smooth otters of sungei buloh

today, after more than ten visits to the sungei buloh wetland reserve, i finally managed to set eyes on the smooth otters of sungei buloh. i did not see them on the outward journey. it was when i was walking back to the visitors' centre that i saw three small figures out in the sea on the sand spit. i suspected they were the otters, so i walked right up to the edge of the platform to have a closer look at them.

there were three of them. they were the size of a small dog. they were feeding on some fish which they had caught in the small cove. i had seen the fish, slim and about 30cm long, jumping out of the water when i stopped there earlier. after sometime, one of them continued with his eating while the other two went forlicking in the shallow water. apparently, otters are playful creatures.

i checked with one of the three young soldiers who was there on security duty and he told me that the three otters were frequent visitors to the same spot on the small sand spit. they were not there every day but he had seen them often enough to know their habit.

platform 1 is about 1km from the main bridge across sungei buloh besar. after crossing the main bridge, turn right. at platform 1, there is a shelter erected for the national servicemen who are on surveillance duty.