Ecobridges are built across roads in cities so wild animals have a greater chance of survival.

Singaporeans will be familiar with the one that spans across Bukit Timah Expressway (BKE):

Viral photo of Eco-Link@BKE

A recent Facebook post by Earth Wonders showed an image of an ecobridge and stated that the Netherlands has 600 such bridges.

The photo went viral and garnered more than 74,000 shares since it was uploaded a week ago.

Here's the post:

The photo used in reference was actually the ecological bridge across BKE in Singapore:

Although the bridge in the photo is not in the Netherlands, such connectors for wildlife crossing are not exclusive to Singapore either.

Ecobridges can be found in the Netherlands as well as other countries like Canada and Thailand.

In Thailand:

In the Netherlands:

As opposed to what the post claims, some comments highlighted that 600 of such bridges is still a goal that the Netherlands has yet to attain.

About Eco-Link@BKE

While the post is not factually accurate, it does get people talking about ecobridges and knowing about the one in Singapore.

Singapore's Eco-Link@BKE was actually the first of its kind in Southeast Asia.

The 62m long ecological bridge connects the Bukit Timah Nature Reserve with the Central Catchment Nature Reserve (CCNR).

In order to attract wildlife to use the bridge for crossing, native tree and shrub species were planted on it.

The bridge is also regularly weeded and diligent maintenance helps with forest succession on it.

The bridge is important as it helps wildlife to expand genetic pool and chances of survive in the urban city.

Animals have been sighted on the bridge over the years:

Common Palm Civet

Sunda Pangolin

Slender squirrels

New Eco-Link in Mandai

A new eco-link bridge at Mandai is slated to be ready by 2019.

This is part of efforts to reduce environmental impacts on the wildlife as the area is being developed into an eco-tourism hub.

The bridge that is 9m high, 110m long and 44m wide, will be built across the Mandai Lake Road, connecting the northern and southern sides of CCNR.

Here's what it is expected to look like:

Meanwhile, wildlife surveys are being conducted on a regular basis by wildlife specialists to monitor and assess the forest health and biodiversity near the Mandai work site.

For example, field ornithologist Wang Luan Keng has been involved in bird surveys.

Data collected so far has indicated that the biodiversity level is maintained, according to the assistant vice president of Mandai Park Holding's Sustainable Solutions, Chua Yen Kheng.

The wildlife monitoring will continue after the construction work and this includes the wildlife crossing on the eco-link.

The entire development project in Mandai area is set to be completed by 2023.

Top photo collage from image by Earth Wonders Facebook and image by NParks