SINGAPORE: Dozens of monkeys were recently spotted roaming around Punggol HDB, particularly at Block 435 B.
A video posted on Facebook on Monday (10 Feb) shows the monkeys scattered across the estate, with some strolling on rooftops, others playing at the playground, and several climbing around the area.
The increasing presence of these monkeys in Punggol has raised concerns among residents, who see them as a growing nuisance.
On the second day of Chinese New Year (30 Jan), at least 30 monkeys invaded the Punggol East HDB area in search of food.
They reportedly broke into residents’ homes, leaving footprints on floors and raiding kitchens for Mandarin oranges, eggs, and honey.
On 5 February, a resident shared photos on Reddit of monkeys trapped in cages at the fitness corner of Northshore BTO.
The user noted that monkey sightings have become more frequent in the neighbourhood, with some residents reporting that monkeys entered their homes through windows, frightened their children, or stole their food.
The post included images of a monkey standing on a bench under a sheltered seating area, while another was seen caged, with the trap leaning at an angle against the bench.
A wider view of the scene revealed several monkeys roaming the area.
The images sparked online debate, with netizens criticising urban development for displacing the monkeys and forcing them into residential areas.
Many argued that rapid urbanisation had encroached on the monkeys’ natural habitat, leaving them with no choice but to seek food in residential estates.
In response, Punggol residents shared an update in a Facebook group detailing NParks’ measures to manage the situation.
In the short term, NParks teams are on-site to guide the monkeys back to forested areas between Punggol Settlement and Waterway Sunrise Estate.
Any monkeys found invading homes will be captured and relocated to distant areas to prevent further disturbances.
For long-term management, NParks plans to sterilise breeding monkeys to control the population while ensuring they do not face extinction in Singapore.
This situation highlights the ongoing tension between urban development and wildlife preservation, raising concerns about how to balance human expansion with the protection of local wildlife.
