SINGAPORE - A wild boar was spotted roaming near Housing Board flats in Choa Chu Kang on Monday morning (Feb 18).

Animal Concerns Research and Education Society (Acres) deputy chief executive Anbarasi Boopal told The Straits Times on Monday that the wild boar had been spotted in the area in recent months.

On Monday, the wild boar was seen near Block 544 Choa Chu Kang Street 52 at around 7.30am.

Members of the public were seen keeping their distance from the animal.

Ms Anbarasi said that when Acres staff visited the area where the wild boar had been spotted, they found that people were leaving food out for animals. Food waste had not been properly handled in the area, she noted.

"It really boils down to the food available in the area," Ms Anbarasi said, adding that it was a key reason for the repeated wild boar sightings there.

The town council has been supportive of the efforts required to reduce the sightings of wild boars in the area, she said.

"However, there are still residents who leave food around, attracting the pig. We need more awareness that feeding wildlife has negative effects on their behaviour, resulting in conflict between humans and animals," she added.

"The feeding of pigs is an issue in other parts of Singapore as well," Ms Anbarasi said, noting that Lorong Halus is another wild boar hot spot.

Acres advises the public to keep a safe distance from wild boars when they see them in open areas, and to avoid making sudden movement or noises if approached by the animals.

There have been several wild boar sightings in the last few months.

On Jan 12, a wild boar was killed in an accident with a lorry in Punggol outside Waterway Point. The animal had run out onto the road and was hit by the vehicle. It subsequently died from its injuries.

Last July, a lone wild boar was also spotted in the same Choa Chu Kang HDB estate. There were no injuries reported and the animal eventually left for a forested area near Choa Chu Kang Way.

In response to queries, the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority of Singapore (AVA) said on Tuesday that they have been monitoring the wild boar situation in the vicinity of Choa Chu Kang Street 51 and 52 since receiving feedback on sightings last July.

"The wild boar which has been normally sighted was not observed to be aggressive thus far," AVA said.

The authority said that it has received information that the wild boar has been seen eating food left out for it at public areas.

It will investigate the situation and work with the town council and relevant authorities where required to tighten food source management, AVA added.

In its statement, the AVA said that members of the public are advised not to feed or leave food for wild animals, to prevent them from venturing into urban spaces to forage for food.

The public should also avoid confronting or cornering all wild animals, the authority added.