Forum: Public safety and health of ecosystem at risk from otter population at golf course

Over the past year, a golf course in Singapore’s northern region has faced growing disruptions due to the otter population there. What began as a novelty has escalated into ecological and safety concerns.

The club’s closed-pond ecosystem, once carefully managed, has been destabilised. Otters have drastically reduced populations of algae-eating fish and invertebrates, leading to uncontrolled aquatic plant overgrowth, murky water, and eroded pond edges. Several golfers have missed their step and fallen into the blurred waterlines.

The otters have encroached into high-traffic areas, including walkways, where a den has formed. They have also been observed in the swimming pool. Despite “Otter Crossing Zone” signs and educational efforts, their unpredictable behaviour poses risks, especially to children attending golf and swimming lessons.

A 2021 incident at the Botanic Gardens, where a jogger was bitten by otters, serves as a sobering precedent. Parents are justifiably concerned.

As food sources deplete, the otters may migrate, taking the problem elsewhere. Restocking ponds could invite their return, creating a vicious circle unless proactive measures – including stricter population control – are implemented.

Singapore’s “City in Nature” vision is commendable, but harmony requires pragmatism. Golf courses are recreational spaces, not wildlife reserves.

With public safety and ecosystem health at stake, a coordinated response from the authorities is urgently needed to pre-empt accidents and restore balance.  

Kevin Ho