Otter plight lament
The Facebook page Khonanurak, or nature conservationists, says many Thais who admire the return of otters to Singapore’s river following the city-state’s success in greening itself may not realise the same animals are struggling to survive on Bangkok’s outskirts.
The page said many are praising the Singaporean government for rehabilitating its rivers, allowing otters which disappeared in the 1970s to return.
The otter buzz followed an article in The Economist entitled “Move Over, Merlion” which tells how the return of otters is a testament to the country’s success in efforts to green itself and how the animals have become a national obsession. They have inspired groups on social media to suggest good otter-spotting locations and exchange information about sightings.
“Will people know that we have otters living in Bang Khunthian, just on the outskirts of Bangkok?” the page said.
Bangkok’s otters face daily risks from habitat destruction, water pollution, garbage and poaching, it said. “Other wild animals close to town, including macaques, birds, or Byrd’s whales, also have suffered a decline in population over the years,’’ the page noted.
It said it’s paradoxical that people who want to conserve nature and wildlife are often told they can’t have everything. There is always a trade-off, or there can be no development. Nothing is free, the page said.