Raccoons in Singapore? Mistaken identity, and the local trade in exotic small mammals

Which one is native to Singapore?
(Left: Photo by kwokwai76)
(Right: Photo by flipkeat)

It's a running gag among nature enthusiasts in Singapore that many members of the public are ignorant of our own wildlife, and that even common native species are bound to get confused with species not found locally. As a result, our monitor lizards become "Komodo dragons" or "iguanas", agamid lizards are "chameleons", sunbirds are mistaken for "hummingbirds", egrets and herons are "cranes" or "storks", our otters are "sea otters", and these are the most obvious errors we've heard of so far.

It is saddening that many people seem to be more familiar with wildlife found in other parts of the world. Perhaps it's because of the prevalence of wildlife documentaries focusing on ecosystems and species found on other continents, or the infusion of American pop culture. Faced with a small, vaguely cat-like mammal in their gardens or on their rooftops, with a dark eye-mask, it's not surprising that some local residents think that they have seen a common raccoon (Procyon lotor), when in fact this is a species native only to North and Central America. In most cases, any reports of "raccoons" in Singapore are likely to be misidentified common palm civets (Paradoxurus hermaphroditus).

The Serangoon stork

Mouth of Sungei Serangoon, which has since been dammed up to create the Serangoon Reservoir;
(Photo by Food Trails)

Hello from SG (@HellofrmSG), Singapore's very own rotation curation project on Twitter, has just been launched, and our very first curator is journalist and history buff Eisen Teo (@eisen).

As part of his self-introduction, Eisen shared the etymology of the name of his neighbourhood, Serangoon:





(Note: an alternative explanation is provided in the 27th March 1950 edition of The Straits Times)

The King and I: King Cobras in Singapore

(Photo by gerry morgan)

Singapore is home to many species of snake, from tiny burrowing blind snakes less than 20 centimetres long, feeding on soft-bodied invertebrates in the soil, to gigantic pythons more than 5 metres in length, lurking in our drains and sewers in pursuit of rats and even stray cats. While most of our snakes are quite harmless, our forests have their fair share of kraits, coral snakes and pit vipers, with venomous bites that are a genuine cause for concern. The equatorial spitting cobra (Naja sumatrana) is perhaps the most dangerous of our venomous snakes, since it is commonly encountered living near people. Yet these serpents, for all their deadly beauty, pale in comparison to a snake so feared and so iconic that it has become a symbol of the Asian rainforests, a true superstar among the snakes - the king cobra (Ophiophagus hannah).

That's no fish: Alligator spotted at Sembawang Park?

Singapore Zoo welcomes baby pygmy hippo!

Meet Divo, the latest addition to the pygmy hippo family at Singapore Zoo.

A spokesperson from Singapore Zoo says:

"Say 'hello' to the Singapore Zoo's underwater ballerina!

"Latest addition to the pygmy hippo family at Singapore Zoo - a male baby named Divo born on 4 June 2009 seen in picture with mom, Minah. Weighing 6.2 kg at birth, Divo is the eighth successful birth for proud parents Mina and Babu.

"Found mostly along coastal and riverine systems within a small area of West Africa, pygmy hippo cannot swim as its body is too dense to float, instead it tiptoes along riverbeds gracefully, earning the title of "underwater ballerina of West Africa."

The pygmy hippopotamus (Hexaprotodon liberiensis) is currently endangered, so it's good news that the Singapore Zoo is doing its part to sustain the captive population. I was at the zoo recently, but I think I just missed the appearance of the baby, since I only saw 1 adult, while a family of visitors who had been there when I arrived were still talking about the baby and mother that had presumably just gone into the den to seek some privacy.

I'm particularly fond of this exhibit, as it features an underwater viewing gallery, where visitors can get an excellent view of the hippos as they gambol and frolic about in the water, accompanied by schools of African cichlids.


Pygmy hippo underwater, Singapore Zoo;
(Photo by mariellewagner)

The pygmy hippopotamus is a native of rivers and swamps of west Africa, in the dense rainforests of Liberia, Sierra Leone, Guinea, and Ivory Coast. A second population, thought to represent a second subspecies, was documented to live in the Niger River Delta, but most likely became extinct by the middle of the 20th century. The primary threats to its survival are habitat destruction, poaching for the bushmeat trade, and armed conflict. Less than 3,000 pygmy hippos are thought to remain in the wild, and the discovery that there were some still living in Sapo National Park in Liberia was a good sign that the hippos have managed to survive despite 2 civil wars, illegal logging, and poaching.


Pygmy hippo in the wild, Liberia;
(Photo from the EDGE blog)

Compared to the hippopotamus (Hippopotamus amphibius), the only other extant member of the Hippopotamidae, the pygmy hippo is tiny, less than half the size of its larger cousin, and weighing only about a quarter as much.


Life-size cutouts comparing size of hippopotamus and pygmy hippopotamus, Singapore Zoo;
(Photo by pink_emmie_bat)


Graphic comparing weights of hippopotamus and pygmy hippopotamus, Singapore Zoo;
(Photo by iamgist)

Both species of hippo spend a lot of time in the water, but emerge at night to graze on land. The pygmy hippo is somewhat more terrestrial than the hippopotamus, and is largely solitary.


Pygmy hippo, Singapore Zoo;
(Photo by Amsk)

The hippopotamus (also known as the Nile hippo to avoid confusion with the pygmy hippo) has a wide distribution across much of sub-Saharan Africa; historically, it ranged all the way up to the mouth of the Nile, and during warmer periods of the Pleistocene, also inhabited north Africa and even parts of Europe. However, its range is now very much reduced due to hunting and loss of suitable habitat; hippos and humans don't get along very well. The stronghold for this species is in the network of parks and reserves found in east and southern Africa, where large herds can still be found in rivers and lakes.


Hippopotamus, Kenya;
(Photo by Rob Inh00d)


Hippopotamus herd, Tanzania;
(Photo by elosoenpersona)

It has to be emphasised that despite their comical appearance, hippos are certainly no laughing matter. Those tusks, which are used to resolve disputes between these massive ill-tempered herbivores, can do very serious damage. Territorial bulls and mothers with young calves are especially dangerous, especially to hapless people in flimsy little boats. This, combined with an irritable disposition and a willingness to charge at anything perceived to be a threat, makes the hippopotamus one of Africa's deadliest animals.


Hippopotamus fighting, Kenya;
(Photo by Jayanand)


Hippopotamus yawning, Tanzania;
(Photo by Alejandro Tawil)


Hippopotamus, Kenya;
(Photo by Edgar Thissen)

Several other species of hippopotamus are known to have lived during the Pleistocene and early Holocene; these included 4 species of hippo on several islands of the Mediterranean, as well as 3 species on Madagascar. These island species appear to have become dwarves as a result of insular dwarfism. It is likely that humans encountered many of these species, although it is unknown whether hunting contributed to the eventual extinction of these island forms.


Pygmy hippo, Singapore Zoo;
(Photo by Peter Garnhum)

More information about the pygmy hippo is available here at the EDGE of Existence site, with blog updates about measures to learn more about the pygmy hippo in the wild.

Rare wild Palm Civet seen in Kembangan resident's backyard

Civet cats on Tanglin Halt tree? Look again

First colobus baby for Singapore Zoo after 12 years' hiatus

In its press release to STOMP today (Mar 10), the Singapore Zoo proudly announced the birth of the colobus monkey, the first after a long hiatus of 12 years. This brings its total number of recent monkey births to four - one colobus, one howler and two proboscis monkeys.

Appended is their statement:

"There is now new meaning to the cheeky phrase 'monkeying around'.

"Primates at Singapore Zoo certainly have been doing a lot of that with four recent births; one each of the colobus and black howler monkeys and two proboscis monkeys.

"These births mark the first for the colobus after a hiatus of about 12 years, fifth for the black howler, and sixteenth and seventeenth for the proboscis monkey.

"The Singapore Zoo strives to provide an optimal environment for endangered and sensitive species like the proboscis monkeys.

"Forest-dwelling primates the world over continue to face tremendous pressures that threaten their existence, ranging from habitat destruction to poaching for bushmeat.

"'We are committed to preserving such endangered primates, and will carry on with the breeding, conservation and research efforts to ensure that populations continue to thrive', said Mr Biswajit Guha, Assistant Director, Zoology, Singapore Zoo."

Photos of Colobus Monkey and Howler Monkey courtesy of Mr Bjorn Olesen

Photo of Proboscis Monkey courtesy of Wildlife Reserves Singapore

I haven't visited the Singapore Zoo for far too long. It's great to hear of these births, especially since captive breeding is often a sign that the animals are doing relatively well. Of course, that isn't necessarily the case, but being able to breed animals, especially rare and endangered species, is one of the benchmarks by which zoos measure and compare their success.

The Eastern black-and-white colobus (Colobus guereza) of the forests of Central and East Africa, and the black howler monkey (Alouatta caraya) of forests and woodlands south of the Amazon Basin, are currently listed as species of 'Least Concern', although both species are experiencing population declines, while the proboscis monkey (Nasalis larvatus), restricted to riverine and coastal forests of Borneo is considered to be 'Endangered', and it too is experiencing a decreasing population.

Indeed, primates as a whole seem to be in great trouble; the World Conservation Union (IUCN) reported in 2008 that out of 634 primates, nearly half of the species and subspecies are endangered. The situation in Asia is especially dire, with more than 70 percent of the continent's primates listed as 'Vulnerable', 'Endangered', or 'Critically Endangered'. Hunting (for meat, the exotic pet trade, and traditional medicine) and habitat destruction are the main threats faced by virtually all primate species.

25 Most Endangered Primates Named

Even our closest living relatives, the great apes, are facing considerable pressure; clearing of the rainforests of Sumatra and Borneo for logging and plantations is accelerating the decline of the Sumatran orangutan (Pongo abelii) and Bornean orangutan (Pongo pygmaeus), while in Africa, hunting for bushmeat, deforestation and diseases like Ebola are ravaging populations of western gorilla (Gorilla gorilla), eastern gorilla (Gorilla beringei), chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes) and bonobo (Pan paniscus). Civil war is another threat faced by several populations of African apes; several mountain gorillas (Gorilla beringei beringei) living in the Democratic Republic of the Congo were murdered in 2007, pawns in a deadly power struggle between various warring factions.

2009 happens to be the Year of the Gorilla, and I think this in a way symbolises the grim future of many primate species. If we ever callously allow our closest living relatives to vanish into oblivion, what hope do we have for the multitude of other more distantly related primate species, such as monkeys to tarsiers, loris, and lemurs?

The Singapore Zoo does not possess any gorillas, since they are highly susceptible to the common Asian bacterium Pseudomonas psuedomallei, and past attempts have had tragic results; five of six gorillas sent to Singapore from European zoos eventually succumbed to melioidosis, or 'soil disease'. Still, I am interested in seeing if the Singapore Zoo has any programs lined up in conjunction with the Year of the Gorilla.

Despite the lack of gorillas, the zoo does have quite an impressive primate collection, and over the years, I have been greatly impressed at the great diversity of primate species from all over the world that were on display. It is notable for its great success in breeding both species of orangutan, and outside of Indonesia, has had the most success in captive breeding of proboscis monkeys. According to the 2007/2008 yearbook, other recent primate births have also included ring-tailed lemur (Lemur catta), black-tufted marmoset (Callithrix penicillata), red-handed tamarin (Saguinus midas), cotton-top tamarin (Saguinus oedipus), brown-headed spider monkey (Ateles fusciceps), white-faced saki (Pithecia pithecia), lion-tailed macaque (Macaca silenus), Hamadryas baboon (Papio hamadryas), Javan langur (Trachypithecus auratus), silver langur (Trachypithecus cristatus), and chimpanzee. Besides the births, other new arrivals include a pair of buff-cheeked gibbon (Nomascus gabriellae), which the zoo acquired in the hopes of eventually breeding them. It also obtained a male purple-faced langur (Trachypithecus vetulus) from Edinburgh Zoo, and it is hoped that it will pair up with the Singapore Zoo's single female specimen, and help boost the captive population of this species. In the meantime, some black howler monkeys, silver langurs, and chimpanzees were sent to other zoos to facilitate the captive breeding programs there.

The importance of captive breeding in conservation is subject to much debate; it cannot be denied that in-situ conservation, ensuring that species are not wiped out from their native range, is the most vital piece of the puzzle. In this context, captive breeding is only a stopgap measure just in case some calamity befalls the wild population, or to build up a sizeable population that can be then reintroduced into the wild. Ideally, captive breeding should occur in conjunction with well-planned programs for eventual reintroduction. But at the same time, captive breeding does relieve some of the pressure on wild populations, ensuring that the captive population does not die out anytime soon. The concept of keeping and displaying wild animals in captivity is not going to go away anytime soon, and many zoological institutions do carry out a great deal of contribution to in-situ conservation work, but I would say that this is ultimately the most important function of captive breeding.

Perhaps I'll pop by the Singapore Zoo during the holidays.