In a viral TikTok video, the troop of five monkeys can be seen climbing the facade of a HDB block near Jalan Besar MRT station. - SCREENGRABS FROM VICTORIA LOH/TIKTOK
SINGAPORE (The Straits Times/Asia News Network): The National Parks Board is monitoring the movements of a troop of monkeys and herding them away from residential areas, after a video of them scaling a HDB block in Jalan Besar on Saturday (Aug 19) went viral.
In response to queries from The Straits Times, group director of NParks wildlife management Ryan Lee said the agency is aware of feedback about the long-tailed macaques seen on Veerasamy Road.
He said: “NParks has been monitoring the troop’s movement and carrying out monkey guarding to minimise incursions.”
Monkey guarding refers to the practice of blocking the approach of monkeys, and herding them away from residential areas and towards the forested areas.
Lee shared that the macaques showed in the video are transient, which means they move from one forest plot to another, do not reside in a fixed location, and will eventually move on if there are no easily accessible food sources.
Previously spotted in parts of the country near forested areas like Bukit Panjang, Clementi and Punggol, it is understood this is the first time such monkeys have been seen in Jalan Besar, which is near the city.
“Long-tailed macaques are forest fringe creatures which move between forest patches in search of food and territory,” said Lee, who added that the NParks adopts a combination of measures to manage the population of long-tailed macaques.
These include conducting studies to understand the population ecology of macaques, minimising human sources of food by ensuring proper waste disposal, habitat modification including removal of fruit trees, and working with stakeholders to carry out sterilisation as a long-term measure.
“We are also engaging residents and shopkeepers in the area to keep food items out of sight and to dispose waste properly, and also share with them how they should respond when encountering macaques,” said Lee.
“If macaques approach you in the open, remain calm and quiet and do not make any sudden movements or maintain eye contact with them. Instead, look away and back off slowly.”
He also advised members of the public to keep plastic bags out of sight if they spot macaques, as the monkeys tend to associate plastic bags with the presence of food.
In a viral video posted to TikTok by user Victoria Loh, the troop of five monkeys can be seen climbing the facade of a HDB block near Jalan Besar MRT station.
The video, which has garnered more than four million views, also showed the monkeys skilfully wrap their limbs around a wall column, slide down, and jump onto a nearby shelter.
The slick moves prompted comments likening them to comic book superhero Spiderman, and characters in the action flick Mission Impossible.
ST has contacted the Animal Concerns Research and Education Society for more information.
