Living in a concrete jungle like Singapore, it may be easy to forget that we share our island with over 40,000 species¹ of flora and fauna. These include native blooms such as the Wild Rose Apple and Akar Kepapal, which we’ve featured in our Chinese New Year Red Packets this year in collaboration with the National Parks Board (NParks)’s Garden City Fund, as well as a diversity of animals like owls, crocodiles and of course – our favourite families of otters.

This comes as no surprise since our sunny island used to be a rich and dense tropical jungle. While Singapore has rapidly urbanised since its early days, wild animals can still be spotted today at pockets of nature around our country given continuous conservation efforts.   

If you’re up to spot some elusive animals living within our midst, grab your hiking boots for a trip to the wild right here in Singapore! Explore the many green spaces on our little red dot and get ready to be fascinated by the myriad of species that call Singapore home. At the same time, do keep a look out for the many native flowers that we’ve mentioned in our previous blogpost here. These wildlife add to the dynamism of our urban city, and truly makes Singapore unique.   

Without further ado, here’s introducing five animals native to Singapore that can’t be missed: 

1. Estuarine Crocodile at Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve

Naturally found in our local wild, with its first sightings in Singapore tracing back to the 1800s², the Estuarine Crocodile, also known as Saltwater Crocodile, is one of the largest crocodile species in the world and can grow to more than five metres in length³. This majestic creature often camouflages itself by keeping partially submerged in water, with only its eyes, nostrils, and part of its back exposed⁴, and can be found in coastal areas and wetlands such as our Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve⁵.

Sadly, the Estuarine Crocodile is classified as critically endangered³ both internationally and in Singapore due to the destruction of its habitats, as well as overhunting for its hide to make products such as shoes and handbags. Overseas, its hatchlings are also sometimes sold as pets.

Besides keeping an eye out for these crocodiles, do look out for the wide range of native flora that Sungei Buloh is also home to. These include the bright yellow Sea Hibiscus⁶ and sweet scented Penaga Laut</strong class=”f-blue”>⁷ flowers, the latter of which is often used as dye, oil and even medicine. In addition, many native species such as the Mangrove Horseshoe Crab⁸ and Giant Mudskipper⁸ are also residents of Sungei Buloh. What’s more, the wetland also counts reptiles such as the King Cobra⁸ and Malayan Water Monitor⁸ as part of its dynamic ecosystem.

2. Sunda Pangolin at Bukit Timah Nature Reserve

The Sunda Pangolin, is a scaly mammal that is native to Singapore and the larger Southeast Asian region⁹. A unique animal unlike any other, the pangolin is covered with brown scales and has long claws as feet¹⁰. Found at various areas of Singapore, including Bukit Timah Nature Reserve⁹, this shy and solitary animal hunts mainly at night and feeds on insects such as ants and termites. For adult pangolins, it can consume up to 70 million insects every year⁹! 

Similar to the Estuarine Crocodile, the Sunda Pangolin is listed as critically endangered⁹ in Singapore due to the mass urbanisation that resulted in widespread habitat loss. Internationally, the low population of these animals can be attributed to over poaching for its meat and scales⁹. This is further exacerbated by its low fertility rate, resulting in its global population depleting much faster than it can recover⁹.  

Given its elusive nature, it’s your lucky day should you come across a pangolin when visiting Bukit Timah Nature Park! However, fret not should you not be able to spot one as the park is also home to a wide range of other native plants. This includes the Seraya¹¹ that is one of the oldest trees in Singapore, estimated to be at least 150 years old¹²! 

3. Common Palm Civet at Bukit Batok Nature Park

Known affectionately as the Toddy Cat¹³, the Common Palm Civet is a nocturnal native mammal found in areas such as Bukit Batok Nature Park¹³. An omnivore, the civet can often be spotted navigating from tree to tree and feeding on fruits, leaves and worms¹³.  

Like other members of the civet family, the Common Palm Civet has a pair of stink glands near the base of its tail, which secretes a foul-smelling liquid when it feels threatened¹⁵. Interestingly, however, some have described these secretions as smelling like pandan¹⁶! 

If you’re a coffee lover, you may have also heard of civet-processed coffee, otherwise known as Kopi Luwak. However, due to increasing global demand for this type of coffee, it has given rise to unethical production practices¹⁷, often involving the poor treatment of these civets. Hence, should you come across Kopi Luwak, we’d encourage you to be mindful and say no to such coffee choices!    

Besides keeping an eye out for these civets at Bukit Batok Nature Reserve, do also look out for the leafy Tembusu¹⁸ trees that are native to Singapore. These large trees can grow up to 25 metres¹⁸ in height and is one of the many heritage trees identified in Singapore. 

4. Wild Boar at Pasir Ris Nature Park

Native to Singapore, wild boars are large pigs that can weigh up to 100kg¹⁹. While they are natural omnivores¹⁹, these animals feed mainly on a plant-based diet that includes seeds, tubers and young plants¹⁹. With a keen sense of smell, these wild boars are foraging animals and are able to dig out underground tubers and seed for food²⁰.  

In addition to spotting these animals at Pasir Ris Nature Park, do also keep your eyes peeled for the beautiful Blue Glassy Tiger butterfly²¹ that is also native to Singapore and identifiable by its unique bluish-grey wings. The park also features an edible garden²¹ with species such as lemon grass, tapioca and even the cocoa plant that is definitely worth exploring.  

5. White-throated Kingfisher at Punggol Waterway Park

With a dark chocolate head, flank and belly, the White-throated Kingfisher gets its name from its contrasting whitish throat that extends down towards its breast. It’s electric blue wings and back also makes it easily identifiable from afar²². Native to Singapore²² and as one of the more common kingfishers in Southeast Asia²², it is highly adaptable and can be spotted frolicking at Punggol Waterway Park ²³, alongside fringes of the reservoir as well as open fields. 

If you’re heading down to Punggol Waterway Park to spot one of these lovely birds, do also check out Singapore’s first man-made mangrove – My Waterway@Punggol²⁴. This man-made site features a variety of freshwater-tolerant mangroves and houses many native plant species such as the Lumnitzera Iittorea²⁴ and Kandelia candel²⁴. Since establishing this site, it has attracted a spectrum of endangered bird species and flora, allowing them to flourish within the area and contribute to the thriving ecosystem.  

We hope the above has pique your interest in heading out to discover and appreciate the whole range of wildlife we have in our country. If you’re curious to learn more about the other animals inhibiting our sunny island, check out one of Sir David Attenborough’s newest Netflix documentary here! Aptly named “Wild City”, this film unveils a whole different dimension of Singapore and takes you through the various unseen natural treasures that we might not even be aware of!  

Together, let us remember the importance of a sustainable living environment, and continue to #PowerTheChange by conserving our green spaces and protect our natural heritage, so that we can share this prosperity with future generations. 

Today, Singapore is one of the greenest cities in the world, safeguarding more than 7,800 hectares of green spaces. The Garden City we enjoy today is a result of decades of hard work by our forefathers, including our then-Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew. Known as the “Chief Gardener of Singapore”,  Mr Lee introduced the “Garden City”  vision in 1967¹, just two years after the country gained independence, with the aim to transform Singapore into a vibrant city with abundant lush greenery. This formed the core of our greening journey and the foundation in which our City in Nature² vision, a key pillar of the Singapore Green Plan 2030, is built upon. 

Over the past 50 years, more than a million¹ trees have been planted across the island. Through such sustained efforts, our little red dot today boasts over 2,200³ plant species with a myriad of native flora and fauna thriving in these nature spots. 

This Chinese New Year, we partnered with the National Parks Board (NParks)’s Garden City Fund to launch four exquisitely designed red packets spotlighting our native flora. With this initiative, we aim to build greater appreciation and conservation awareness among Singaporeans for our local blooms while encouraging the exploration of the abundant nature spaces in Singapore.

Each blossom featured on our red packets this year has its own unique story, and we’re excited to share more about them today while introducing a few of our other native species which you can keep an eye out for during your next hiking adventure!

1. Rose Myrtle (Rhodomyrtus tomentosa) in Coney Island Park

This beautiful magenta pink flower makes its home along the sandy beaches of Singapore’s Coney Island and thrives on the sunny weather we enjoy in Singapore. Resembling Japan’s famed cherry blossoms when in full bloom, the Rose Myrtle also produces a velvety fruit that serves as sustenance for many bird species, caterpillars, moths, and even humans!

This versatile fruit is used for a range of purposes including sweets such as jams or tarts⁴ and even medicines⁴ to treat stomach ache and diarrhoea. In Vietnam, the locals also ferment the fruit to make a type of Vietnamese wine⁴ known as ruou sim.

Besides the Rose Myrtle, Coney Island is also home to a variety of native flora given its recent habitat enhancement programme that aims to reforest over 50 different native coastal species⁵. Many of these reintroduced species are nationally critically endangered plants such as the small-leaved Nutmeg⁵ (Knema globularia), Silver Bush⁵ (Sophora tormentosa), and Damak-damak Tahun⁵ (Scolopia macrophylla), a tree which was presumed to be extinct until its rediscovery in 2014!   

Till date, Coney Island is the only place in Singapore⁵ where the Damak-damak species can be found, thanks to sustained efforts to preserve our local natural heritage so do keep a look out when you head down for a day of exploration! 

2. Derum (Cratoxylum maingayi) in Windsor Nature Park

A slow-growing deciduous tree that can reach a whooping height of 30 metres⁶, the Derum can be found at the heart of Windsor Nature Park – one of Singapore’s newer green spaces. The tree produces a faintly fragrant flora that ranges from eye-catching crimson to an interesting combination of pinkish-yellow.

While not commonly available, the Derum’s durable timber⁶ can be used in construction and furniture-making. Unfortunately, due to the time needed for the Derum to mature completely, the tree has been classified as a critically endangered⁷ species in Singapore. 

However, if you’re hoping to catch a glimpse of this rare gem during your next visit to Windsor, just look out for a pop of reddish leaves against the otherwise uniform green landscape of other trees. A conspicuous feature, the young leaves of the Derum tree are notably reddish⁷ before maturing into a deep forest green.  

What’s more, keep your eyes peeled at Windsor’s Hanguana trail for some rare native plants that are named after Singapore such as the Zingiber singapurense⁸ and Durio singaporensis⁸. Over the years, the replanting of over 400⁸ trees in the park, including a myriad of native species, has helped to enhance the habitat of Windsor. This in turn has helped in attracting and protecting our local fauna including native animals such as our Sunda Pangolin (Manis javanica)⁸ and the Mangrove Snake (Bioga dendrophila)⁸, which contributes to the biodiversity of the ecosystem. 

3. Akar Kekapal (Hoya diversifolia) in Pulau Ubin

Another critically endangered⁹ native plant, the Akar Kekapal is an epiphytic climber that often forms a dense covering on tree branches that they grow on. Resilient⁹ to a wide range of environmental factors, the plant can be found growing on mangrove trees in Pulau Ubin and even on oil palm in neighbouring Malaysia.

Its flowers⁹ often grow in umbrella clusters, forming a bouquet-like arrangement of star-shaped cream and pink blossoms that are stunning and fragrant to the senses.  

If you’re on a quest to spot as many native plant species as possible, Pulau Ubin is the right place to be! In addition to the unique Akar Kekapal flowers, keep a look out for its abundance of local plants including the Ficus stricta¹⁰, a rare species of the strangling fig, and the Jamba (Neuwiedia veratrifolia)¹⁰, a yellow orchid that is critically endangered. According to NParks, it estimates that Pulau Ubin has over 786¹¹ native plants, with many of them very rare and not found on mainland Singapore!  

As the host to the largest mangrove areas in Singapore, Pulau Ubin is also home to one of the rarest mangrove species in the world – the Eye of the Crocodile¹⁰, otherwise known by its scientific name of Bruguiera hainesii. There remains only about 200 of these plants worldwide, with 11 of them found in Singapore.

4. Wild Rose Apple (Syzygium pycnanthum) in Central Catchment Nature Reserve

Finally, the last (but not least) of our four flowers – the Wild Rose Apple an attractive and showy species with unique flora features. Similar to the Akar Kekapal, the Wild Rose Apple is tolerable¹² against strong sunlight, high wind and frequent salt spray conditions; and can be found at the Central Catchment Nature Reserve and Pulau Ubin¹². Both its flowers and fruits are edible and serve as food to many bird species.

The Wild Rose Apple is also classified as one of Singapore’s critically endangered¹² plants, joining the list of species that NParks is on a mission to conserve.  

Besides the Wild Rose Apple, the Central Catchment Nature Reserve is also home to a wide range of native wildlife such as the Keruing¹³ (Dipterocarpus spp.), Colugo¹⁴ and the elusive Raffles’ Banded Langur¹⁵. It is believed that there are only 60¹⁵ langurs left in Singapore, limited to the Central Catchment Nature Reserve – this means that the chance of spotting one is extremely rare so do keep an eye out for it!

As the largest of nature reserves, the Central Catchment Reserve is also known as the “green lung” of Singapore and is a popular spot for nature lovers!

We hope that these lesser-known facts have intrigued your interest and if you’d like to win yourself these red packets, take part in our social media contest on Facebook and Instagram where you simply have to tell us your favourite local nature park and the reason why. 

Two lucky winners will even walk away with a year worth of free electricity with Power Eco Add-on, Singapore’s first and only customisable green add-on for an electricity plan, plus a set of Limited Edition Geneco Red Packets! 50 lucky winners will also get to receive 2 sets of red packets and $28 eCapitaVouchers!

So what are you waiting for? Lace up your walking shoes and explore the various green spaces that Singapore has to offer.

Together, let’s continue to #PowerTheChange and conserve our natural biodiversity, and share our prosperity with our future generations as we build our City in Nature!