By Nonoy Lacson ZAMBOANGA CITY – The municipal government of Turtle Islands in Tawi-Tawi has adopted stricter environment measures to protect the small sea otters (Lutrogale perspicillata) that were spotted recently at the coasts of Taganak Island. (Nonoy Lacson / MANILA BULLETIN) Turtle Islands Mayor Moh. Faizal Jamalul said residents of the town had spotted the sea otters in three different occasions since middle of May in the coastal sea areas of Taganak, a component island of Turtle Islands in Tawi-Tawi. Jamalul described the creatures as smooth-coated skin otters, and of the omnivorous kind which eat insects, crustaceans, birds, frogs, water rats, eggs and fish. The smooth-coated otter is an otter species lives in most of the Indian subcontinent, and Southeast Asia, while some of them can also be found in Iraq. It is listed as Vulnerable on the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s Red List of Threatened Species (IUCN) by habitat loss, pollution of wetlands and poaching for the illegal wildlife trade. “It was quite surprising to all of us in this town to see such kind of sea species (otter) in our coast line,” said Jumalul. According to Jamalul, the otters were known to inhabit Sarawak, Malaysia, and could have drifted to the island, or could also be exploring for new habitat because they were disturbed, or looking for food. “While the otters are in Taganak we will ensure they will be protected,” the mayor said.