Bloodied and Bitten: Jogger’s Terrifying Encounter with a Pack of Ferocious Otters in a Seemingly Idyllic Park
Malaysian Housewife Attacked by Group of Otters While Jogging in Park
A 40-year-old Malaysian housewife, Mariasella Harun, was attacked and bitten by a group of otters while jogging in Perdana Park, Tanjung Sub-District, Aru District, Kota Kinabalu State, Sabah State.
Mariasella said she saw an unknown creature coming out of the gutter and initially thought it was a cat. However, when the creature jumped out, she realized it was a group of otters that attacked her, biting her multiple times on the arms, legs, and head.
Mariasella fought off the otters for about five minutes before other runners came to her aid. However, they were also attacked by the otters. Mariasella was later taken to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital for treatment, where she was given antibacterial drugs and vaccinated against rabies.
Sabah’s wildlife director, Roland Niun, said that otters usually do not show aggressive behavior, but they can become violent when they feel threatened or provoked. He also stated that a team was sent to the area to investigate the incident.
The reason why otters attack people may be because they want to protect their young or their natural territory. The group of otters that caused this incident entered the park through a damaged fence, which has now been repaired.
The Sabah Wildlife Department has warned people not to get close to the otters to prevent danger and not to feed or provoke them to prevent the spread of disease. Otters are a protected wild animal according to the Wildlife Conservation Act 1997 and are often seen in areas along rivers or lakes.