SINGAPORE: A resident in Punggol recently shared photos of monkeys trapped in cages at the fitness corner of Northshore Build-To-Order (BTO), sparking concern among netizens.
The images were first posted on Reddit’s r/Singapore forum on Wednesday (5 Feb) before being reposted on the Singapore Wildlife Sightings Facebook group.
According to the original poster (OP), they initially heard loud screeching noises coming from the barricaded fitness corner, which is still under construction as part of the new BTO project.
“The fitness corner downstairs is still barricaded since it’s a new BTO project, but I heard loud screeching noises and went to check—turns out there were macaques trapped in cages,” the OP wrote.
Photos shared in the post show a monkey standing on a bench under a sheltered seating area, while another was caged with the trap leaning at an angle against the bench.
A wider view of the scene revealed several monkeys roaming the area.
The OP noted that monkey sightings have become increasingly common in the neighbourhood.
“Our Telegram groups have been reporting a lot of monkey sightings lately, with some even saying that monkeys came through their windows, scared their kids, or stole their food,” they shared.
They speculated that authorities had caged the monkeys in response to the issue.
“I guess this is the authorities’ response to the problem,” the OP wrote.
In the comments, the OP added that their neighbours had encountered “six to seven monkeys jumping and ‘attacking’ cars.”
“I kinda know what they’re gonna do with the animals, but what do you think will happen to the caged ones?” they asked.
‘Humans Stole the Monkeys’ Home,’ Say Netizens
The incident has sparked widespread discussion online, with many criticising urban development for displacing the monkeys.
On Facebook and Reddit, users expressed concern over the treatment of the trapped monkeys, arguing that human encroachment was responsible for their loss of habitat.
One user commented that humans had stolen the monkeys’ habitat, yet the animals were the ones being caged. They urged authorities to release the monkeys and leave them alone.
One user questioned, “Where do you think the land to build new BTOs comes from?” while pointing out that the government has been constantly clearing forested areas to build housing estates.
A different commenter noted that the area was likely forested before being cleared for housing and that the displaced monkeys had nowhere else to go.
They believed that the authorities had the situation under control but warned that residents might have to get used to increased monkey sightings for the next few weeks.
One user remarked that this debate would continue indefinitely, arguing that if humans had taken the monkeys’ land, they should also compensate them.
They pointed out the contradiction in government policies, where one department encourages people to adapt to wildlife, while another removes the animals as soon as someone complains for fear of getting into trouble or losing their job.
Another user suggested that before removing forests to build HDB flats, the government should relocate the animals to a remote island with plenty of fruit trees.
They criticised the authorities for continuously removing wildlife habitats, arguing that the animals were simply searching for food to survive.
Some commenters expressed hope that the authorities would relocate the captured monkeys rather than euthanise them.
Others suggested that the macaques were being trapped for sterilisation as part of a population control effort.
The ongoing debate highlights the tension between urban development and the preservation of wildlife.
