The Mandai Wildlife Bridge was launched in late 2019 as an animals only crossing for them to cross the Central Catchment Nature Reserve which was cut off into two forest patches to accommodate Mandai Lake Road.
This bridge is situated near the Singapore Zoo and there have been reports of sightings of 70 different species of animals using the crossing including the rare sambar deer.
Some animals spotted include:
- Sunda Scops Owl
- Common-Palm Civet
- Large-tailed nightjar
- Lesser short-nosed fruit bat
The bridge is covered in vegetation such as native trees and trees that grow to various heights to create a multi-layered forest so as to encourage animals to use it, so as to prevent road kill when these animals attempt to cross via the road.
More commonly seen animals in forests surrounding the area like the sambar deer and wild pigs etc have adapted quite well to the use of the bridge.
Other less common species like the lesser mousedeer etc are expected to use the bridge more often one the vegetation on it grows further.
By 2025, Mandai Wildlife group expects the vegetation on the bridge to grow and form a canopy, covering the crossing.
The undergrowth area on the bridge have also been designed with bridge, logs, branches and leaf litter to create stepping stones or places for the smaller species to use and hide.
To add more to the species of trees on the bridge, saplings which were saved from nearby sites are also used.
Spotting of animals
Mandai Wildlife group installed six cameras over the area to spot if animals were indeed using the crossing.
The footage will also be used by the Mandai Wildlife group to make plans for restoration as well as make improvements to wildlife connectivity and also to study their population.
Endangered animals in Singapore have been frequently spotted using the bridge like the Sambar deer which had less than 20 of them in 2010 and even species like the Sunda pangolin and lesser mousedeer have been seen looking for food on the bridge.
Other animals have also been using the bridge for various other reasons other than crossing such as the monitor lizard basking in the sun and changeable hawk-eagles perching there.
Long-tailed macaques were also seen with their young there.
Mandai precinct development
It is also said that when the development of the Mandai precinct is ready, five parks will be housed there and they are the upcoming Rainforest Wild, Bird Paradise along with three others which are already there such as the Singapore Zoo, Night Safari and the River Wonders.
A resort which is eco-friendly will also be built there.
Image source: Mandai Wildlife Group