Two otters were seen swimming off the coast of Taganak Island in the Turtle Islands, Tawi-Tawi, in a rare wildlife sighting that has resurfaced online this year.
The encounter was originally recorded on Aug. 31, 2025, when police officers from the Philippine National Police 1st Special Operations Unit spotted the animals while conducting a patrol around the island.
According to the officers, the otters swam near their boat and were even given fish during the encounter. They added that the animals—identified by wildlife experts as smooth-coated otters—have been seen in the area before and that residents are encouraged not to disturb or harm them.
The resurfaced sighting has renewed public interest in the Turtle Islands, a protected area in the southernmost Philippines known for its rich marine biodiversity. Wildlife researchers have previously documented otter sightings in the municipality, making the latest encounter another notable record of the species in Philippines.
