AS humans advance more and more into what was once the natural habitat of wildlife, it is only natural that some animals will in turn be spotted in a more developed setting.
That said, sightings of animals can go viral rapidly if seen in a place where their presence can pose a danger – such as an airport's runway or taxiway.
Recently, a video of otters crossing an airport's taxiway went viral, along with a claim that it was filmed at the Kota Kinabalu International Airport (KKIA) in Sabah.
Is this true?
VERDICT:
TRUE
When contacted, a Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad (MAHB) spokesperson confirmed that they are aware of the video and that it was indeed taken at KKIA.
The 33-second video was posted on YouTube by a user named OswaldOriginal and titled "Big Land Otters Running Wild at Kota Kinabalu Airport 20 Oct 2024".
In the video, the otters are seen crossing a taxiway to head to a green area. One pauses and stands on its hind legs to check for threats before the pack goes on their merry way.
Meanwhile, Sabah Wildlife Department (SWD) director Roland Niun said that his team had reviewed the clip, which appears to be filmed within the city.
"We have not received any complaints from KKIA or Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad. "Airports are highly sensitive to the presence of animals on runways, even birds. However, SWD has not been informed of any sightings so far," he added.
Otters are protected under Schedule 2 of the Wildlife Conservation Enactment 1997.
Recently, a woman was attacked by an otter while she was jogging at Perdana Park in Tanjung Aru, Kota Kinabalu.
