Not so cute anymore? Gang of otters maul jogger in Malaysian park

A woman in Malaysia was left bloodied and traumatised after a gang of otters savaged her while she was on her routine jog. Thevictim was jogging throughTanjung Aru Recreation Park in Sabah when she was ambushed by at least eight 'not-so-cute' otters.

Mariasella Harun (40) said she tried to fight off the animals for at least five to 10 minutes before other joggers came to her aid. However, she had been badly battered and bruised by the little creatures till then.

Harun said the otters came at her in a pack after jumping out of a drain in the park around 6 am local time.

“Suddenly, I saw something emerging from the drain next to KGC. At first, I thought it was a cart, but the creature jumped out and bit me while I was running, and there were many of them," Harun was quoted as saying by MalayMail.

“At first, I thought it was a cat, but the creature jumped out and bit me while I was running, and there were many of them. I could not even stand up when it happened,” she added.

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Family of otters spotted routinely

According to authorities, a family of otters, comprising six adults and two cubs, has frequently been spotted in the park where they hunt for fish in the lake.

The wildlife department said although otter sightings are common, it was the first instance when a human was attacked by these animals.

“We received reports of the incident and were informed that the otters had entered through a damaged part of the gate, which has now been repaired,” Roland Niun, director of the Sabah Wildlife Department said.

Niun said otters typically visited the park in the morning and evenings and left the area quickly, which is popular among joggers.

“They inhabit the surrounding areas with abundant water sources—swamps, drains, and ditches,” he added.

Despite their cute and cuddly features, otters have teeth and jaws that can easily crack open a shellfish. They can weigh up to 14kg and grow up to four feet, including their tail.

The adoption of otters as household pets has been a growing trend in Southeast Asia, especially in Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam.

(With inputs from agencies)