Otters Hijack Bedok Temple, Devour Koi — Singapore’s Shocking Intruder Incident

Bedok’s Koi Calamity: Otters Gone Overboard

After a festive Deepavali weekend, 54‑year‑old factory owner Zheng walked back to his office only to discover that every one of his prized koi had vanished. The entire pond was empty—despite his careful care for over a year.

How the Aquatic Ambush Unfolded

On Tuesday, Oct 25, Zheng noticed two headless fish floating near his pond.
He checked the CCTV footage and spotted four sapient otters slipping through his factory’s iron gate at about 3 am on Deepavali.
“It’s distressing,” Zheng said. “They seemed to know exactly where the fish were.”

Not the Only One in Trouble

Neighboring factory owner Cai informed Zheng that six otters had raided his pond, eating 6 of 15 fish—a similar under‑water drama.
Following the incident, Cai decided to cover his pond and put the “new fish” idea on hold.

Even the Temple Folks Got Sucked In

The centuries‑old Soon San Teng Temple had a pond of baby koi—three to four months old.
Guardian of the temple said dozens of the tiny fish were scooped up by the otter bandits.
“I’ve been here for decades, and this is the first time I’ve had to deal with this,” he sighed.

Why Otters? Why Now?

Otters love a good buffet, and with the holiday rush, food is abundant out on the water. When adults are off celebrating, the otters are left to the fish—one of nature’s little surprises.

Lessons for the Future

The foray has opened a can of worms about pond security. Factory owners and temple caretakers alike are now planning to fortify their waters or, in case of the otters, consider tuna instead.

For now, Bedok’s koi enthusiasts face a stark reality: the next time you let your pond out, best double‑check that no furry friends are planning a swim‑in.

More otter complaints this year

Otters Gone Wild: Singapore’s Impatient, Punctual, and Less-Kind Wasting Squad

Seems the otters in Singapore’ve turned into stealthy night‑time culprits. NParks (the National Parks Board) reported the latest, and they’re not shy about bragging: over 300 complaints of otter activity this year alone—more than the combined total for both 2020 and 2019. That’s a fact.

Opinion on the Frontline: “Fix the Gaps”

During a virtual press briefing on Oct. 17, NParks urged property owners to close upticks, latch up gaps, and install “otter‑proof” gates.
Senior Minister of State Tan Kiat How afterwards hopped onto Facebook, thinking it’s faster to alert everyone. He promised that if homes are sealed up, otters will ultimately move on—after all, they can’t access the ponds for food.

Some Personal Stories

Kim Yuen Ying from Bukit Timah had a nightmare: she fell asleep and woke up to 22 priceless koi fish, each worth some 20,000 dollars of love (and cost). Those koi had been lovingly raised for more than two decades, and now, one night, they were eaten to pieces. “It was almost a hobby of mine. One night, it is destroyed,” she sighed, showing that behind the fish spray are families and emotions.

And that’s just one example. In the previous year, St. Teresa’s church lost over 100 fish after a four‑day otter blitz. The fish—grown by church gardens—were 15 years old, and the otters went from the smaller pond all the way to the big one before making their grand exit through the church’s gate.

Humor & Irony

Of course, the otters were just looking for a snack. We might wonder if they’re actually trying to “install a fish cemetery.” Either way, the story suggests: When you hear “otters”, think fish, not your weekend plans.

And if you ever go traveling in Singapore, keep the fish in locked cages and remember that the next time you hear “otters”, you need to “od” full of cocktails.

Follow the Mystery

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Otters Hijack Bedok Temple, Devour Koi — Singapore’s Shocking Intruder Incident