About

Hello, thanks for stopping by.

I am N. Sivasothi a.k.a. Otterman, an educator who loves animals, nature and the environment. I enjoy cycling, using the macintosh and exploring the internet.

I gave myself the moniker Otterman when I started research about otters in the early 90’s, to excite kids at talks and introduce an then unfamiliar animal to Singaporeans, and as it turned out, adults were excited too! My wildlife research students all have names too: civetgirl, ottergirl, otterboy, monkeygirl, pigboy, palmboy, etc.

I am fascinated by how a blog can be a personal notice board to the world. I am able to communicate, remember, highlight, enthuse and spread some cheer.

I’ve been writing publicly since 1998 with mailing lists, and in 2003 finally began a personal blog which moved to this WordPress site in 2007. For specific themes, I have a few other blogs on various platforms.

With time, I struggle to write or find time to mention the memorable things. So twitter has helped out since 2007. Then came Facebook, which the Swedes on the Götheborg introduced me to in 2006. And LinkedIn, but rarely from 2019.

You can contact me at sivasothi@gmail.com

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My official links

• Senior Lecturer, Department of Biological Sciences, NUS [link]
• Research Associate, Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum (formerly Raffles Museum of Biodiversity Research), NUS [link]
• Director of Studies, Ridge View Residential College, NUS [link]

• Coordinator, NUS Toddycats [link]
• Coordinator, International Coastal Cleanup Singapore [link]
• Staff Advisor, NUS PEACE [link] & NUS VGE [link]

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For ‘About the speaker’ – N. Sivasothi, a.k.a. ‘Otterman’ has been immersed in mangroves and wildlife for research, education and conservation at the National University of Singapore since the late 1980’s. He earned the moniker ‘Otterman’ through his work with otters in the 90’s and promotes youth development, public education and environmental stewardship. He coordinates NUS Toddycats, the International Coastal Cleanup Singapore, OtterWatch, as well as The Biodiversity Roundtable and The Biodiversity Friends Forum in partnership with NParks.

He contributes his expertise actively in numerous wildlife conservation working groups, ground-up partnerships and close-door engagements to mitigate development impact, which seems endless! He is happiest now as an active proponent of habitat enhancement and community involvement through the One Million Trees movement in Singapore. 

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About Me: I list a feature about my environmental work from 2011 and several older blog posts penned by my naturalist-on-a-mission kaki Ria Tan and my blogging trinity friends; all are obviously kind accounts and a heart-warming read when I need encouragement. More recently, a couple of articles focus on exploits in tertiary education. Below those are two interviews by fellow mac addicts, part of a community who have helped each other and encourage each others interests.

• “Why Singapore’s “Otterman” believes in learning beyond the classroom.” NUS News, 21 Dec 2022 [link]
• “A Class Of Their Own: Education and the ecosystem.” NUS News, 24 Feb 2021 [link]
• Siva and the best of biodiversity blogs,” by Ria Tan. Wild Shores Singapore, 20 August 2010 [link]
• “theorycast.21 :: How Do You Blog? (for ubergeeks only),” by Kevin Lim. theory.isthereason.com, 9th May 2007 [link]
• “The Otterman speaks at the library: Tales of the Thunder Crab and other secret stories of Singapore’s wildlife,” by Ivan Chew. Rambling Librarian, 16 Jul 2006 [link].
• “Wild Lives: Siva.” by Ria Tan. WildSingapore, 2004. [link]

Interviews

• “It’s Not Just Us Living Here” Happy Hands, the quarterly MND newsletter no. 14 (Jan-Mar 2017). [link]
• “Sivasothi #FF,” by John Larkin (Friday Follow Interviews). John Larkin, 16 Apr 2011. [link]
• It’s not just us living here N Sivasothi, eco-warrior,” by Tan Weizhen. Today, 09 Aug 2011 [link]
• “MacSingaporean – N. Sivasothi a.k.a. Otterman.” MacSingapore, 17 July 2002 [edited version appeared in MacSingapore, Aug 2002. [link]

Workplace features

• “A Class Of Their Own: Education and the ecosystem”. NUS News, 24 Feb 2021 [link]
• “A walk on NUS’ wild side”. NUS News, 2019 [link]

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I’m a dog person. Then they came. I wish they could all be just as safe.

Tiger Mr Bats Xylo