Evening Standard
Otter attack in Malaysia leaves woman bloodied and unable to stand
EVENING STANDARD
12 September 2024
Otter attack in Malaysia leaves woman bloodied and unable to stand
A woman was left bloodied and unable to stand after a vicious otter attack in a Malaysian park.
Mariasella Harun, in her 30s, was ambushed by the animals while jogging in Perdana Park, Sabah.
Photos show Harun weeping on a kerb following the attack, with deep gashes visible on her legs. CCTV footage captured the otters rushing towards the park moments before the incident.
Two other joggers who attempted to help were also caught up in the bloody assault.
Harun, a regular park-goer, entered at 6.10am on Wednesday. She recounted: "Suddenly, I saw something emerging from the drain next to KGC [Kinabalu Golf Club]. 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."
This is the first recorded otter attack on a human in the area. Harun was rushed to hospital for treatment.
Roland Niun, director of the Sabah Wildlife Department, said: “Otters generally avoid humans, and their perceived cuteness might lead some to mistakenly believe they are friendly and tame.
“Although there are reports of otters being domesticated in other parts of the state, it is not advisable to approach them, as they can bite when provoked.
“In this case, the family of otters might have seen the victim as a threat to their cubs and reacted defensively.”
A family of otters, comprising six adults and two cubs, are frequently spotted in the park hunting for fish in the lake. They typically visit during morning and evening hours before leaving the popular family area.
Otter attacks on humans are quite rare but can happen, especially when otters feel threatened or are protecting their young. Typically, otters are shy and avoid human contact, but if they’re provoked, cornered, or defending a den, they can become aggressive.
