Hi, I will be spending some days in Singapore soon. Anybody knows which wild mammals are possible to see there? Is it likely to see a wild Colugo on the zoo grounds?
Colugos can be seen at the zoo (look on tree trunks), but also active at the Night Safari (just keep your eyes open, basically). Plantain squirrels are everywhere (the Botanic Gardens are a sure bet). Slender squirrels are also reasonably common (especially on Bukit Timah and in the rainforest section of the Botanic Gardens). Greater tree shrews are common on Bukit Timah. Crab-eating macaques are common in some parts of Singapore. If you go across to Pulau Ubin there are lots of macaques there, as well as wild pigs (genuine wild pigs, not feral). Supposedly both smooth-coated and small-clawed otters are there too. Short-nosed fruit bats can be seen roosting in one of the shelters in the zoo but I can't remember which one. I've seen lesser false vampire bats at Fort Canning Park as well at night (in the roof of one of the shelters there). Smooth-coated otters *may* be seen at Sungei Buloh (I have been out of luck there but they are regularly sighted). Crab-eating macaques, plantain squirrels etc are also common at Sungei Buloh, and I've seen short-nosed fruit bats as well. Also look out for common iguanas if you're at Jurong Bird Park!!
I saw relatively few species on my trip, but didn't go to any natural areas. I saw plenty of plantain squirrels (everywhere) and some macaques from the bus on the way to the zoo. I don't know that you can see colugos just by keeping your eyes open, I did that and didn't see any... The wild bats live in one of the Orang Utan viewing shelters - I think the one for the indoor exhibit holding Sumatran Orangs. There is a sign there for them as well.
well, maybe by keeping your eyes open and crossing your fingers They are pretty common because of the locality where the zoo and Night Safari are situated, but yes it really depends on luck as well, being in the right place at the right time. I think if you are only visiting the zoos you should see plantain squirrels, crab-eating macaques, short-nosed fruit bats, maybe slender squirrels and greater tree-shrews, and hopefully colugo.
I was lucky enough to spot a colugo in the zoo grounds. There were plenty of macaques near the zoo also. I spotted a crocodile at Sungei Buloh. I know its not a mammal but still good to see in the wild.
That's very cool. Does the zoo give wildlife tours of its grounds? It sounds like there is enough there to support something like that, although maybe those animals are so common to Singaporeans that seeing them in the wild is no big deal?
There are no wildlife tours, but the zoo does place signs around the park highlighting native species. Species like macaques and monitor lizards are common enough that they've become a nuisance.
