Eye spy: What camera traps have uncovered about wildlife in Singapore

SINGAPORE – Five leopard cats were found to be living in the coastal forests of Changi after a survey running from July 2025 to April 2026 was conducted by volunteer-run non-profit Singapore Wildcat Action Group.

The survey involved 18 motion-sensor cameras placed along the coastline to track the nocturnal predators over the span of roughly a year. From grooming to hunting, the cameras captured the escapades of the felines, which are critically endangered here.

As a result, the authorities decided to relocate the animals to ensure their welfare and long-term survival, as the Changi landscape transforms.

Camera traps are commonly used by researchers and conservationists for a variety of reasons, such as estimating population sizes and studying wildlife behaviour, experts told The Straits Times.

Through these “eyes”, they are also able to monitor habitats with minimal disturbance and observe elusive species both on land and under the sea, with the information gathered contributing to conservation management efforts here. 

For instance, findings can highlight hot spots of wildlife activity, which can inform where to prioritise protection or minimise disturbance, said Mandai Nature’s senior manager of local biodiversity Delaney Eng.

They can also guide habitat enhancement and the design of ecological infrastructure such as wildlife crossings.

Many camera traps used today are equipped with an infrared sensor which is triggered when a rapid change in temperature is detected, such as a warm-blooded creature walking past, said mammal scientist Marcus Chua.

These traps can be left in the field to monitor a habitat for weeks or even months, depending on battery life and storage capacity.

He added that other camera traps can also be programmed to take photos at timed intervals, or involve a trip wire or pressure plates, depending on whether a researcher’s target species is able to trigger the camera.

Camera traps function as an eye that can monitor a site round the clock, with minimal disturbance, said Chua, who is also a mammal curator at the National University of Singapore’s Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum.

He first used camera traps in 2008 to survey terrestrial mammals on Pulau Ubin, he said, adding that the use of camera traps has been widespread since the 1990s. Since then, he has used them to study mouse-deer and leopard cats.

“The camera trap was one of the methods used to rediscover the presence of greater mouse-deer on Pulau Ubin, and then later estimate their population size and status there,” said Chua, adding that camera traps helped their understanding of specific overlaps in the diets of the greater mouse-deer and wild pigs on the island that were not previously known.

He also deployed an array of camera traps to monitor the distribution of leopard cats across mainland Singapore and estimate their population size. The findings were published in a study in 2016.

Chua added: “This gave us the first look into how this nationally critically endangered species is doing in Singapore, and has since been a reference for conservation of the species here.”

Under the sea, researchers use equipment such as remote underwater video systems (RUVS), where a video camera is placed underwater to study marine communities.

On her current deployment of RUVS, marine biologist Zeehan Jaafar said she is hoping to gain a better understanding of the occurrence of reef fishes, among other research questions.

Each camera unit is typically deployed for one hour, which is about the time that the battery can last, she added.

“Our work can be significantly affected by conditions of water currents, especially during the deployment and retrieval of the camera units. Low visibility can also impact the outcome of footage analyses.”

Jaafar, who is a senior lecturer at NUS’ department of biological sciences, said memorable findings included a hawksbill turtle and locally rare species such as black-tipped reef sharks. She added that her team was able to confirm the presence of the blue trevally, a fish that was reported in historical records, through footage from the RUVS in 2024.

Camera traps are also used to monitor specific locations, such as wildlife crossings, to ensure their effectiveness and keep sighting records of the animals without affecting their natural behaviour. 

Since 2011, the National Parks Board (NParks) has deployed camera traps to record wildlife species on the Eco-Link@BKE, an ecological bridge over the Bukit Timah Expressway connecting the Bukit Timah and Central Catchment Nature Reserves.

“This has helped demonstrate the bridge’s effectiveness as a wildlife crossing to strengthen ecological connectivity for native species and restore ecological balance in the two nature reserves,” said How Choon Beng, NParks’ group director of wildlife management.

He added: “As of 2025, more than 100 species of fauna have been recorded on Eco-Link@BKE through camera traps, transect surveys and mist-netting.”

A study published by NParks in 2024 also revealed that 14 mammal species were recorded on camera traps and closed-circuit television using culverts, roads and rope bridges to move across forest patches. 

How said: “Information gathered through camera traps allows us to better understand the movement and behaviour of wildlife, which in turn enables us to strengthen our conservation management strategies.”

The World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) Singapore has also installed camera traps with the support of NParks to identify wildlife crossing hot spots along a road running through a forested area since October 2025.

The camera has captured mammals such as wild boars and civets moving through the space, as well as other creatures such as junglefowl and monitor lizards.

Goh Ter Yang, WWF-SG’s head of Singapore conservation and community science, said: “The data collected helps strengthen our understanding of how wildlife navigates human-modified environments and supports long-term mitigation measures to improve ecological connectivity and wildlife safety.”

Over at Mandai Lake Road, five camera traps have also been installed on the Mandai Wildlife Bridge since 2022 to monitor wildlife and track them at night when they are more active, said Eng. 

At least 26 species, comprising 13 bird species, nine mammal species and four reptile species, have been recorded by cameras on the bridge since monitoring started, she added.

“Monitoring showed that the lesser mouse-deer was first recorded using the bridge in April 2022 and the Sunda pangolin in July 2023,” Eng said.

“These milestones suggest that as the vegetation on the bridge has become more established, it is increasingly facilitating the movement of forest-dependent species across habitats, strengthening its role as a functioning ecological corridor.”

She added that camera traps are also installed in buffer forests and the adjacent Central Catchment Nature Reserve, providing insight into the reproduction and foraging habits of wildlife, as well as their social and territorial behaviours.

For instance, images of juveniles such as pangolin and civet pups may indicate that these species are not only passing through but also successfully breeding within or near the site, Eng explained.

“This suggests that the habitat provides sufficient shelter and stability for raising young,” she said.

She added that recurring detections on the camera traps over time can also serve as an indicator of how wildlife in an area is faring.

“These trends may allow us to pick up changes indicating disturbance, habitat degradation or shifts in wildlife behaviour.”