Wild Otters Seen in Singapore

This is a true story.

Comic Poem

By Angela Lansbury

 

[10:30, 26/03/2023] Angela Lansbury BA Hons:

 

The otters came to eat pond fish

All three of them, a family

Large fish, carp, are a tasty dish

‘Chase them off!’ “Rather you than me!’

 

The guards ran up, they shouted loud,

The otters scarper, we're a crowd,

A dead fish thrown into a bin

Pristine, curved eye - and fanned out fin?

 

Dead fish, after attack by otters. Singapore. Photo by Angela Lansbury. Copyright.

But stiff, still, with a gaping mouth?

‘Don't eat it, it will make you ill !’

‘What’s to be done? High barriers?

Tough love - big otter carriers!’

 

Although our link with nature’s lost

‘We must think of safety, of health

The condo must count costs, what’s lost

Consider all, not just oneself.’

 

‘No matter what we did, or saw

Call the Otter Society

Today hang back, obey the law

Let them act - with propriety

 

‘Block the canal, their route, but do

Let raging water filter through …’

Then we won't see, another night,

Such charm, delight, and fright, excite.

 -ends-

Copyright Angela Lansbury

 The otter crossing sign picture is from the Hebrides in Wikipedia.

The Singapore otters seen in Cashew Heights Condominium in Bukit Panjang, Singapore, seem to be the larger Smooth-coated otters which eat fish rather than the smaller, paler Small Clawed coloured otters which eat shellfish. Otters have attacked expensive koi in the past.

Safety for otters and members of the public

https://www.otter.org/public/AboutOtters_OttersAroundTheWorld_Asia.aspx 

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Angela Lansbury's books and chapters in anthologies are on Amazon and Lulu.com

Look for Angela Lansbury poet, Angela Lansbury travel writer, and my photo. Books include Poetry Workbook. Improve your English. How to be the Best Man. Grief and Us.