Hello readers, I am Daniel, a Psychology undergraduate in Nanyang Technological University.
In this part of the blog, you will get to know a little bit about me, why I’m enrolled in Conservation Psychology, and why I chose Smooth-coated Otters for this project.
Why Conservation Psychology?
Despite growing up in an urban city, I was able to be exposed to nature and wildlife since young, through frequent trips to the zoo, parks and nature reserves. Such exposure fueled my love for animals and interest in nature and wildlife conservation, which guided me to be a founding member of the Green Club in my secondary school. During my time in the Green Club, I learned a great deal about the global environmental threats and consequences. Among the numerous projects carried out, two of the memorable ones were advocating recycling and creating a schoolwide program to recycle paper and newspapers, and participating in a forest regeneration program at Mount Imbiah in Sentosa.
![](https://blogs.ntu.edu.sg/hp3203-2017-02/files/2017/02/unnamed.1-1oyhx73-632x356.png)
We brought our SAVE THE ENVIRONMENT green banner to Mount Imbiah, Sentosa
Naturally, I jumped at the chance when I had the option to enroll in Conservation Psychology. The course has not only enriched my ecological knowledge, but also introduced me to understanding of the human impact and degradation of the Earth’s ecosystem from psychological and behavioral perspectives.
Why Smooth-coated Otters?
In my free time, I enjoy hiking, trekking in the nature reserves and cycling.
Growing up, I had never really taken an interest to Smooth-coated Otters. That is, until encountering a family otters on one of my cycling trips in 2015. I was captivated by the interaction between the mother otter and her three pups, where she caught a fish and brought it back her pups. After some grappling among the pups to vie for the food, the mother otter started to preen and groom one of the pups who was missing out on the food, placing her paw on the back of the pup and constantly licking and nudging it with her head, as though she was consoling her pup, like a human mother would comfort her crying child.
Since the encounter, I have developed a strong interest in Smooth-coated Otters, as they are, in my opinion, one of the most fascinating aquatic mammals on Earth. As I learned more about these otters, I found out about the plight of otter species around the world and their conservation issues, which led to my decision to work on Smooth-coated Otters for this project.