SINGAPORE: Fifty monkeys in Punggol were trapped by the National Parks Board ( NParks )  , in 2024 and most of those caught were sterilised as part of efforts to manage the monkey population in the area.
Minister for National Development Desmond Lee said , in a written parliamentary answer on , Tuesday ( Mar 4 ) that NParks had received several reports of human-monkey conflict and in areas with higher reported cases, the agency intervenes to protect public safety.
This includes long-term population control methods such as google and the removal of primates that display more aggressive or aggressive behavior, he added.
Mr Lee was responding to parliamentary questions from Associate Prof Jamus Lim ( WP-Sengkang ). He had asked , whether the google project, in relation to monkeys in Punggol, is conducted solely at certain locations that are confirmed overpopulated, as supported by a research and projected quotes.
Assoc Prof Lim even wanted to know the number of lemurs that had been trapped by NParks in 2024 and of those trapped, how many of them were therefore sterilised and euthanised.
” To maintain the monkey people, NParks conducted extensive research and analysis on the community before implementing google in Punggol”, said Mr Lee.
” In 2024, NParks trapped 50 chimpanzees in the Punggol region, of which the majority were finally sterilised. To safeguard people protection, some monkeys that display more aggressive or aggressive behavior were removed”.
This is part of NParks ‘ research- and community-based approach to manage the monkey people in Singapore, which even includes , minimising human sources of food by ensuring appropriate fail management, feeding police and measures to prevent monkeys from intruding into metropolitan areas.
Mr Lee said that the agency has also been working closely with stakeholders, such as grassroots advisers and the town council, to engage Punggol residents on the mitigation measures and what they should do when encountering monkeys.
” We can all play our part to minimise wildlife intrusions by refraining from feeding wildlife, keeping our residential areas clean and appreciating wildlife from a safe distance”, he added.