans. Their main diet consist of fish, invertebrate and shellfish.
  - borski 5y ago
    Having dived with pacific otters, they are just plain aggressive. They seemed to genuinely just enjoy being mean. Sea lions, on the other hand, are super pleasant and playful.
    - lgvln 5y ago
      Sea otters are known to be more aggressive than river otters but I do not think they view humans as preys. It is probably a territorial or mating reason in your case. I have read different reports of what the OP mentioned. The official statement by the park is that he (as reported to them by himself) ran through the pack of otters because of poor visibility (early morning) and tried to get them to do something about the otters. That is quite different from what the OP claims.
      - FatalLogic 5y ago
        This is interesting. Can you post links to these reports?

lgvln 5y ago

FYI, he ran into the path of a pack of otters during his morning run and that is the reason why he was “attacked”. It is very possible he stepped onto an otter while doing that too, which would explain their behaviour. What is interesting is he lawyered up, fabricated a fantastical story and somehow got the attention of Western media, all to seek compensation from the park. (And how many people believed him) Play stupid games, win stupid prizes. Think twice about running head-on into a pack of animals regardless of their size.

lgvln 5y ago
My comment is getting downvoted but I still stand by my opinion that otters are not inherently aggressive like how a lion or tiger is. Extra care should be taken when dealing with wild animals, even if they look small and adorable. Running into a pack of wild animals is not something anyone should do.

peanut_worm 5y ago

Otters are relatives of weasels and badgers and like their relatives they are very aggressive.

lgvln 5y ago
I believe they are aggressive only to the extent of defending their territory or defending their pups. In fact, all carnivorous animals can be aggressive. They are not aggressive like how a lion or tiger is to humans. Their main diet consist of fish, invertebrate and shellfish.
- borski 5y ago
  Having dived with pacific otters, they are just plain aggressive. They seemed to genuinely just enjoy being mean. Sea lions, on the other hand, are super pleasant and playful.
  - lgvln 5y ago
    Sea otters are known to be more aggressive than river otters but I do not think they view humans as preys. It is probably a territorial or mating reason in your case. I have read different reports of what the OP mentioned. The official statement by the park is that he (as reported to them by himself) ran through the pack of otters because of poor visibility (early morning) and tried to get them to do something about the otters. That is quite different from what the OP claims.
    - FatalLogic 5y ago
      This is interesting. Can you post links to these reports?