Story By: Lee Bullen, Sub Editor: Joseph Golder, Agency: Asia Wire Report

WARNING: GRAPHIC AND DISTRESSING CONTENT

These shocking images show two rare otters that have been illegally hanged to death.

The incident took place near the town of Simpang Ampat in the north-western Malaysian state of Penang, where it causes such outrage that 10,000 MYR (1,860 GBP) has been offered to anyone who provides information leading to the person’s arrest.

Photos shared by media outlet ‘999 Malaysia’ show one otter hanging from a wooden pole while the other is suspended from a wire fence.

Pictures Credit: AsiaWire/@999Malaysia

The accompanying message read: “For fish breeders, otters may be predators but should they be killed like this?

“It’s enough to kill them, but they also hung them up like they are despicable creatures.”

In response to the social media outcry, animal rights NGO ‘Pasukan Tindakan Haiwan’ (AAT) has offered the 10,000-MYR reward to track the perpetrator down.

An AAT spokesperson told Asia Wire that the dead animals were either smooth-coated otters (Lutrogale perspicillata) or Asian small-clawed otters (Amblonyx cinerea).

Both are considered vulnerable by the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s (IUCN’s) Red List.

The otters’ dead bodies have been sent to the National Wildlife Forensic Laboratory for examination.

It is unclear whether the Malaysian authorities are also investigating the incident.

Meanwhile, netizens’ comments include “these otters were probably scouring for food for their families”, “just imagine if we wait at home for our loved ones and they never return”, and “I hope that this person’s life is ruined just like the poor otters”.