Google Doodle celebrates National Day with ode to Bishan's otters

National Day is coming up tomorrow and in honour of the celebrations, Google Doodle has launched an adorable Doodle of Singapore's favorite otters, particularly, those that can be found in Bishan-Ang Mo Kio Park.

According to Google Doodle, Singapore is the top country in the world that has searched for otters online in the past year and that it is why it decided to celebrate this year with a drawing of the furry creatures.

Don't miss: Singtel releases touching National Day documentary charting Singapore's history

"Today’s Google Doodle celebrates the smooth-coated otters who have become a popular sight and a mainstay in Singapore’s ecosystem," said Xiuxian Ho, Google Singapore's communications manage. "These furry creatures are a representation of the nation’s diverse biodiversity, and our efforts in creating an environment where humans and wildlife are able to coexist harmoniously. Above all, it is also a reminder of the need to prioritise protection and conservation of Singapore’s natural heritage as we push forth as a City in Nature,” she said. 

Classified as a critically endangered species in Singapore, five otters were spotted at Bishan-Ang Mo Kio Park in Singapore in 2014. This was an incredibly rare sighting at the time. 

The otter family resurfaced once again in 2016 when English broadcaster Sir David Attenborough based a documentary on their lives. Since then, Singaporeans have spotted a lot more otter families around the country thanks to local conservation efforts to protect their habitats and to clean the waterways.

To honour these creatures and to celebrate how they have become woven in Singapore culture over the years, Google Doodle not only released the adorable Doodle on it search page but released a helpful guide to help more people make otter sightings across the island. 

Calling it an 'otter watch party', the guide helps Singaporeans to maximise their success of making an otter sighting. The guide encourages Singaporeans to plan in advance, scout to locations on Google Maps and tells them what to do should they encounter the animals. 

In December last year, in commemoration of the Singaporean parliament repealing section 377A of the penal code, a controversial law that criminalises sex between consenting male adults (cite) on 29 November 2022, Google updated its Singapore homepage with a pride flag doodle.

The repeal of section 377a has been in a long time coming, after numerous parliamentary debates and activist movements in the form of ‘Ready4Repeal’ and Pinkdot, making this a historic event.

With Google expressing its support of the repeal via its Doodle, it sets a precedent and encourages other local brands to be more vocal with their brand values. Being the world’s largest tech giant, standing in solidarity with the queer community sends a message to others to follow suit.

Join #PRAsia on 2 November in Singapore and 8 November in Malaysia, connecting 100+ PR and communication leaders worldwide to share ideas, forge partnerships, and unlock endless possibilities.

Related articles:
NDP roundup: How are SG brands and agencies flexing their creative muscles?
DBS assembles choir to put a twist to classic 'Rasa Sayang' song
SG digital agency GERMS launches free NFT art for National Day