Malaysian Woman Attacked By Wild Otters During Morning Run

A 30-year-old woman was brutally attacked by a group of wild otters while jogging at the Tanjung Aru Recreation Park in Malasiya’s Sabah. According to a DailyMail report, the attack left the woman named Mariasella Harun bleeding and unable to stand. After severing their fangs into the lady in their quest for food, the otters were captured sprinting across a parking lot. The woman, clad in a black shirt and dark pink running tights, was seen sitting on the curb with many cuts on her legs and apparent bloodstains on her head and arms.

The director of Sabah’s wildlife department, Roland Oliver Niun, said that the reason behind wild otters invading the park was the pond’s food supply. The incident was “likely due to a behaviour change spurred by visitors feeding them,” he said.

While the victim was rushed to a hospital, a wildlife team arrived at the park to monitor the otters.

Harun, a frequent visitor to the park, arrived on Wednesday around 6:10 AM. The Standard cited her account of seeing something emerge from the sewer near Kinabalu Golf Club, or KGC. According to Harun, the creature—of which there were plenty—jumped out and attacked her as she was running.

“I could not even stand up when it happened,” she added.

Officials have directed the public to stay away from fences and avoid engaging with wildlife. Further, it has also been advised to approach otters since they can bite when provoked, the director of Sabah’s wildlife department added.

In this instance, maybe the victim was viewed as a threat to their young cubs, so they reacted defensively.

Six adult otters and two cubs make up a family often sighted in the park, fishing in the lake he added. They usually come in the morning and evening and then go from the well-liked family location.