Compiled by RAHIMY RAHIM, C. ARUNO and R. ARAVINTHAN
A GROUP of otters went on a rampage at a village in Tangkak, Johor, and killed more than three dozen ornamental fish, leaving owners heartbroken, China Press reported.
The incident took place in Bukit Gambir, where residents were shocked to see fish in their outdoor ponds killed, with the culprits leaving behind partially eaten carcasses.
CCTV footage showed that a group of four otters had invaded at least three homes, feasting on pets that their owners had cherished for many years, including koi and red arowana.
Some owners are now installing metal grills to keep the aquatic mammals out.
According to village head Lin Jin Yao, one owner lost over 30 fish in two separate night raids.
He also said that several residents witnessed otters entering their compound but fleeing upon seeing humans.
He said he was puzzled about where the otters came from, adding that Sungai Muar was some distance away and there were no nearby wetlands.
He reminded residents that otters are protected species and that they should not harm or capture them.
> The daily also reported that a stuffed horse with its mouth sewn into a frown by mistake is all the rage in China, with buyers now having to wait at least three months before being able to get their hands on one.
The toy was produced at a factory in Zhejiang in conjunction with the upcoming Year of the Horse celebration.
The stuffed toy was meant to have a smile but workers mistakenly sewed a frown on its face, and the factory had wanted to destroy the batch earlier.
Dubbed the “Crying Crying Horse”, the toy went viral online, with many hoping to buy one.
The above articles are compiled from the vernacular newspapers (Bahasa Malaysia, Chinese and Tamil dailies). As such, stories are grouped according to the respective language/medium. Where a paragraph begins with a >, it denotes a separate news item.
