“King cobras are more elusive. That’s why they are rarely sighted. Even when they are sighted in an open area, it is usually beside a nature reserve. For example in the Lim Chu Kang area, The Central Water Catchment, you see them entering the fish farms. You won’t get a call for a king cobra in the middle of Hougang,” explains Kalai.
It’s not just the python, king cobra and oriental whip that call Singapore home. Because of our lush greenery and warm tropical climate, we’re home to more than 70 species of snakes. In September 2020, an intriguing rediscovery of the rare Selangor mud snake (also called Raclitia indica) made headlines after it was seen “swimming fully submerged and slowly among sparse leaf litter in a shallow drain” at Upper Seletar, according to the Singapore Biodiversity Records by the National University of Singapore. This would be its first sighting in Singapore in 106 years, after it was last seen at a rubber plantation at Bukit Sembawang in 1914.
Movies and pop culture may portray them as menacing and scary, but snakes are actually gentle and shy by nature. In fact, they will actively avoid humans and are harmless when left alone. Here’s everything you need to know about snakes in Singapore and what to do when they cross your path.
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What to do when you encounter
snakes in Singapore?
If you spot snakes in trees, drains or green spaces – whether you’re at Bukit Timah Nature Reserve or in huge grassy fields around HDB areas – leave them alone as these are their natural habitats. When you’re out hiking along waterways or trails, watch your steps and be extra careful of your pathway.
“One of our policies is if you spot a snake inside a canal, or a monsoon drain, we will not go down to get it because that’s where they usually are,” Kalai explains to us. “People are not supposed to enter the canals. As long as they don’t enter, everything is fine. We just advise people to let it be.” There’s an exception, however. According to Kalai, if crowds form and people start throwing things at the animal, ACRES will either get the police to dismiss the crowd or rescue the snake to prevent it from being harmed.”
It’s not a rare occurrence to see snakes in urban areas. They may end up there when tracking their prey, or injured if they’re hit by a vehicle. The worst thing you can do is to take matters into your own hands. You may injure yourself; or even worse, the animal. If you’re dealing with a snake in your immediate surroundings, keep calm and call ACRES Wildlife Rescue Hotline (9783 7782) with information such as the length, thickness, colour and markings that will help identify the snake. This helps the volunteers know how exactly to handle the situation. Most importantly, keep a safe distance and monitor the snake’s movement.
Snakes have found themselves wandering into homes. And it’s not entirely impossible to find them in your high-rise HDB apartment. If that happens, keep a distance away from the snake and do not confront it. The reptile may try to look for a dark and secure area to hide – so you should observe and ensure that it’s removed by professionals. Close all doors in the house, except those that lead outside like your balcony, patio or front doors so the snake can escape. Most importantly, keep young children and pets away.
Snakes such as ball pythons and corn snakes make popular pets worldwide. However, no matter how much you love these creatures, keeping them as pets in Singapore is illegal. It goes without saying, but you should definitely not adopt those that accidentally slither into your home as pets.
“Pythons have adapted to our urban areas. They’re always in the media sighted in drains or eating random stray cats and rats,” says Kalai. If you’re an animal lover and have immense compassion for community cats, it might be heart-wrenching to see. However, you wouldn’t interfere with lions hunting for prey in African safaris – the same should go for these slithery creatures. It’s unfortunate, but that’s just how nature works. To ensure that your favourite feline friends stay safe from danger, consider adopting them instead so they can find shelter in your home.
Singapore is home to snakes just as much as it is home to us and we should all learn to be respectful of our beautiful wildlife – whether they’re snakes, wild boars, otters, monkeys or others.
Leave it alone
If it’s in your house…
It’s nature
Don’t take matters into your own hands
Reminder: keeping snakes as pets is illegal
Learn to coexist
Singapore may be hailed as a concrete jungle, but we’re home to a rich biodiversity. Snake sightings around urban areas in Singapore have been common lately, due to the monsoon season. Case in point, the python found coiled around the Jiak Kim bridge in broad daylight recently.
Snakes are more common than you think in Singapore, even in residential areas. Many cases of pythons being found in HDBs have gone viral lately. According to Kalai Vanan from ACRES, the organisation gets calls for pythons in residential areas every day. They use Singapore’s drain systems to travel – much like our highways.
“They’re everywhere. They’re in the drainage pipes, they may be in the trees, they could even be in the sewers – but that’s rare. They travel through the drains – those are their highways. If it’s heavy rain, the drains get flooded and they come out. That’s when they get sighted. They can swim and climb very well, so they can be anywhere and everywhere,” Kalai says.
Singapore may be hailed as a concrete jungle, but we’re home to a rich biodiversity. Snake sightings around urban areas in Singapore has been common lately, due to the monsoon season. Case in point, the python found coiled around the Jiak Kim bridge in broad daylight recently.
Snakes are more common than you think in Singapore, even in residential areas. Many cases of pythons being found in HDB have gone viral lately. According to Kalai Vanan from ACRES, they get calls for pythons in residential areas every day. They use Singapore’s drain systems to travel – much like our highways.
“They’re everywhere. They’re in the drainage pipes, they may be in the trees, they could be in the sewers but that’s rare. They travel through the drains. The drains are like their highway. At night, they come out in search of rats. If it’s heavy rain, the drains get flooded and they come out. That’s when they get sighted. They can swim and climb very well, so they can be anywhere and everywhere,” Kalai says.
Singapore may be hailed as a concrete jungle, but we’re home to a rich biodiversity. Snake sightings around urban areas in Singapore has been common lately, due to the monsoon season. Case in point, the python found coiled around the Jiak Kim bridge in broad daylight recently.
Snakes are more common than you think in Singapore, even in residential areas. Many cases of pythons being found in HDB have gone viral lately. According to Kalai Vanan from ACRES, they get calls for pythons in residential areas every day. They use Singapore’s drain systems to travel – much like our highways.
“They’re everywhere. They’re in the drainage pipes, they may be in the trees, they could be in the sewers but that’s rare. They travel through the drains. The drains are like their highway. At night, they come out in search of rats. If it’s heavy rain, the drains get flooded and they come out. That’s when they get sighted. They can swim and climb very well, so they can be anywhere and everywhere,” Kalai says.
What to do when
you see snakes in Singapore?
If you spot snakes in trees, drains or green spaces – whether you’re at Bukit Timah Nature Reserve or in huge grassy fields around HDB areas – leave them alone as these are their natural habitats. When you’re out hiking along waterways or trails, watch your steps and be extra careful of your pathway.
“One of our policies is if you spot a snake inside a canal, or a monsoon drain, we will not go down to get it because that’s where they usually are,” Kalai explains to us. “People are not supposed to enter the canals. As long as they don’t enter, everything is fine. We just advise people to let it be.” There’s an exception, however. According to Kalai, if crowds form and people start throwing things at the animal, ACRES will either get the police to dismiss the crowd or rescue the snake to prevent it from being harmed.”
Leave it alone
If you spot snakes in trees, drains or green spaces – whether you’re at Bukit Timah Nature Reserve or in huge grassy fields around HDB areas – leave them alone as these are their natural habitats. When you’re out hiking along waterways or trails, watch your steps and be extra careful of your pathway.
“One of our policies is if you spot a snake inside a canal, or a monsoon drain, we will not go down to get it because that’s where they usually are,” Kalai explains to us. “People are not supposed to enter the canals. As long as they don’t enter, everything is fine. We just advise people to let it be.” There’s an exception, however. According to Kalai, if crowds form and people start throwing things at the animal, ACRES will either get the police to dismiss the crowd or rescue the snake to prevent it from being harmed.”
Leave it alone
Snakes have found themselves wandering into homes. And it’s not entirely impossible to find them in your high-rise HDB apartment. If that happens, keep a distance away from the snake and do not confront it. The reptile may try to look for a dark and secure area to hide – so you should observe and ensure that it’s removed by professionals. Close all doors in the house, except those that lead outside like your balcony, patio or front doors so the snake can escape. Most importantly, keep young children and pets away.
If it's in your house...
Snakes have found themselves wandering into homes. And it’s not entirely impossible to find them in your high-rise HDB apartment. If that happens, keep a distance away from the snake and do not confront it. The reptile may try to look for a dark and secure area to hide – so you should observe and ensure that it’s removed by professionals. Close all doors in the house, except those that lead outside like your balcony, patio or front doors so the snake can escape. Most importantly, keep young children and pets away.
If it's in your house...
Snakes have found themselves wandering into homes. And it’s not entirely impossible to find them in your high-rise HDB apartment. If that happens, keep a distance away from the snake and do not confront it. The reptile may try to look for a dark and secure area to hide – so you should observe and ensure that it’s removed by professionals. Close all doors in the house, except those that lead outside like your balcony, patio or front doors so the snake can escape. Most importantly, keep young children and pets away.
If it's in your house...
Snakes have found themselves wandering into homes. And it’s not entirely impossible to find them in your high-rise HDB apartment. If that happens, keep a distance away from the snake and do not confront it. The reptile may try to look for a dark and secure area to hide – so you should observe and ensure that it’s removed by professionals. Close all doors in the house, except those that lead outside like your balcony, patio or front doors so the snake can escape. Most importantly, keep young children and pets away.
If it's in your house...
Snakes that call
Snakes that call
Singapore home
Photographs by Shutterstock
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Common palm civet
Where to see them
If you haven’t seen any civets prancing around Singapore, that’s because these creatures are extremely stealthy. Also known as the toddy cat or luwak (yup, responsible for the coffee), civets have grey-brown fur with spots and some distinctive markings that look like a black mask across its eyes. Civets skulk around at night near trees to find fruits, worms, leaves, insects and small animals.
found in Singapore
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SUB-HEAD
Title
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Snakes
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Native animals that can be
If you’re curious about wildlife in Singapore, these are just a few of the native animals you can find in the wild – and sometimes on the streets. From monkeys to crocodiles, wildlife in Singapore is very diverse, despite the rapid rate of development and urbanisation. First things first: when encountering animals in the wild, don’t panic and definitely don’t try to touch them.
Bukit Batok Nature Park, Bukit Timah, Dairy Farm.
You can find them at most parks but popular sightings include Central Catchment Nature Reserve, Bukit Batok Nature Park, Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve, Coney Island, Admiralty Park and Pulau Ubin.
Where to see them
This popular monkey is the most commonly seen one in nature reserves and parks around Singapore – and is notorious for making an appearance or two in the busy city district as well. They are highly intelligent and adaptable animals – which is why they are comfortable being in close proximity of humans. Macaques are also foragers but you should never feed them – they are perfectly capable of getting their own grub.
Macaque
Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve, though there have been sightings at some reservoirs and mangroves around Singapore.
Where to see them
Crocodiles occur naturally in the wild in Singapore, although they are not commonly sighted (they’re good at being stealthy). The estuarine crocodile is the species you can find here in Singapore – it also happens to be one of the largest crocodile species in the world and can grow to more than five metres in length. It has a long snout and a broad, muscular tail with ridges and feeds on fish, mammals, birds and carrion. Crocodiles can move very quickly over short distances on both land and water and can become aggressive and attack, especially when provoked.
Estuarine crocodile
Pulau Ubin, Pulau Tekong.
Where to see them
Also known as Singapore’s last wild cat, the elusive Asian leopard cat are critically endangered due to the loss of their natural forest habitat and common victims of the illegal wild trade. Like its namesake, the leopard cat has yellowish-brown fur with black spots and large rounded ears. These shy, nocturnal predators are actually native to Singapore and feed on frogs, lizards, birds and rats.
Asian leopard cat
Wild animals
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Ut enim ad minima veniam, quis nostrum exercitationem ullam corporis suscipit laboriosam, nisi ut aliquid ex ea commodi consequatur? Quis autem vel eum iure reprehenderit qui in ea voluptate velit esse quam nihil molestiae consequatur, vel illum qui dolorem eum fugiat quo voluptas nulla pariatur?
If you haven’t seen any civets prancing around Singapore, that’s because these creatures are extremely stealthy. Also known as the toddy cat or luwak (yup, responsible for the coffee), civets have grey-brown fur with spots and some distinctive markings that look like a black mask across its eyes. Civets skulk around at night near trees to find fruits, worms, leaves, insects and small animals.
Bukit Batok Nature Park, Bukit Timah, Dairy Farm.
Where to see them
If you haven’t seen any civets prancing around Singapore, that’s because these creatures are extremely stealthy. Also known as the toddy cat or luwak (yup, responsible for the coffee), civets have grey-brown fur with spots and some distinctive markings that look like a black mask across its eyes. Civets skulk around at night near trees to find fruits, worms, leaves, insects and small animals.
Common palm civet
You can find them at most parks but popular sightings include Central Catchment Nature Reserve, Bukit Batok Nature Park, Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve, Coney Island, Admiralty Park and Pulau Ubin.
Where to see them
This popular monkey is the most commonly seen one in nature reserves and parks around Singapore – and is notorious for making an appearance or two in the busy city district as well. They are highly intelligent and adaptable animals – which is why they are comfortable being in close proximity of humans. Macaques are also foragers but you should never feed them – they are perfectly capable of getting their own grub.
Macaque
Bukit Batok Nature Park, Bukit Timah, Dairy Farm.
Where to see them
If you haven’t seen any civets prancing around Singapore, that’s because these creatures are extremely stealthy. Also known as the toddy cat or luwak (yup, responsible for the coffee), civets have grey-brown fur with spots and some distinctive markings that look like a black mask across its eyes. Civets skulk around at night near trees to find fruits, worms, leaves, insects and small animals.
Common palm civet
You can find them at most parks but popular sightings include Central Catchment Nature Reserve, Bukit Batok Nature Park, Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve, Coney Island, Admiralty Park and Pulau Ubin.
Where to see them
This popular monkey is the most commonly seen one in nature reserves and parks around Singapore – and is notorious for making an appearance or two in the busy city district as well. They are highly intelligent and adaptable animals – which is why they are comfortable being in close proximity of humans. Macaques are also foragers but you should never feed them – they are perfectly capable of getting their own grub.
Macaque
Central Catchment Nature Reserve, Bukit Timah Nature Reserve, Thomson Nature Park and Windsor Nature Park.
Where to see them
You have to be really observant to spot the banded leaf monkey (also known as Raffles’ banded langur) in the wild. These shy creatures used to be common around Singapore but with rapid development and green spaces being cleared, the species suffered massive habitat loss that they were believed to be critically endangered. These days, the langurs are confined to the forested areas around and in the Central Catchment Nature Reserve. They survive on a primarily vegetarian diet, feeding on fruits and seeds. With less than 100 monkeys left in the wild here, the species is still considered vulnerable.
Banded leaf monkey
Pulau Ubin, Central Catchment Nature Reserve.
Where to see them
Like its namesake, the mousedeer looks like an odd mishmash of animals. The gentle creature has a rodent-like face which is paired with a rabbit-esque body and stick-thin legs. They feed on low vegetation, fallen fruits, shoots, leaves and fungi foraged from the forest floor. The mousedeer is also a popular literary character in local folklore and often known for being witty and quick in dangerous or difficult situations.
Mousedeer
Central Catchment Nature Reserve and Bukit Batok Nature Park – look out for muddy-grey shapes attached to tree trunks.
Where to see them
The colugo is a most peculiar creature. Often mistaken for a flying lemur, has the face of a mouse, large eyes and clawed feet, these nocturnal and solitary animals are rather hard to spot in the wild. The most distinctive feature of the colugo is the extensive skin membrane which extends from the neck to forelimbs, along the side of the body to its tail – this membrane allows it to glide up to 100 metres in the air.
Malayan colugo
Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve, though there have been sightings at some reservoirs and mangroves around Singapore.
Where to see them
Crocodiles occur naturally in the wild in Singapore, although they are not commonly sighted (they’re good at being stealthy). The estuarine crocodile is the species you can find here in Singapore – it also happens to be one of the largest crocodile species in the world and can grow to more than five metres in length. It has a long snout and a broad, muscular tail with ridges and feeds on fish, mammals, birds and carrion. Crocodiles can move very quickly over short distances on both land and water and can become aggressive and attack, especially when provoked.
Estuarine crocodile
Pulau Ubin, Pulau Tekong.
Where to see them
Also known as Singapore’s last wild cat, the elusive Asian leopard cat are critically endangered due to the loss of their natural forest habitat and common victims of the illegal wild trade. Like its namesake, the leopard cat has yellowish-brown fur with black spots and large rounded ears. These shy, nocturnal predators are actually native to Singapore and feed on frogs, lizards, birds and rats.
Asian leopard cat
Central Catchment Nature Reserve,
Bukit Timah Nature Reserve.
Where to see them
Sunda pangolins are the most poached and trafficked mammal in the world. While they might not be as hunted in Singapore, the rapid urban development in the city has caused massive habitat loss. Because of this, these peculiar and elusive creatures have wandered into residential areas and busy roads where they are prone to getting injured – or ending up as roadkill. Pangolins are covered by scales made of keratin and survive on a diet of ants and termites, using its long, sticky tongue to gather its food.
Sunda pangolin
Keep your eyes peeled, they can be anywhere!
Where to see them
The reticulated python is the most commonly encountered snake on the island – and it also happens to be one of the world’s longest snakes. This native snake feeds on rats and small animals and are shy and usually avoid contact – they’re pretty much happy to live in and travel through the underground network of drains and monsoon canals rather than crossing busy ground surfaces. Though not venomous, pythons can get aggressive if they feel threatened. They kill their prey through constriction and swallow it whole.
Reticulated python
Pulau Ubin, Pasir Ris, near mangroves.
Where to see them
The species is native to Singapore and sightings of hornbills in parks and even residential areas are very common. Hornbills are huge and depend on large living trees for nesting sites. They eat mainly fruit but also hunt for insects and small animals and forage in pairs or small groups. While they are generally quiet for a big bird, you might hear their call which is described as loud and harsh.
Pied hornbill
Central Catchment Nature Reserve, Bukit Timah Nature Reserve, Thomson Nature Park and Windsor Nature Park.
Where to see them
You have to be really observant to spot the banded leaf monkey (also known as Raffles’ banded langur) in the wild. These shy creatures used to be common around Singapore but with rapid development and green spaces being cleared, the species suffered massive habitat loss that they were believed to be critically endangered. These days, the langurs are confined to the forested areas around and in the Central Catchment Nature Reserve. They survive on a primarily vegetarian diet, feeding on fruits and seeds. With less than 100 monkeys left in the wild here, the species is still considered vulnerable.
Banded leaf monkey
Pulau Ubin, Central Catchment Nature Reserve.
Where to see them
Like its namesake, the mousedeer looks like an odd mishmash of animals. The gentle creature has a rodent-like face which is paired with a rabbit-esque body and stick-thin legs. They feed on low vegetation, fallen fruits, shoots, leaves and fungi foraged from the forest floor. The mousedeer is also a popular literary character in local folklore and often known for being witty and quick in dangerous or difficult situations.
Mousedeer
entral Catchment Nature Reserve and Bukit Batok Nature Park – look out for muddy-grey shapes attached to tree trunks.
Where to see them
The colugo is a most peculiar creature. Often mistaken for a flying lemur, has the face of a mouse, large eyes and clawed feet, these nocturnal and solitary animals are rather hard to spot in the wild. The most distinctive feature of the colugo is the extensive skin membrane which extends from the neck to forelimbs, along the side of the body to its tail – this membrane allows it to glide up to 100 metres in the air.
Malayan colugo
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