Stingray mysteriously appears on Sungei Buloh footpath, possibly due to rain & high tide

It wasn't a sight anyone expected to see during a walk in the Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve in Singapore, but a man saw it anyway: A sole intact stingray in the middle of the footpath.

Posting the strange find on Facebook, the man wrote: "Wonder who put it there?"

The post was accompanied by photos of birds in the nature reserve, which led to suggestions the avian creatures could have been responsible for the aquatic animal's predicament on land.

The stingray appeared very much dead and dried out.

Likely stuck due to high tide

Some commenters on the post surmised that the stingray found itself on land as a result of the recent heavy downpour the last few days.

Another commenter theorised that the ray, likely to be a freshwater motoro stingray species, could have come from Kranji Reservoir.

"It's possible that it was flushed out of the reservoir when the dam gates were opened, and was then picked up and dropped by a bird of prey," the commenter wrote.

"Not sure how high the tides were over the last few days, but if the ray was stranded on the path after high tide, it was still doomed anyway. It wouldn't normally be in the mangroves; any individuals that end up in the coastal areas are not going to survive for long since they can't tolerate saltwater."

The coastal area of the wetland nature reserve is a brackish water environment, which means it consists of a mix of fresh and saltwater.

Motoro stingrays

Motoro stingrays are a type of tropical freshwater ray that is sold in aquariums and reared as pets by fish hobbyists for ornamental purposes.

They typically cost a few hundred dollars, but may fetch up to five figures on the market.

Native to South America, the species was first spotted in the wild in Singapore about 20 years ago, after some pet owners released them illegally into Singapore's waters.

Since then, the species started breeding and has become one of the most common stingrays found locally.

Motoro stingrays have stings at the base of their tails that can inject venom when threatened.

The venom can cause serious pain and even death.

Top image via Teo Ting Guan/Facebook