Visit to Punggol: How human-wildlife conflict can be mitigated

While Singapore is transforming into a City in Nature, natural habitats have been lost to development, leading to more human and animal clashes. How can wildlife and humans live in harmony?

Synopsis (headphones recommended): Green Trails is a four-part environment podcast special for 2024 where The Straits Times hits the ground with experts.

In this fourth episode, our trails won’t be entirely green. Instead of a nature park or a green space, we head over to an urban place surrounded by buildings and construction noise.

The new neighbourhood of Punggol Northshore recently saw some monkey business, with troops of long-tailed macaques spotted at construction sites and even eating at a void deck of an HDB block.

To find out how residents can responsibly live in a macaque hotspot, ST journalist Shabana Begum speaks with co-chief executive of Animal Concerns Research and Education Society (Acres) Anbarasi Boopal, and president of the Jane Goodall Institute (Singapore) Andie Ang.

Strolling along Punggol Settlement and the promenade opposite Coney Island, the conversation turns to other wildlife in our midst – from the common palm civets that tend to sneak into private houses, to the ever-present junglefowls.

Animals in urban areas being culled is never a clear-cut decision, as Ms Anbarasi says: “Removal (of animals) is always not a solution. And where do we draw the line, right?

“We are okay with hornbills, but we're not okay with other birds.”

Highlights (click/tap above):

2:10 Why is Punggol a monkey hotspot?

4:45 Monkey see, monkey don’t do

11:08 When otters and civets visit homes

14:30 Is culling the best way to reduce bird numbers?

17:08 What to do when you encounter a snake

Read ST’s previous commentary about co-existing with wildlife: https://str.sg/tYpq

Find out more about macaques in Punggol: https://str.sg/ephc

Listen to other Green Trails episodes:

Ep 1: Visit to Sungei Buloh: How Singapore can better host migratory birds - https://str.sg/BrqS

Ep 2: Visit to East Coast: How reclamation will shape up against rising sea levels - https://str.sg/mRG8