Iconic animals of Singapore

Although we might live in a concrete jungle, Singapore’s not exactly teeming with exotic wildlife. Other than the occasional rotund rodent scampering for coffee shop scraps or that one community cat we simply can’t fight the urge to coddle, our local fauna is unfortunately drowned out by the roar of a bustling metropolis.

That’s not to say they’ve been completely ostracised from the spotlight. Nature always finds a way, and so the cast of critters here are no strangers to receiving unconditional love from their human counterparts. Here are the most iconic animals of Singapore, from the world-famous Ah Meng to the families of otters that have somehow become the country’s unofficial mascots.

1. Bishan, Marina & Zouk otter families

Image credit: Animal & Veterinary Service

By far some of the most adored animals roaming about sunny Singapore are the various otter families. What’s not to love about these semi-aquatic water sausages? They’re otter-ly adorable… when they’re not feasting on thousand-dollar koi, that is. Coupled with the fact that they live in families, it’s no wonder they elicit no shortage of awwws whenever you see a posse bobbing above the waters of the Singapore and Kallang Rivers.

The Zouk otter family.
Image credit: incidental naturalist

However, since otters are territorial animals, multiple disputes have occurred between rival families. According to Ottercity, a local community dedicated to documenting otter-related happenings in Singapore, there have been up to 18 known families on the island, with the Bishan, Marina, and Zouk families being some of the most prominent.

As such, it’s not uncommon for us to stumble across feuding families when one treads onto foreign grounds. These otters aren’t afraid to bare their fangs to protect their land, and casualties from these vicious confrontations have been recorded; best to distance yourself and observe from afar if you ever find yourself caught in crossfire.

2. Coney Island cow

Image credit: NParks

While wild cattle are a dime a dozen in neighbouring countries like Indonesia and Malaysia, they are practically unheard of here in Singapore. That’s why when a lone cow was spotted on Coney Island ahead of its official opening in October 2015, everyone just had to catch a glimpse of the unlikely islander.

The Coney Island cow was identified as a male Brahman bull.
Image credit: Tatum Writes

Pragmatically dubbed the Coney Island cow, it quickly became a roving attraction of sorts; no visit to the island was complete without at least trying to track it down. Signs were even put up acknowledging its existence, informing folks how to properly conduct themselves in the bull’s majestic presence.

Funny enough, the cow’s origin remains shrouded in mystery; some have speculated that it meandered over from Punggol or Lorong Halus, but no farms in the area reported missing a cow. For a good few months, visitors had the chance to visit the elusive cow, which was said to be gentle and shy, with only grazing on greens on its mind.

Sadly, NParks announced the death of the Coney Island Cow in October 2016, after being sedated for a veterinary health check. A post-mortem investigation found chronic underlying illnesses that likely contributed to its death, but this sparked much public outrage. Let’s hope the grass truly is greener on the other side – fly high, my beloved bovine.

3. Ah Meng the Orangutan

We can’t talk about the iconic animals of Singapore without giving a shout-out to one of our most famous wildlife celebs – Ah Meng the Orangutan. Originally kept as an illegal pet in Sumatra, Ah Meng was brought over to the Singapore Zoo in 1971 and eventually became the attraction’s biggest star.

Image credit: National Archives of Singapore

In 1982, the zoo introduced Breakfast with Ah Meng, a novel experience where visitors could get up close with her during a meal to snap pics. More and more Folks were gradually won over by Ah Meng’s charm and patient demeanour. This, along with motherhood, shot the great ape to superstardom as she quickly became the poster girl of the Singapore Zoo.

A true blue Singaporean, Ah Meng also loved durians.
Image credit: Mandai Wildlife Reserve

Over the years, she lived a storied life, having rubbed shoulders with celebrities like the King of Pop himself, Michael Jackson, the UK’s Prince Philip, and wildlife conservationist Steve Irwin. In 1992, Ah Meng was crowned Singapore’s first non-human Special Tourism Ambassador, and her award came with a certificate and a healthy stack of bananas.

Ishta was chosen to take on the mantle of Ah Meng, as she bore a striking resemblance to her grandmother and shared her love of durians.
Image credit: Mandai Wildlife Reserve

The primate superstar passed on in February 2008 due to old age and is survived by Satria, her youngest son, granddaughters Chomel, Endah, and Ishta, and a trio of great-grandsons in Bino, Putra, and Aayan. Even in death, her name lives on, as Ishta was picked to become the “new” Ah Meng in 2016, to create even more memories with visitors pouring in from all over the world.

4. White Dot the Sambar Deer

Nearby, in the forested regions of Mandai, a particular Sambar Deer has amassed quite a number of fans herself. In case you didn’t know, Singapore plays host to a small population of Sambar Deer, the world’s 3rd largest species of deer.

Image credit: Lee via Facebook

Despite their stature and impressive antlers that can grow up to 1m in length, they’re quite skittish, becoming active only under the shroud of night to graze. That’s probably why you’ve never laid eyes on one before; they were even thought to be extinct in Singapore following the aftermath of World War II, due to hunting and deforestation.

White Dot.
Image credit: Tan Yong Lin via Facebook

One deer has caught the attention of many wildlife enthusiasts here, and for good reason. Affectionately called White Dot, she is named after a distinctive patch of fur above her eyes and her stained nose. Other than the fact that she’s easy to pick out from her herd, she gave birth to a fawn earlier this year, heralding good news for the local population which is estimated to be 120 deer strong.

Those who have been following White Dot over the years have noted that she has displayed exemplary matriarchal behaviour, leading her herd away from potential threats. She has even been observed to give way to oncoming traffic before crossing the road, showing signs of intelligence befitting a queen.

5. Tailless the Estuarine Crocodile

Another massive animal that can surprisingly be found in Singapore is the Estuarine Crocodile, which also happens to be the largest living reptile in the world. Worry not, you won’t have to fret about the second coming of Godzilla terrorising your next hiking adventure, as they are pretty rare to come across.

Image credit: Johnny Foo via Facebook

The species is critically endangered locally, and rest assured that NParks are actively keeping tabs on the local population, relocating crocs that frequently stray into public recreational spaces. If you’re game, the best spot to reliably go croc-spotting is Sungei Buloh Wetlands Reserve, which was once home to Tailless the Estuarine Crocodile.

As his name suggests, this cold-blooded, apex predator’s most eye-catching feature is his tail, or lack thereof. He lost a big chunk of his tail after a fight with another crocodile a few years back, and has since attracted a cult following because of his prominent battle scars that have made him extremely recognisable.

For years, Tailless lived peacefully in close proximity to humans, often found basking in the sandbars of the reserve away from marked trails.

A gang of otters even tried to “bully” Tailless off a sandbar, taking cheap gnaws at his tail stump. He stood his ground though; the wilful instigators eventually gave up and swam off.
Image adapted from: Must Share News

However, the crippled croc has not been seen at his usual haunts in the past few months, but not many have attributed his absence to an untimely death. Some believe he was simply driven out by larger rivals competing for territory in the area; fingers crossed he has found a new dwelling, hopefully one devoid of antagonising otters.

6. Priscilla the Wild Boar

Those who’ve undergone BMT on Pulau Tekong will know how much of a menace wild boars can be. Although they’re generally shy, the foolhardy ones aren’t afraid of approaching humans for food, and won’t hesitate to charge at you should they consider you a threat to their young. Trust me, you won’t want to be on the receiving end of a headbutt, as they can weigh upwards of 100kg.

Image credit: Flickr

But that doesn’t mean all of them are evil incarnate – enter Priscilla, a wild boar raised by Chek Jawa villagers on the Eastern tip of Pulau Ubin. She was adored by villagers and visitors to the island alike; as the boar was brought up by people from birth, she was very much people-friendly, and her endearingly lackadaisical temperament won the hearts of many.

Image credit: Wild Shores of Singapore

In the early 2000s, Priscilla was as much of an attraction as Chek Jawa itself. Many flocked down to chill out with her, and if she wasn’t wallowing in the dirt or sleeping the day away, she would accompany visitors on their guided nature walks of the island. Unfortunately, not everyone was fond of Priscilla’s company.

It was reported that construction workers apparently tried to capture her to turn her into a quick meal, and she was found later on with a large gash on her rump. Although Priscilla had her wounds treated and recovered nicely, she was found dead in May 2004, near Chek Jawa’s shoreline.

She was buried at the shoreline, and although her final resting place is unmarked, the impact she left on everyone who followed her swine-fuelled escapades was nothing short of indelible.

7. Bob the Tabby Cat

It’s no secret that we Singaporeans are absolutely enamoured with our felines; we are known as the Lion City, after all. Whether they’re orange, white, black, or a mix of all 3, our love for community cats is indiscriminate, and it’s only customary to drop all matters at hand to smother one with pets whenever possible.

Image credit: The Story of Bob – a very special cat via Facebook

I’m sure your neighbourhood has its own collection of 4-legged darlings, each iconic in their own right, but Bob the Tabby Cat’s possibly the most famous of them all. The grey tabby was a regular sight in Tiong Bahru, often pawing affectionately at passers-by and even swinging by residents’ homes for occasional visits.

In 2010, Bob suffered a serious accident which left him with a major abdominal wound. The local community just could not turn a blind eye, and so residents and shop owners pooled their money and raised about $16,000 in total for his operation and subsequent medical care.

Bob under the care of residents.
Image adapted from: The Story of Bob – a very special cat via Facebook

By 2018, residents even went the extra mile; around 10 kind folks were actively involved in ensuring Bob lived life to the fullest. They fed him cooked food twice a day, administered medicine routinely, gave him shelter in their homes, and scheduled vet appointments.

Image credit: @tiongbahrusocialclub via Instagram

The heartening tale of the residents’ unyielding love for Bob even served as the inspiration for a similar feline character in a local film screened in 2020, Tiong Bahru Social Club. Despite his chronic afflictions, Bob lived to a ripe old age of 20, finally succumbing to the unending march of time in July 2024. He was cremated shortly after passing, surrounded by those who cared for him as though he was their own.

Remembering these iconic animals of Singapore

Singapore’s by no means a sanctuary for animals, but look past the shimmering skyscrapers, and you’ll notice that we’ve got quite a few furry, feathered, and scaled friends that also call the Little Red Dot home. As such, it doesn’t hurt to be more kind and considerate to our local wildlife, so that these animals can continue to thrive alongside us for generations to come.

For more fun animal-related content:

• Animals that can become Singapore’s local Zodiac system
• Animals in Singapore we commonly see
• Mandai’s animal stars autograph trail

Cover image adapted from: Flickr, NParks, incidental naturalist, Johnny Foo via Facebook