An otter was spotted in a Mitchells Plain resident’s driveway, sparking confused responses on social media.
The video has been viewed more than 234 000 times on TikTok and shows a resident pulling into his driveway and spotting a seemingly bewildered otter.
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The video, posted by user @imojo41, has garnered more than 13 000 likes on the social media platform.
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Several viewers were confused about seeing an otter in a residential area:
- Otters? In cape town? 😭
- Is it only me that never knew CPT had otters?💀
- ……….Cape Town has otters??
- Otters in cape town😍😍😍
- Apparently there are otters in the Cape I was today’s old when I found out
Others speculated on where the animal came from:
- The otter washed away from the river
- I live in Century City in CPT and iv seen a few otters in the Canal
- That otter must of came through 1 of the drains
While others cracked jokes:
- He ran away from Ottery because the weather here is worse😂🤣
- Where is this, Ottery?
- I been tell you someone is playing Jumangi first a pelican, then a few owls a lion a hippo now a otter
- Open the door and give him coffee 😭
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SPCA wildlife supervisor Jon Friedman says it is common for otters to use underground stormwater drains to navigate the metro.
However, this means they can pop up in places like Mitchells Plain, particularly after heavy rains that could disrupt the flow of drainage systems.
‘It’s not a totally unusual one in the context of Cape Town wild animal species that have adapted to a very happy life among us,’ he told Cape Talk.
‘This is also a seasonal thing as Cape otters are moving around now… it’s the season when baby otters are being born at the start of a rainy season. So, quite normal, but also unusual.’
‘Otters are curious creatures by nature and they will often approach people and this is where you get some conflict. So, we always advise people to give them space… they can and will bite, so keep your distance, no matter how cute they are.’
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