SINGAPORE: A wildlife observer expresses hope that Lentor won’t end up like Punggol when it comes to managing human-wildlife conflicts, following the culling of several long-tailed macaques by the National Parks Board (NParks).
As part of its strategy to manage increasing human-wildlife encounters, NParks culled several long-tailed macaques in Punggol in 2024, deeming them “aggressive” and unsuitable for translocation.
The decision came amid a rise in monkey-related incidents in the area, which was once forested but has been extensively developed in recent years with new residential blocks and the Singapore Institute of Technology (SIT) campus.
Wildlife observer and photographer Jimmy Tan shared his thoughts in the Singapore Wildlife Sighting Facebook group on 20 May, lamenting the displacement of long-tailed macaques from forested areas in Punggol due to land clearance.
With limited habitat left, some monkeys wandered into nearby HDB estates, leading to reports of intrusions and rummaging through bins.
“Many of the macaques were sterilised, but others were euthanised after being labelled too aggressive,” Tan wrote.
“Now, in Lentor, macaques and other native wildlife, like the Sunda pangolin, have also been displaced due to private housing projects.
Yet, to my knowledge, no Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) or Environmental Monitoring and Management Plan (EMMP) was carried out for Lentor Forest — just like in Punggol.”
In 2016, authorities preserved two green plots in a 30-hectare secondary forest in Lentor following discussions with residents and environmental groups.
However, the rest of the forest, which contained rare freshwater streams, was cleared for private housing.
Tan noted that wildlife, such as macaques and pangolins, have been seen returning to the area now known as Lentor Hillock Park, a remnant of the original forest, despite being surrounded by construction sites.
Macaques have even been observed crossing vacant lands in an apparent attempt to return to their former habitat.
“Will these macaques be treated as a nuisance one day when they venture into the new condominiums next to the hillock park?” Tan asked.
“More needs to be done to avoid another ecological disaster caused by thoughtless development.”
While Tan acknowledged the importance of educating residents not to feed wildlife and to “monkey-proof” their homes, he argued that the root cause of the issue — deforestation without adequate mitigation — must be addressed.
Rise in Macaque Incidents in Punggol
Between September 2024 and March 2025, NParks received around 200 reports of macaque activity in Punggol, including sightings, home intrusions, and rummaging through exposed bins.
In response, about 50 macaques were trapped in 2024. Most were sterilised and released into Coney Island Park, while those deemed aggressive or persistent were culled.
The sterilisation and release programme, which began in 2023, was implemented in response to a rising macaque population and public concerns.
In Parliament in March 2025, Minister for National Development Desmond Lee emphasised that public safety remained a priority.
While most trapped macaques were sterilised, those exhibiting aggressive or intrusive behaviour were removed.
The decision to cull the macaques has drawn criticism from animal welfare groups, including the Animal Concerns Research and Education Society (Acres) and the Jane Goodall Institute (Singapore).
Acres’ chief executive, Kalaivanan Balakrishnan, called the culling “deeply unfortunate” and urged stronger preventive measures.
Balakrishnan explained that urbanisation had left macaques with fewer natural spaces, and what might be perceived as aggression is often opportunistic behaviour triggered by the availability of food waste.
He also pointed out that human actions, such as feeding monkeys or leaving bins exposed, significantly contribute to macaque activity.
In response to the ongoing situation, NParks has implemented a multi-pronged strategy, including educational outreach, improvements in estate management, and the introduction of physical deterrents such as monkey-proof bins.
The agency has partnered with town councils to enforce stricter bans on wildlife feeding and improve estate cleaning efforts.
To encourage macaques to remain in natural habitats, more native fruiting trees have been planted in Coney Island Park, and patrols are conducted to guide macaques back to forested areas.
While some residents expressed frustration over monkey intrusions, others acknowledged the role of rapid development in displacing wildlife.
The ongoing issue underscores the challenge of balancing human safety with wildlife conservation in urbanised areas like Singapore.
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