Oral Answer by Ministry of National Development on managing the wild boar population in Singapore and ensuring public safety
Jul 3, 2023
Questions:
*4655. Mr Edward Chia Bing Hui: To ask the Minister for National Development (a) what are the reasons driving the number of wild boar attacks on residents in Bukit Panjang; (b) what is the current estimate of the wild boar population in Bukit Panjang based on the most recent assessments conducted by the relevant authorities; and (c) what measures are implemented thus far by NParks to manage the growing wild boar population in Bukit Panjang and ensure the safety of residents in densely populated residential areas.
*4675. Mr Liang Eng Hwa: To ask the Minister for National Development (a) what are the causes for the recent wild boar attacks in Bukit Panjang; and (b) what further measures are needed to prevent wild boar attacks and ensure the safety of residents living near nature reserves.
*4677. Mr Liang Eng Hwa: To ask the Minister for National Development (a) what are the actions taken by NParks when the public reports wild boar sightings at the residential neighbourhoods; (b) whether the current number of wild boars at the nature reserves are at an ecologically sustainable level; and (c) what further measures and plans are there to manage the population of wild boars.
Answer:
Mr Speaker, Sir, may I take the next three questions together? Members have asked about what NParks is doing to manage Singapore’s wild boar population and to ensure public safety.
2 Public safety is our priority. We want residents to feel safe in and around our green spaces. That is why we take a proactive, holistic, and science-based approach in managing the wild boar population.
3 Wild boars are naturally found in many parts of the world, including Singapore and our region. For the most part, wild boars travel in herds and stay within forested areas. While Bukit Panjang and the adjacent Zhenghua Nature Park do not have a resident wild boar population, wild boars appear from time to time due to the estate’s close proximity to nature reserves and other forested areas such as Chestnut Nature Park and Dairy Farm Nature Park.
4 We know that residents in Zhenghua and Bukit Panjang are concerned about the recent wild boar incidents in the area. NParks has taken steps to mitigate the risks and will be closely monitoring the situation.
5 For instance, NParks has trapped and removed 19 wild boars from the vicinity of Bukit Panjang since May this year. In addition, NParks has been installing exclusion fences to reduce the possibility of wild boars entering the estate.
6 NParks is also working closely with the Grassroots and the Holland-Bukit Panjang Town Council to engage the community on proper food waste management, to reduce human-generated food sources that may attract wild boars.
7 Wild boars have high reproductive rates, giving birth up to twice a year with a litter size of up to 12 piglets. Female wild boars can start reproducing from 18 months of age. Wild boars also do not have natural predators in Singapore. NParks therefore has to actively manage the wild boar population. This includes carrying out habitat modification, such as removing oil palms, to reduce wild boars’ food sources. In line with the practice in many other countries, NParks also removes boars where necessary to ensure public safety. Based on studies by NParks, these measures have helped to keep the wild boar population in our nature reserves stable, at a density that is lower than those recorded in similar forest reserves in the region.
8 NParks is also working closely with stakeholders on public education and outreach, to promote safe and responsible human-wildlife encounters. This includes discouraging the feeding of wildlife, which can alter their natural foraging behaviour and cause them to rely on humans for food. NParks does this through public education as well as enforcement action against illegal feeding of wildlife. NParks is also engaging the community on how to respond to wildlife sightings, such as remaining calm and keeping a safe distance if they encounter a wild boar.
9 When a member of the public reports a wild boar sighting, NParks will respond immediately. NParks will trap and remove any boar that is found in a residential area, to ensure public safety.
10 NParks will continue to take a comprehensive science- and community-based approach to manage Singapore’s wild boar population and to ensure public safety.