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‘It’s devastating’: Otters allegedly feast on pet koi at Bright Hill residence
In total, the eight fishes were valued at under $10,000.PHOTO: HOH CHIN CHA
Calista Wong
UPDATED May 21, 2025, 02:05 PM
SINGAPORE - Mr Hoh Chin Cha woke on the morning of May 19 to a horrifying sight - all eight of his beloved koi had been mauled and mutilated in the pond of his Bright Hill home.
Upon noticing several of the surviving koi swimming in a strange manner in the water, he stepped into the pond to investigate, only to realise that the eyeballs of the fish had been gouged out.
The 67-year-old lawyer said he believes his home, located near Bishan Park where otters have been known to frequent, was visited by the animals overnight.
Although he did not have footage of the alleged incident, he said it appeared to him to be the work of otters.
While the collapsible gate of his semi-detached house had been locked, he noted that it was not designed to keep these smaller animals away.
“It’s devastating,” he told The Straits Times, reflecting on his experience raising koi since young, with this particular group having been with him for over five years.
In total, the eight koi were valued at under $10,000, according to Mr Hoh, who is also the founder of Hoh Law Corporation.
He also called for the otter population to be better managed.
“We all love animals, and otters are very cuddly and very nice, but they can do a lot of damage to fish lovers - people who keep koi as pets.
Fishes are also animals.”
The National Parks Board has advised home owners who keep ornamental fish to take steps to prevent otters from entering their homes. These include sealing gaps in fences and gates, and setting up tall barriers around ponds, or covering them with netting or panels.
A similar incident took place in 2023 when a family found all their pet koi dead, speculating that a romp of otters was responsible. In March 2024, an otter was spotted eating koi at the fountain outside Capital Tower at Robinson Road, reported citizen journalism website Stomp.
