Woman, 40, badly hurt in park after eight of the carnivorous creatures launch early-morning attack

A group of wild otters viciously attacked a woman jogging in an inner-city park in Malaysia.

Mariasella Harun, 40, was chased and mauled by eight of the mammals on Wednesday morning in Tanjung Aru, in the northern Sabah state of Borneo island.

A graphic video of the aftermath showed the victim huddled on a pavement with deep gashes visible on her arms, as blood streaked her temple, T-shirt and leggings.

Another clip captured the bevy of otters – each as big as a small dog, with slick dark hair – charging across a car park moments before the attack.

It is the latest in a series of incidents involving humans and otters in the area. A man was recently taken to hospital after another unprovoked attack.

Otter attacks are increasing across the whole of South-East Asia, according to wildlife authorities.

Despite their somewhat cuddly appearance, otters have teeth and jaws that are strong enough to crack open shellfish.

They can weigh up to 14kg and grow up to 4ft, including their tail.

  • Tylerdurdon@lemmy.worldEnglish
    35·
    2 months ago

    Otters are not built for speed on land. If you’ve seen one run, you know it’s and awkward hop-hop-hop movement. This lady couldn’t outrun them? Law of nature comes into play I guess.

    • Cephalotrocity@biglemmowski.winEnglish
      6·
      2 months ago

      It was a gang that was clearly lying in wait and.simultaneously jumped out of the bushes to surround her. Should have just gave them her wallet.

    • Badabinski@kbin.earth
      18·
      2 months ago

      Nah, the slow hop-hop-hop is like a jog. Mustelids can fucking zoom if they’re in danger or after prey. Like, even dopey-ass domesticated ferrets can get going pretty damn quick when they’ve been hurt or feel threatened. Nobody has posted what species of otter attacked this lady, but river otters can reach speeds of 47 kph (29 mph) on land. Sea otters are slow and fat, but these weren’t sea otters.

      You aren’t outrunning a pack of otters in a sprint. It’s no question that you could outrun them over a long distance, but mustelids are zoomy little fuckers.

      (note that I like mustelids and had 4 ferrets, so please don’t mistake my tone as being sour on them)

      EDIT: holy shit, ferrets can be bred and trained to run at like 22 mph. That’s insane!

      • Tylerdurdon@lemmy.worldEnglish
        5·
        2 months ago

        Huh, I didn’t know that. I couldn’t see anything in that article so just used what I had seen. Thanks for the info.

        • Badabinski@kbin.earth
          4·
          2 months ago

          No worries. Mustelids aren’t very well understood by the general populace, so I don’t hold it against anyone.

    • pandapoo@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
      8·
      2 months ago

      Here’s a still frame of the otters in question. I’m betting they could quickly surprise and surround anyone they caught alone. And would have no problem giving chase on land.