ith the otters of Singapore as a focal point, Philip Johns delves into the fascinating world of urban wildlife and what we can learn from them. His TEDx talk at Yale NUS College sheds light on the resurgence of otters in Singapore, highlighting the success story of their return after being driven away by industrial pollution in the past.
Through his engaging narrative, he showcases the unique behavior of otters, their social dynamics, and interactions with other wildlife like monitor lizards. He emphasizes the role of dedicated otter watchers and the significance of forming personal connections with nature. Furthermore, he explores Singapore’s efforts in creating a city in nature, where people are encouraged to interact with wildlife and parks are easily accessible to all.
As he ponders on the possibility of cities being wildlife refuges, Philip encourages us to rethink our relationship with nature and coexist harmoniously with urban wildlife. With Singapore as a prime example, he inspires us to create cities that not only thrive as concrete jungles but also as sanctuaries for diverse wildlife.
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Author Video Description
Smooth-coated otters returned to Singapore when the city cleaned its waterways after decades of industrial pollution. Now these gregarious, curious animals romp through Singapore by the dozen, and loose-knit groups of otter-watchers follow some otter families daily. The presenter will share discoveries of how otters forage, how they teach and defend their young, and how families sometimes fight. The return of Singapore’s otters also raises questions about what it takes for wildlife and people to live together in close proximity, and the presenter will explore whether cities can be refugia.
Philip Johns is an evolutionary biologist and an entomologist by training. He moved to SE Asia to study the insects there — and to help start a liberal arts college — and he fell in love with the urban wildlife in Singapore. He and his students have studied everything from urban hornbills to flying lizards to colugos. He has a special fondness for urban otters, and he and his students have studied their behaviours in depth. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx
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Video “Otters of Singapore: What Can We Learn from Urban Wildlife? | Philip Johns | TEDxYale NUS College” was uploaded on 06/10/2024 to Youtube Channel TEDx Talks