Tan Yong Lin (Singapore) frames the underwater choreography of an otter and its prey.
Yong Lin watched from a bridge as, encircled by swirls of ripples and fleeing fish, the sleek form of a smooth-coated otter twisted and curved in pursuit of its prey. Fascinated by the colour tones and whirl of shapes, he framed the shallow-water scene.
Despite disappearing from Singapore in the 1960s due to pollution and the intense development of rivers and coastal areas, the country's population of smooth-coated otters has bounced back thanks to a concerted effort to clean up the waterways.
These opportunistic, semi-aquatic carnivores have taken up residence in the city centre. At least 10 family groups utilise the abundance of green space in one of the most densely populated countries in the world, feeding mainly on the non‑native fish in the waterways and reservoirs.
Singapore
Tan Yong is a photographer from Singapore who has been documenting the country's smooth-coated otter population from the busy city to the coasts and mangroves. He hopes to tell the story of coexistence between wildlife and humans through his photos and to inspire people to care more for their local biodiversity, regardless of where they might be. His other photography projects involve documenting disappearing places and landscapes in Singapore.
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