A Wild Party on the Walls of 118 Clementi Street
The Monkey‑Sized Surprise
When a clip popped up on the internet showing a troop of roughly nine Macaque monkeys scaling the exterior wall of Block 118 Clementi Street 13, many people laughed and said, “Nice!” The footage even shows a rogue monkey hopping into a fifth‑floor unit and apparently pulling off a banana robbery—though it might just be a game of hide‑and‑seek.
Fun or a warning?For a few seconds the scene looked like a sitcom, but the mess it can stir up is real.
Why It’s Not Just a Gimmick
Yesterday, a group of monkeys in Bareilly, India, pulled a 4‑month‑old baby from a home and dropped him off a three‑storey roof. The child didn’t survive.
(Yikes! Monkeys showing their unpredictable side.)
The National Parks Board advises folks to “monkey‑proof” their homes:
Some readers question if cohabiting peacefully with nature is a gamble when animals are constantly stepping out of their natural habitats in search of food (or, hey, a bit of exercise).
A Re‑Taking of the Neighborhood
In 2019, two monkeys scaled four floors of Springdale condominium at Hindhede Walk, Bukit Timah—just next to the Bukit Timah Nature Reserve and Hindhede Nature Park.
Out‑of‑wall “monkey business” around your balcony might feel norm‑hazardous, not mystical.
Block 118 sits adjacent to Maju Forest and also faces the Clementi Forest across Clementi Road—a setting that can’t be denied by even the most cautious condo owners.
Bottom Line
While the clip may tickle your funny bone, it’s a stark reminder that coexisting with wild animals is a delicate dance. Out‑of‑plot antics can quickly flip from a cute tableau to a dangerous confrontation.
So next time you spot a curious creature on your balcony, remember:
Because a friendly monkey solo won’t surprise you again, but the very next time it could be a full‑blown evening show.
Otters = nuisance to fishpond keepers, cute mascot to everyone else
Discovering Singapore’s Shimmering Otter Flock
Beyond the city’s monkeys, a quieter, whiskered troupe has been catching eyes—and footsteps—along the riverbanks: the Bishan Otter Family, affectionately dubbed the Bishan 10. They’re the spotted, territorial stars of Singapore’s wildlife scene.
Why These Otters Are Special
- The smooth‑coated and small‑clawed otters, Singapore’s newest treasure, are officially critically endangered.
- They popped onto the scene in 1998, riding the wave of the city’s greening efforts.
- Invading home plates? National Parks Board has your back with handy tips.
Spotlight on the Bishan Otters
When The Economist noted the Bishan Family’s emergence, it wasn’t just a headline—it’s a testament to Singapore’s successful greening policy. Their dash and daring earned a starring role in David Attenborough’s “Wild City” documentary, showcasing the city’s ecological heartbeat.
Homeowners’ Quick Guide to Otter Prevention
- Secure Your Kitchen: Store food in sealed containers—no open containers for hungry curiosity seekers.
- Keep Windows Closed: They’re curious but not very agile—closing windows is a simple deterrent.
- Clear Debris: Otters like clutter; tidy up outdoor spaces to reduce nesting opportunities.
- Participate in Conservation: Attending local wildlife workshops or volunteering can help protect these charming critters.
So next time you hear a splash or glimpse those sleek paws leaping in the water, remember: you’re witnessing one of Singapore’s secret successes—a tiny, furry celebration of nature’s resilience.
Singapore’s Wild Otter Showdown: Fish, Footwear, and a Holy‑Mild Chaos
Picture this: a perfectly respectable Singaporean suburb, a shiny condominium, a luxury hotel, even a church—all suddenly become a treasure trove for the city’s feather‑faced bandits of the wild: otters. These river‑rats are turning every fish pond into a battlefield— and the locals are not exactly buying tickets for the show.
How Otters Turn Fun into Furious
- Otters are a riot. They’re cute, they’re huggable, they’re the ones that can crash your luxury koi sanctuary by drooling on the fish and taking a bite‑sized detour into your indoor pool.
- When threatened, the same otters that make you snicker can become devastatingly ferocious—as the unfortunate jogger (yes, you heard that right) found out the hard way.
- When mini‑nannies of the animal kingdom raid condominium fish ponds, the resident MCSTs are forced to “clean the entire pool” and that means extra expenses and lost fun time.
Giant Goldfish & Koi: The Culinary Victims
- In March 2022, a Singaporean family dramatically lost 50 giant goldfish and 8 koi to the otter parade. That’s 13 years of kibble and koi‑care suddenly turned into a fleshy buffet.
- Even their 12‑year‑old Belgian Malinois couldn’t rally the usual friendly guard dog routine and was stunned into silence amidst otter chaos.
- In May 2021, at the Church of Saint Teresa, over a hundred fish met a lifelike demise with their heads and tails squashed like oddly affectionate frisbees—an eerie 4‑day seafood feast that left the church pond almost dry.
- April 2021’s “Zouk family” of otters wiped out almost all fish at The Crest condominium on Alexandra Road. That’s a full‑on animal incursion with a dock and a dream of a clear pond.
Where Do They Storm Beside? Trail and Territory
From Sentosa Island’s foamy fountains to the tranquil canals of the Kallang River, otters seem to follow wherever a ready bait is laid. The evidence shows a pattern: when a pond looks easy to raid, the otters come—like they’re on a scavenger hunt tour.
In the 2015‑2016 era, plenty of otters were seen around Sentosa. Those troopers later destroyed about $64,000 worth of koi—spoiling family lakes at Sofitel and Amara. In 2022, an otter at 482 Segar Road got caught on camera while strolling the public exercise area, adding a third wild animal to the list.
Beyond Otters: Boars, Monkeys, and All That Jostling
While the otters get most of the headlines, wild boars also roam the scene—leading to well over 100 incidents last year.
- 102 sightings called into Acres, 87 in the year before, and 34 as of March 2022.
- Don’t forget the monkeys—ever heard about the mess they make in gardens? They’re all part of the big “nature on your doorstep” package.
Bottom line? The fish ponds are becoming battlegrounds where otters, boars, and monkeys prove that the real jungle is not far from your condo. Next time you think you’re safe, just remember that otters may ignore your pool floats and go straight for the koi—while you’re busy taking a selfie.
HDB environmental studies
HDB’s Green Report: Inside the Eco‑Audit Playbook
Ever wondered what goes on behind the curtain when HDB decides to transform a neighbourhood into a brand‑new housing estate? They’ve got a playlist of environmental studies for every spot on their redeveloping radar.
The Current Catapult: Keppel Club Site
- It’s a brown‑field zone ready for 6,000 BTO flats + 3,000 private units.
- The latest study is up, and it’s all about keeping that green vibe alive while spray‑painting rooftops.
Other Hot‑Spots on the Radar
- Choa Chua Kang N1 – a micro‑study shaping future streets.
- Mount Pleasant – double‑dipped with an impact study and a heritage study (no surprise that old façades stay pretty).
These studies are run by tech agencies and independent consultancies. Think of them as the game‑changing cheat codes that steer the plans to minimise environmental drama.
Chor Chew Installation – A Case Study in Greening
- The new Choa Chu Kang estate is set to preserve 2 hectares of green.
- That includes a healthy cluster of mature trees – the original leafy guard‑posts that you’d never thought were worth saving.
- Why? Because the URA 2019 master plan had forgotten to slot in green space on that 21.7‑hectare plot, and HDB decided to set a new precedent.
Zooming in on Google Maps, fit your eyes on the lush ring of trees that sit snug between Pang Sua Canal to the west and the Rail Corridor / Woodlands Road to the east. Imagine the trees chatting about the construction drones as they swoop overhead.
Bottom line: HDB isn’t just building houses – they’re building ecosystems. And they’re keeping the planet happy, one study at a time.
What’s New in Lee Park’s Master Plan?
*So, plot
URDL: Urban Revamp District Loop originally had no green pockets, which
left the future housing estate as a concrete jungle—wasteful and a bit
boring. But guess what the latest Master Plan now says? It’s green
, it’s playful, it’s a park that will be a central hub for residents.
That’s the spot where kids can run, seniors can stroll, and you can
finally stop looking at the sky when the sun sets on blocky buildings.
Key Features at a Glance
*- Central Park: a green oasis at the heart of the estate, complete
with playgrounds, jogging tracks, and a community garden. - Eco‑Friendly Design: using rain gardens, solar lighting, and
native plants to keep the environment happy. - Community Spaces: flexible areas for workshops, street markets,
or impromptu street‑dance sessions.
Why It Matters
*The plan’s shift from “no park” to “big, vibrant park” is more than a
facelift. It’s about creating a living, breathing community that
feels connected, healthy, and—let’s be honest—fun. The master plan
has turned a bland living block into a place where stories, laughter,
and frisbee and pumpkin‑patch photos will be shared for years to
come.
Why the Sungei Pang Sua Woodland Is a Wildlife Superhighway
Ever heard of a natural express lane? The Sungei Pang Sua Woodland, also known as Choa Chu Kang N1, is that slick stretch of green between Hill View and Stagmont Ring. Think of it as the “only wooded corridor” on the map—just one tiny patch of trees between two big forests.
The Trail of Tiny Titans
- Sunda pangolins – These critters are not just cute; they’re critically endangered. Picture a squad of armored mammals sliding along this green ribbon.
- Smooth‑coated otters – The river rascals who love freshwater every bit as much as a good splash.
- Other forest friends – Birds, squirrels, and even the occasional shy frog making their way along the trail.
Without this “conduit” they’d be stuck, wandering around like lost socks in a dryer. Imagine if the corridor disappeared: would these animals suddenly start acting like tourist magnets, strutting into city parks for selfies? Or would they just vanish into the timberless Sahara of suburban asphalt? (We’ve all seen that in the movie Aladdin—but this is real life.)
Why It Matters (Besides Being a Great Insta‑Backstage)
- Wildlife traffic flow – Keeps the critters moving, so populations stay healthy.
- Ecological stability – Helps ecosystems stay robust by connecting habitats.
- Community experience – Gives residents a chance to spot a pangolin or a otter on their walk.
Bottom line: The woodland isn’t just a patch of trees; it’s a lifeline for some of Singapore’s most beloved, yet vulnerable, critters. Let’s keep the roads green and the wildlife happy—no one wants a pangolin stuck in a parking lot!
Why the Pang Sua Canal Dreams Are Turning Into a Canal Nightmare
Picture this: a lush cluster of trees and a shiny canal—like a scene straight out of a postcard—but the reality is a bit more…spoiler alert—water‑logged and waiting for a green makeover.
What the Nature Society & Cicada Tree Eco‑Place Wanted
- Transform the woodland into a public park—so everyone gets a free nature escape.
- Turn that knotty stretch of Pang Sua Canal into a naturalized habitat, turning fish into a waystation for critters.
HDB’s “Canal‑Conundrum”
HDB listened with open ears, took in all the suggestions, and then—roll the applause—declared that the canal couldn’t be naturalised because there simply isn’t enough land for it to be a full‑on sanctuary.
To add to the drama, doing the makeover could mean cutting down the trees, effectively turning the woodland into just another patch of concrete.
What Can We Do Instead?
It’s not all doom and gloom. HDB is curious about green‑lighting the canal walls—fancy phrase for beautifying the sides—while still making sure the water drums away the hard way.
So, next up: research, small‑scale experiments, and maybe a pinch of creative landscaping that doesn’t turn the canal into a botanical wasteland.
The Bottom Line
We’re all hoping for a neatly paved in green Pang Sua Canal, but until that becomes a reality, the best we can do is keep the park vibe alive and stay green. Keep your eyes peeled for the next chapter in this environmental tale—because change doesn’t happen overnight, but it can happen in the blink of a leaf‑ringed eye.
Otters on the Town: A Sneak Peek at Keppel Club’s Future
The 2019 URA Master Plan for the Keppel Club site has set the stage for an exciting new mix of urban and natural spaces. Picture a whopping stretch of preserved green – the Labrador Nature Reserve swoops in from the south‑west, while Mount Faber Park waves from the north‑east. But here’s the twist that keeps us on our toes (or should we say, on our paws?)
Why Otters Might Take a Stroll Here
- Park‑Themed Paradise – Those natural preserves are already a dreamland for wildlife.
- Hidden Food Finds – If seafood wakes to the buzz of future developments, our furry friends will have a buffet to explore.
- Freely Roaming Freedom – The layout promises seamless path links that could let otters glide from one spot to another with zero human interference.
So, while you’re planning your next weekend escape or snapping photos for social media, keep an eye out. The keystone of a 2019 plan is blazing a trail that might just pull otters in for a spontaneous swim‑down, courtesy of a perfectly paired mix of nature parks and urban high‑rise vibes.
Is there a connection?
Keeping the Green Squad on Track While Building New Homes
Every time we flag up another block of fresh housing on gazetted land, it’s a real tightrope—balancing our love for the local fauna with a growing appetite for more living spaces.
Not a Crystal Ball, Just a Smart Report
We can’t predict exactly how the squirrels, the birds, or that sly porcupine will react when we carve out more of the natural playground.
What the HDB’s Environmental Impact Studies Do
Essentially a data‑heavy detective story: they map out what’s already there and then explain what could happen once the bulldozers roll in.
- Before redevelopment: “Here’s where the chipmunks are.”
- After redevelopment: “Heads up—this spot could turn into a wildlife hotspot!”
Mitigation Strategies—Because We’re not Monsters
Based on how severe the impact could be, they suggest practical ways to keep critters safe—think planting hedges or creating small water bodies so the local wildlife still has a comfy chill spot.
Open to the Public—Your Voice Matters!
Once the studies get out, the whole neighbourhood (and yes, the bird‑watching squad too) can chime in. Don’t just sit on the sofa—drop your feedback and help shape a greener future.
When Neighbours Get Wild: Your Homes Next to Rivers & Parks
Living by a canal or a park in Singapore means your backyard may double as a wildlife playground. From boars to monkeys and even otters, these creatures are always on the move, hunting for food and shelter. It’s time we talk about how to keep our homes cozy and wildlife-friendly.
Why It Matters
What You Can Do
Fun Fact: a recent incident had macaques scaling a 5th‑floor apartment in Clementi, turning the kitchen into a “wildlife raid” that left netizens speechless.By watching the rhythm of nature around us and planning smartly, we can share our living spaces without stepping on each other’s toes—very literally.
