Watch a Fight Break Out When Two Rival Otter Gangs Come Face-to-Face

We know otters as these precious, adorable creatures that hold hands with their mate. Interestingly enough, these animals can be quite territorial. A video is going viral on TikTok of two rival otter groups going head-to-head in Singapore. 

Two Bevies of Otters Face Off

The water splashes around as one bevy of otters rushes in a single direction. As the camera pans, we suddenly see another romp of otters. Within seconds, it’s a battle for the ages! On Sunday, March 29 at around noon, 11 Marina otters on one side and 15 Bishan otters on the other got into a battle. 

Watch This Epic Otter Showdown!

The fight went over onto the side grassy area and, despite appearing adorable with all the constant squealing and water-splashing antics, it was supposedly more violent than it appeared. 

Although there were no confirmed fatalities, several of the otters were seen hobbling after the struggle with injuries. At around 5 o’clock, loud squeaks were once more heard, and both factions once more engaged in combat in front of a sizable audience of park visitors at Bishan Park, as per the on-lookers, Ottercity.

These noisy creatures converse among themselves to control social behavior. Otters will chirp and hum in a manner akin to birds to express nervousness or to call out to other otters. Additionally, these creatures hiss and snarl to show when they feel frightened. 

The Marina otters were split into two distinct sets at the conclusion of the second round, with a single team of six seen on camera appearing uneasy and cautious. It quickly became obvious why the Marina otters were constantly calling as they paddled around the water. 

They were yelling for one missing person, who eventually came out to join the others.

A Historical Otter Feud

To the surprise of many, this isn’t the first time these otters have attacked each other. With only three young, the larger Bishan otter family of 15 got its start in Bishan Park. 2015 saw a significant shift in their behavior. 

The Marina otters were driven out of their territory when the Bishan otters moved south to Marina Bay. Before settling at Bishan-Ang Mo Kio Park, the Marina otters continued to roam between the coast and the Singapore River. The two groups had basically traded territory.

The Bishan otters are returning to Bishan Park following their time in Marina Bay, so this most recent battle is seen as something of a homecoming. It is probable that a conflict for resources, as well as territory, is the reason they are acting in this way.

Is It Normal Behavior for Otter Groups to Fight?

While most people only witness the social and playful natures of otters, it is normal at times for these creatures to get into brawls defending their territory, or over competition for resources such as shelter or food. The disputes may involve otters getting physical with one another, making vocalizations, biting, and chasing each other away from their established territories.

Otters mark their territories with scents to let other otters know when they’re crossing a boundary line. They can also communicate their displeasure with body language and vocalizations. While otters generally respect those boundaries and try to avoid direct encounters with other clans, conflicts can still take place. Otters can get aggressive during mating season as well.

How Large are Otters?

The smallest otters weigh about 6 pounds, while the largest of the breed, sea otters, weigh up to 99 pounds. The typical otter is between 2 and 6 feet long.

There are two species of otters native to Singapore–the small-clawed otter and the smooth-coated otter. Small-clawed otters usually weigh from 2 to 11 pounds and are 27 to 33 inches long. Smooth-coated otters, on the other hand, weigh from 15 to 26 pounds and are 23 to 38 inches long.

The photo featured at the top of this post is © iStock.com/Rixipix