Bathers have been warned not to get too cosy with an unusually friendly otter that has been filmed frolicking with swimmers in a popular tidal pool at Kalk Bay.
The warning was issued after images were shared on social media of the otter nuzzling bathers and lying in their arms, provoking outrage from some quarters.
It also coincides with an unprecedented upsurge in human-otter interactions in Cape Town, including at the Victoria and Alfred Waterfront, which now has a resident otter family. Otters have also been spotted at the Granger Bay marina, jumping aboard boats along the St James-Muizenberg walkway and at Green Point Park.
The latest incident involves what appears to be a juvenile otter repeatedly approached by bathers at Dalebrook tidal pool, seemingly revelling in the attention.
Reaction to the shared images from many commentators was that intimacy with a wild animal was ill-advised, with a biting incident likely to have negative consequences for the otter in the form of a human backlash. “I’m not sure this is a good plan at all,” said local resident Amanda Pepper. “The last thing you want to do is teach a wild animal to trust something as dangerous as a human.”
Said Bronwen Wetton: “Next thing they will come to euthanise the otter. Please people leave him alone for his best interests.”
Wildlife experts on Tuesday expressed similar sentiments and warned that otter adaptation to urban environments may be the reason for the increased interactions. The Cape Clawless Otter in particular has been known to approach dogs for a curious sniff or visit surfers.
“Otters are naturally curious and engaging animals, and over recent months we have seen an increase in interactions between humans and otters throughout Cape Town,” confirmed Claire Taylor, marine animal welfare specialist for the Two Oceans Aquarium. “This could be a generational adaptation, in which these otters have learnt to live in an urban environment and do not fear humans. Otters are apex predators and top of the food chain, so they don’t get frightened easily, particularly when humans are interacting with them in non-threatening ways. This means it is our responsibility as guardians of these vulnerable animals to limit engagement at all costs.
“It is obviously tempting to engage with an otter if it approaches you, but it is not in the long-term best interests of the otter to encourage this behaviour. We urge people to please move away from the otter or get out of the tidal pool in the case of Dalebrook,” Taylor said.
Dr Nicola Okes, who wrote her PhD thesis on otters of the Cape Peninsula, said the emergence of “urban otters” is relatively new worldwide, most likely driven by human encroachment on their natural environment. Cape clawless otters, one of only three species of otter in Africa, are normally shy but are also incredibly curious. They rely heavily on their sense of smell and sensitive whiskers. “They can’t see very well — their eyesight is not very good. They go up to dogs and people’s feet to smell and feel with their whiskers and highly tactile clawless fingers. Even if doesn’t mean to bite, there is a danger for people to be hurt, and that would be a risk because there may be public pressure to intervene in some way. It may put the animal at risk,” Okes said.
Kalk Bay resident Paul Kahanovitz said the Dalebrook otter incident could help deconstruct the modern tendency for humans to detach themselves from the natural environment. “I think this was a beautiful event. I’m by no means advocating that people swim with seals and otters — I’m obviously aware that these animals are unpredictable. But I’m a firm supporter of us getting closer to non-human animals, with respect — getting to know them better and not harming them,” Kahanovitz told TimesLIVE Premium.
Since the Dalebrook incident, the city has erected signs warning residents to keep their distance.
“Cape clawless otters may look cute, but they are predators and are unpredictable, like all wild animals,” the city said on Tuesday. “Habituating these animals will lead to injury. Bites from otters and other wild coastal animals, such as seals, can cause severe sepsis.”
Okes said the otter intervention is as much about protecting them as people, and the public interest in human-otter interactions afforded an opportunity to educate the public about sustainable wildlife management. “It’s a unique situation and an opportunity. Otters are incredibly endearing and charismatic animals, and in the case of Cape Town, they appear to be living right on our doorstep. It is possible to inform residents and encourage people to look after the environment and wildlife in their area so that these populations are able to persist.”
