Monkeys repeatedly enter Punggol East HDB flats, steal banana & baby powder

Residents at Punggol Waterway Sunrise 1 are left frustrated and feeling trapped inside their own homes, as wild monkeys repeatedly enter their units.

One resident shared that their HDB estate has been experiencing monkeys climbing the building and even entering residential units through open windows for the past few months.

Monkey business

In screenshots of the Telegram group chat amongst residents, they shared that a troupe of three monkeys had entered their flat at Block 657A Punggol East, on Jan. 12.

In the photo shared with Mothership, one monkey could be seen perched on top of the refrigerator in the unit, while another was sitting on a table.

According to the Telegram messages, the monkey had stolen a banana.

The same group of monkeys had purportedly entered a 12th-floor unit and opened the resident's baby milk powder.

Another resident shared with Mothership footage of monkeys scaling the HDB flat.

Frustrated

Residents told Mothership that they have raised their concerns and complaints through official feedback channels, including their Member of Parliament, Janil Puthucheary.

One resident first provided Janil with feedback on Dec. 23, 2025, sharing that the issue with the monkeys has been ongoing since they moved in.

"Despite numerous reports and follow-ups, no response or visible intervention has been communicated to residents, and the situation remains unresolved," claimed one resident.

The resident added that they had to install window grilles for their own safety, supposedly losing their ability to open their windows and enjoy the ventilation.

Mothership has reached out to the Punggol Town Council for comment.

A common occurrence

The monkeys' presence in Punggol has been ongoing.

From Sep. 1, 2024, to Mar. 31, 2025, the National Parks Board (NParks) received around 200 "feedback cases" regarding Long-tailed macaques in Punggol.

In response to Mothership's queries, NParks group director How Choon Beng stated that the reports include sightings, intrusions into homes, and rummaging through rubbish bins.

Since 2023, NParks has implemented a sterilisation programme for the macaque population in the Punggol vicinity, including Coney Island Park.

Then-Minister for National Development Desmond Lee previously shared that 50 monkeys were trapped in 2024.

NParks also carried out habitat enhancement efforts in Coney Island Park by planting more native fruiting species after observing the monkeys foraging and feeding on the fruit of mature trees, said How.

"NParks has been working closely with the Town Council, providing posters, and recommending measures such as increasing the frequency of estate cleaning and implementing monkey-proof bin designs."

Advisory

Should macaques approach members of the public in the open, NParks advises remaining calm and quiet, as stated.

Do not make any sudden movements or maintain eye contact with them. Instead, look away, then slowly back away from the area. Avoid the area until the macaques have left.

The monkeys also often associate plastic bags with the presence of food and may be triggered to snatch plastic bags from humans when they see them.

NParks strongly advises members of the public to keep plastic bags out of sight of macaques when they are spotted.

Members of the public may also call the 24-hour Animal Response Centre at 1800-476-1600 for any wildlife-related issues.

NParks will also continue to conduct enforcement patrols against wildlife feeders, as feeding wildlife is illegal in Singapore.

Under the Wildlife Act, first-time offenders caught feeding wildlife could be fined up to $5,000, and repeat offenders could be fined up to $10,000.

Top photos via Mothership readers