One Day in Singapore
I recently spent a long weekend in Singapore and managed to spend one full day searching for wildlife. I prefer to find things myself but because of my limited time there I decided to recruit the services of a guiding company.
I used Strix Wildlife Consultancy who I would highly recommend. From being picked up at my hotel early morning until being dropped back late in the evening I had a thoroughly enjoyable and relaxing day, full of wonderful wildlife experiences.
I’m a generalist and like observing any type of wildlife but I had three target species for the day – Sunda (or Malayan) Colugo, Raffles’ Banded Langur and Buffy Fish Owl.
We managed to find all three target species and found lots of other great things as well.
Mammal species observed on the trip:
Sunda Colugo
Although the Colugo is nocturnal it’s relatively easy to find during the day. A lot of literature states that they spend most of their time during the day resting in tree hollows where they would be hard to find. Reality is that they spend most of their days hanging from a tree stump in clear view. I had 4 separate sightings, 3 on the day of guiding in 2 separate locations and then 1 more on my last morning in Singapore where I used public transport to return to the site where we first found them.
First observed in Hindhede Nature Park which is adjacent to Bukit Timah Nature Reserve.
Also observed in Lower Peirce Reservoir Park.
Raffles’ Banded Langur
This one wasn’t so easy to find, and I think you just have to get lucky. They spend a lot of time in the middle of dense forest where they are difficult to find and observe. We spent a lot of the day visiting locations where they can be found, all around the Central Catchment Nature Park and parks connecting to it. There are estimated to be only somewhere between 60 or 80 langurs in Singapore.
We’d almost given up for the day and decided to visit Lower Peirce Reservoir Park to look for Lesser Mouse Deer. Whilst there we came across a local lady on the track who told us that she’d seen some on the other side of the park a short time previously. We rushed to where she’d seen them and were delighted to come across a troop of 10, including a couple of young ones, foraging and grooming on the edge of the forest. Having observed them for about half an hour they disappeared back into the forest.
Lesser Mouse Deer
Three observed at Lower Peirce Reservoir Park, including a mother suckling a fawn. My guide said that he’s observed them at all times of the day. Some people I spoke to on the track suggested that they are somewhat crepuscular and that they’d observed them more regularly early morning or on dusk.
Long-tailed Macaque
Common in most nature parks. Many seen at Bukit Timah Nature Reserve.
Plantain Squirrel
Most common squirrel in Singapore, observed at many locations.
Slender Squirrel
Observed at a couple of locations, including Lower Peirce Reservoir Park
Smooth Coated Otter
If you spend enough time sat at a bar overlooking the river at Clarke Quay, you’re likely to observe families of otter swimming up and down the river.
Norway (or Brown) Rat
Observed many early mornings around refuse bins on streets.
Lesser Dog-faced Fruit Bat
Seen in the visitor centre at Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve
Other notable non mammal species seen on the trip
- Schrenck’s Bittern
- Buffy Fish Owl
- Blue-eared Kingfisher
- Clouded Monitor
- Water Monitor
- Changeable Lizard
- Common Flameback
- Rufous Woodpecker
- Archer Fish
- Dog Faced Water Snake
- Malayan Giant Frog
Some of the photos (the better ones!) were taken by my guide – Sin Yong Chee Keita.
https://www.instagram.com/okamoto_keita_sin/ or keitasin.wordpress.com
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Miles Foster
Thanks, fro a very useful report. A stop over in Singapore is definitely on the to-do list!