S1E4: Visit to Punggol: How human-wildlife conflict can be mitigated

While Singapore is transforming into a City in Nature, natural
habitats have been lost to development, leading to more human and
animal clashes. How can wildlife and humans live in
harmony? 


Synopsis (headphones recommended): Green Trails is a four-part
environment podcast special for 2024 where The Straits Times hits
the ground with experts.


In this fourth episode, our trails won’t be entirely green.
Instead of a nature park or a green space, we head over to an
urban place surrounded by buildings and construction noise. 


The new neighbourhood of Punggol Northshore recently saw some
monkey business, with troops of long-tailed macaques spotted at
construction sites and even eating at a void deck of an HDB
block.  


To find out how residents can responsibly live in a macaque
hotspot, ST journalist Shabana Begum speaks with co-chief
executive of Animal Concerns Research and Education Society
(Acres) Anbarasi Boopal, and president of the Jane Goodall
Institute (Singapore) Andie Ang. 


Strolling along Punggol Settlement and the promenade opposite
Coney Island, the conversation turns to other wildlife in our
midst – from the common palm civets that tend to sneak into
private houses, to the ever-present junglefowls. 

Animals in urban areas being culled is never a clear-cut
decision, as Ms Anbarasi says: “Removal (of animals) is always
not a solution. And where do we draw the line, right? 


“We are okay with hornbills, but we're not okay with other
birds.”


Highlights (click/tap above):


2:10 Why is Punggol a monkey hotspot?


4:45 Monkey see, monkey don’t do


11:08 When otters and civets visit homes 


14:30 Is culling the best way to reduce bird numbers?


17:08 What to do when you encounter a snake


Read ST’s previous commentary about co-existing with wildlife:
https://str.sg/tYpq


Find out more about macaques in Punggol: https://str.sg/ephc


Listen to other Green Trails episodes: 


Ep 1: Visit to Sungei Buloh: How Singapore can better host
migratory birds - https://str.sg/BrqS


Ep 2: Visit to East Coast: How reclamation will shape up against
rising sea levels - https://str.sg/mRG8


Ep 3: Visit to Windsor Park: Can insects in SG's backyard be
foraged? - https://str.sg/4V6nQ


Host: Shabana Begum (nshab@sph.com.sg)


Trail producers: Hadyu Rahim, Fa‘izah Sani, Amirul Karim &
Elsa Goh 


Edited by: Hadyu Rahim


Executive Producers: Lynda Hong (lyndahong@sph.com.sg), Ernest
Luis (ernest@sph.com.sg) & Audrey Tan (audreyt@sph.com.sg)


Follow Green Pulse Podcast here and get notified for new episode
drops:


Channel: https://str.sg/JWaf


Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/JWaY


Spotify: https://str.sg/JWag


Feedback to: podcast@sph.com.sg


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All-in-one ST Podcasts channel: https://str.sg/wvz7


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The Usual Place Podcast YouTube: https://str.sg/4Vwsa


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section:


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Google Play: https://str.sg/icyX


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