Mammals

 

Malayan Tiger Panthera tigris jacksoni

Singapore used to host the Malayan tiger, their national animal till 1930. This is an example of an animal that went national extinct because of direct human impact. Livestock was not safe for this predator, but neither were humans. The first recorded human fatality was mentioned in the Singapore Chronical newspaper in 1831.

Malayan tiger – Source: OEW

Too many people got killed by tigers, especially Chinese coolies due their jobs. As the plantations grew, so did the amount of coolies working in Singapore and so did the number of kills. Bukit Timah was known as tiger resort. In order to control the killings the government started to give rewards for tiger kills. It started with $20,- and increased to $100,-. This attracted many hunters, especially Indian hunters who were experienced in killing the larger Bengal tigers. The British hunted for sport and sent the corpses back home as trophies. Chinese hunters killed especially in order to use the body parts for oriental medicines.

The last tiger was shot on 26 October 1931 in Choa Chu Kang. Right now the only remaining Malayan tigers can be seen at the Singapore Zoo, Night Safari and when you are drinking the national beer.

 

Sunda Pangolin Manis javanica

This wandering animal lives in Forests, scrubland and plantations. He is active at night and eats ants and termites with his long and sticky tongue. Thanks to his strong defend mechanism, he seems quite invulnerable to predators. When he is threatened he curls himself up into a ball. Unfortunately this doesn’t help him against threats like habitat loss, poaching and driving cars on highways. Many pangolins die because they get hit by cars. This species is found in multiple places in Singapore.

Sunda pangolin – Source: Profauna