Latest news with #SingaporeWildlifeSightings
New Paper
6 days ago
- New Paper
Oh deer, are they safe? Sambar herd spotted in Woodlands
Photos of a herd of Sambar deer have captured the attention - and hearts - of nature lovers in Singapore. The images were shared on July 24 by Facebook user M Saniroz AR in the public group Singapore Wildlife Sightings, which has more than 134,000 members. At press time, the post had garnered more than 1,500 reactions, 131 comments and 84 shares. "Wild and Born-Free…Singapore Sambar Deer - a truly 'City In Nature'," the caption read. Most commenters expressed delight at the rare sighting, with some asking where the deer were spotted and hoping to see them in person. "This is incredible," remarked user Join SwimLah. "Good to see them thriving," chimed in another user, Mikail Yip. "I want to see them, where are they?" asked Angela Takano. Ogawa Konamoto was just as curious: "Just wondering, where is this place?" Othman Ahmad jokingly replied: "Mandai Zoo." The actual location, confirmed by M Saniroz AR in the comments, was Gali Batu Depot in Woodlands, about 6km from the Mandai Wildlife Reserve. While many welcomed the sighting, others voiced concerns over the safety of the animals, with some suggesting the herd be relocated to more protected areas. "So glad to see so many of them. Hope green patches are left untouched and they can thrive peacefully," wrote Rachel Seng. "Great to see such (a) magnificent view for a small urban country like (ours) . Hope the Government can do something…to protect these animals from traffic," said Gordan Giam. User Chua Wee Kirk suggested bringing some deer to the islands of Pulau Ubin or Pulau Tekong. "I think Coney Island nicer. Don't need to take a boat there," replied Kenny Poh Chong Yuan. Not everyone was optimistic. "If it were in another country, it would probably be a dish," commented Xano Aviary, without naming a specific country. Still, with the outpouring of affection for the deer - or "deerly beloved", as some quipped - it seems unlikely they'll become sambal venison anytime soon. Amid the lighthearted reactions, one commenter offered a sobering reminder. "This isn't a promising sign. Sambar deer don't suddenly thrive in shrinking forests, nor do they casually wander into open spaces in broad daylight…and this behaviour likely means they've lost their home once again," wrote Gary Teo. "When animals no longer have a safe and stable environment, they stop reproducing. Unless things change, future generations may never get the chance to see them in the wild."
AsiaOne
24-07-2025
- AsiaOne
'Fella really enjoying': Monitor lizard chows down on stingray at MacRitchie Reservoir, Singapore News
Stingrays are a delicacy enjoyed by most — and it seems nature agrees. That appears to be the case, after a monitor lizard was seen making a hearty meal of a stingray at MacRitchie Reservoir on Sunday (July 20), according to an Instagram post by Navaraj Rajendran later that day. "Sambal stingray!" Navaraj exclaimed in his post. "Hope I didn't use up all my luck chancing upon this big water monitor enjoying a huge stingray." Although Navaraj said he didn't have his camera with him, the veterinary student still managed to snap a few shots, presumably with his phone, adding that it was a "perfect morning walk". Photographs and videos showed the reptile savouring its meal, tearing into the flesh of the stingray while keeping a watchful eye on its surroundings. In one reply to a commenter, Navaraj shared: "Fella really enjoying." Navaraj, 25, told AsiaOne that he had had been on a morning walk with his girlfriend when he noticed "something large" splashing in the water and decided to stop to have a look. A large monitor lizard then surfaced from the waters of the reservoir, dragging the stingray along. The monitor lizard was approximately two-and-a-half metres long and the largest he had ever seen. "It was surprising to see the lizard enjoying its large meal so close to us," he told AsiaOne. "I felt so lucky to be able to witness such a wild moment so up close and personal." As it tucked into its meal, a crowd of onlookers began filming the lizard excitedly, which made it wary, Navaraj recalled. It was then seen dragging the stingray's half-eaten carcass further away from the boardwalk, where it resumed its feast. The spectacle attracted more observers, which led the monitor lizard to re-enter the reservoir to finish its meal in peace. Sharing his thoughts with AsiaOne, Navaraj said that he had been fortunate enough to catch other instances of nature taking its course. "However, these experiences were often limited to smaller animals like birds, insects and smaller reptiles. This was the first time I had seen such an interaction between two large animals in Singapore," he said. "The force and intensity of the monitor lizard's bites made the whole experience even more exciting." 'Ended up as lizard's meal' However, Navaraj isn't the first to witness such a scene. Facebook user Jayasree Alamuru also witnessed a similar sight last November while travelling through Sungei Buloh one morning. A video shared to Facebook group Singapore Wildlife Sightings on Nov 23 showed a monitor lizard biting on the carcass of what appeared to be a stingray while resting between mangrove trees. Comments suggested that the stingray could have been dropped in the middle of the pathway by a bird, before the lizard swooped in to claim it as its own. [[nid:691742]] khooyihang@
