Kota Kinabalu: The State Tourism, Culture and Environment Ministry (KePKAS) will meet the Sabah Wildlife Department (SWD) to discuss the growing presence of otters in recreation parks.
Its Minister Datuk Christina Liew said the otter population had increased rapidly and efforts were needed to find a suitable location for the protected species.
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“There multiply quickly and there are many of them now. We may need to relocate them, but it won’t be an easy task,” she told reporters at the national-level Malaysia Day celebration press conference, Friday.
Liew admitted that relocating animals is “very expensive,” adding that they needed to determine the best techniques for moving the otters to a new habitat.
“That’s why I need to sit down with the SWD Director to discuss the matter further,” she said, expressing concern about the otter attack on three joggers at Perdana Park, Tanjung Aru, on Wednesday.
Following the attack, the recreational park was temporarily closed to visitors for safety reasons, based on advice from City Hall (DBKK).
Otters, classified as protected wildlife under Schedule 2 of the Wildlife Conservation Enactment 1997, have been spotted recently in several other recreational parks in the city, particularly those near rivers and lakes.
