“As we bring nature closer to our lives, we must also learn how to coexist with the wildlife that comes with it.” – Ng Wai Pak (THF 2026 Grantee)
Splashing through rivers, floating hand-in-hand, and sliding across muddy riverbanks, otters are among the most playful animals in the world; creatures whose antics never fail to bring a smile. Yet otters are far more than a source of delight; they play a vital role in maintaining the health of aquatic ecosystems. That is why, every year on the last Wednesday of May; the world comes together to celebrate World Otter Day, a special occasion dedicated to appreciating and protecting these fascinating animals. But did you know that Malaysia has otters of its own to celebrate?
Otters in Malaysia
Otters are mammals that depend heavily on wetlands and aquatic habitats to survive. They are well adapted to life in the water, with webbed feet, streamlined bodies, sensitive whiskers, and sharp teeth used for catching fish and other aquatic prey.
Malaysia is home to four otter species out of 13 species found globally.
Smooth-coated Otter (Lutrogale perspicillata)
Of the four otter species recorded in Malaysia, the Smooth-coated Otter is perhaps the most familiar, commonly found in rivers, wetlands, and increasingly in urban waterways.
Asian Small-clawed Otter (Aonyx cinereus)
The Asian Small-clawed Otter, the smallest otter species in the world, typically inhabits quieter freshwater environments.
Hairy-nosed Otter (Lutra sumatrana)
In contrast, the Hairy-nosed Otter is far more elusive, closely associated with peat swamp forests and lowland wetlands that are rapidly declining across the region.
Meanwhile, the Eurasian Otter, once thought to be locally extinct, has recently been recorded in Sabah, suggesting that small populations may persist, and offering renewed hope for researchers and conservationists.
Eurasian Otter (Lutra lutra)
Despite their differences in habitat and distribution, all four species play an important role in maintaining the health of aquatic ecosystems, which is why otters matter.
Why Otters Matter?
Beyond their playful image, otters are important indicators of healthy ecosystems. Their presence often reflects clean water, healthy wetlands, and balanced biodiversity.
Despite this, otters are still poorly studied in Malaysia. While they are commonly associated with forests and peat swamps, some species have adapted to human-modified areas such as canals, lakes, drainage systems, aquaculture ponds, and residential neighbourhoods.
In Kuala Lumpur, otters have even been spotted around urban green spaces and housing areas. Their presence reminds us that wildlife is not always far away in remote forests. Nature exists right beside us, so can human and otters live together harmoniously?
Can Humans and Otters Coexist?
As otters venture into human-dominated areas, conflict can sometimes arise. They may raid aquaculture ponds for fish or prawns or help themselves to ornamental fish such as koi from residential ponds. Encounters can also turn tense when people unknowingly stray too close to otter families; mother otters with cubs are fiercely protective and may charge as a warning to defend their young.
Yet there are heartening examples of humans and otters finding a way to coexist. In Pahang, members of the Jakun indigenous community spoke of otters occasionally taking prawns from their catches. Through frustrated by the losses, they chose not to harm the animals. Instead, they devised what they call a “Modern Lukah”, a modified fishing trap that safeguards a portion of their catch while leaving some for the otters. For them, the river is a shared space, belonging equally to people and wildlife. These stories offer a hopeful glimpse of what coexistence can look like. Yet they remain the exception rather than the rule, and broader challenges continues to cast a shadow over the otter’s survival.
Threats Otters are Facing
Otters continue to face a wide range of threats driven largely by human activities. Expanding cities, agricultural development, and infrastructure projects have fragmented rivers, wetlands, and peat swamps, forcing otters to navigate increasingly hazardous environments which may involve roadkills.
At the same time, the waterways otters depend on are under mounting pressure from industrial discharge, agricultural runoff, and plastic pollution. Human activity along riverbanks, from fishing operations to waterfront development, can further disturb breeding sites and alter the rhytms of their behaviour.
The story of otter conservation extends beyond the survival of a single species. It also means safeguarding rivers, wetlands, peat swamps, and the broader ecosystems that support both wildlife and human communities.
Today, many developments promote the idea of “living close to nature,” yet when wildlife such as otters appear in these spaces, they are often seen as a disturbance rather than part of the ecosystem no matter even if they are cute and adorable. As human expansion continues to alter the natural landscapes, the idea of coexistence may depend less on whether wildlife can adapt to us and more on whether we are willing to live alongside them.
Pahang Otter Research and Conservation Project
To better understand otters in Malaysia, researcher Ng Wai Pak initiated the Pahang Otter Research and Conservation Project in the Pekan Landscape, an area known to harbour all three otter species found in Malaysia. Despite their presence, little is known about the behaviour, ecology, and habitat use of these elusive mammals, making research crucial for their long-term survival and for addressing potential human-wildlife conflict within local communities.
For Ng, the decision to study otters emerged from years spent working in wetland conservation. “Otters sit at the top of the wetland food chain and play an important role in the ecosystem, yet they are still not well understood by many people,” he explained.
The study is supported through the 2026 The Habitat Foundation Conservation Grant, a timely initiative as increasing land-use changes and habitat pressures threaten wetland ecosystems across the region. In collaboration with Enggang (Pekan) Sdn. Bhd. and Universiti Malaysia Terengganu (UMT), the project aims to map otter habitats, identify key threats, and strengthen conservation efforts within and around the Pahang Peatland Restoration Project (PRPP).
Ng described the grant as essential not only for advancing research, but also for building local participation in conservation work. It enables the involvement of community members and young researchers in field surveys, data collection, and outreach activities, while encouraging dialogue between scientists and local residents about living alongside wildlife in rapidly changing environments.
Key project activities include:
- Conducting spraint (faecal) surveys to detect otter presence
- Assessing threats and human-wildlife interactions through community questionnaires
- Training local research assistants and community members
- Organising outreach and knowledge-sharing activities
The findings from the project will be shared with PERHILITAN, the Malaysia Otter Network (MON), and other stakeholders to support future otter conservation planning and management in Malaysia.
A Message for World Otter Day
Otters cannot survive without clean rivers, thriving wetlands, and habitats free from human harm. Yet the actions needed to protect them need to be grand; reducing pollution, refusing single-use plastics, and simply choosing to care can ripple outward in ways we may never fully see.
The hope is not complicated: a future where otters are still spotted gliding through wild rivers, not mourned as creatures we once knew.
So, if you ever find yourself face to face with an otter, go still. Watch quietly from a distance. That fleeting moment is not mere luck, it is proof that nature is holding on, and a silent plea for us to help it do so.
Protect them. Celebrate them. Happy World Otter Day.
The Story of The Jakun Indigenous People were taken from the report of Documentation of the Aquatic Resources-Based Local Ecological Knowledge of : Orang Asli Communities in Rompin, Pahang. While the info about the otter was shared by Ng Wai Pak.
