The National Parks Board (NParks) has said it euthanised some long-tailed macaques in Punggol in 2024 after assessing them as “aggressive” and unsuitable for translocation.
This was part of a broader strategy to address rising human-wildlife encounters in the area, which was previously forested and now home to dense residential developments and the new Singapore Institute of Technology campus.
Between 1 September 2024 and 31 March 2025, NParks received approximately 200 reports related to macaque activity in Punggol.
According to its group director of wildlife management, How Choon Beng, who was speaking in response to media queries, these incidents included sightings, home intrusions, and monkeys rummaging through exposed bins.
In response, NParks said about 50 macaques were trapped from the vicinity in 2024. Most were sterilised and released into Coney Island Park. The remaining monkeys were culled as they were reportedly deemed aggressive, including those that returned persistently to housing areas or entered homes in search of food.
“These individuals were not suitable for translocation,” said How, who explained that the sterilisation and release initiative began in 2023 after surveys showed a growing macaque population and increasing public concern.
Minister for National Development Desmond Lee had earlier addressed the issue in Parliament in March 2025. He noted that while most of the trapped macaques had been sterilised, some were removed due to aggressive or intrusive behaviour, citing public safety.
According to The Straits Times, animal welfare groups such as the Animal Concerns Research and Education Society (Acres) and the Jane Goodall Institute (Singapore) have expressed concern about the decision to cull.
Acres’ chief executive, Kalaivanan Balakrishnan, called the development “deeply unfortunate” and said stronger preventive measures are needed to avoid further euthanasia of wildlife.
Kalaivanan said the urban development of Punggol has left macaques with fewer natural spaces. “Sometimes the monkeys are deemed aggressive when they are simply being opportunistic,” he said.
He added that the presence of food waste and the behaviour of residents — such as feeding animals or leaving bins exposed — often influence macaque activity.
Acres, along with the Jane Goodall Institute, conducted outreach efforts in March to raise awareness on avoiding actions that attract macaques, such as carrying plastic bags or discarding food improperly.
Primatologist Andie Ang, president of the Jane Goodall Institute (Singapore), also questioned what constitutes “aggressive behaviour.” She cited cases where human actions, such as throwing food out of windows, have unintentionally drawn monkeys into homes.
“If people stop feeding the monkeys — intentionally or unintentionally — we can prevent such intrusions,” she said. Ang also encouraged residents to take preventive measures such as installing wire mesh on windows and practicing proper waste management.
NParks said it is continuing a multi-pronged strategy, including educational outreach, estate management improvements, and physical deterrents such as monkey-proof bins. The agency has also been working with town councils to step up estate cleaning and enforce wildlife feeding bans.
When The Straits Times visited Punggol Northshore in April, residents reported seeing neighbours feeding macaques with fruits and bread tossed from windows — behaviour that NParks says exacerbates the problem. Enforcement patrols are ongoing, and under the Wildlife Act, first-time offenders caught feeding wildlife can be fined up to S$5,000, with repeat offenders facing fines of up to S$10,000.
To encourage macaques to remain in natural areas, NParks has planted more native fruiting trees in Coney Island Park. It reported that macaques have begun foraging on species such as the sea almond.
NParks also conducts regular patrols to herd monkey troops back into forested zones and advises the public to avoid eye contact and sudden movements when encountering macaques. Plastic bags should be kept out of sight, as monkeys often associate them with food.
Residents in affected areas have reported home intrusions, with monkeys entering open or unlocked windows and raiding kitchens. In one incident, a fourth-storey flat in Block 433B was left in disarray after a monkey entered through unlocked grilles and scattered food and sauces.
While some residents expressed frustration, others acknowledged the loss of monkey habitats due to rapid development.
A sixth-storey resident, whose kitchen was raided in March, told The Straits Times he did not blame the monkeys. “We took their home. They lost their habitats and their natural food sources. That’s why we became their food source,” he said.
The situation in Punggol reflects a broader challenge faced in many urbanising cities: balancing human safety with wildlife conservation.
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