NParks to relocate 5 endangered leopard cats in Changi to other suitable habitats in S'pore

The National Parks Board (NParks) has confirmed five leopard cats in the Changi area through a survey, and plans to relocate them to suitable habitats in other parts of Singapore from the second half of 2026.

The potential relocation sites may include nature areas such as nature reserves, NParks announced in a Jun. 3 press release.

In identifying these sites, NParks consulted the Singapore Wildcat Action Group (SWAG) and mammal researcher Marcus Chua from the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum of the National University of Singapore, and considered ecological needs such as the availability of forest cover and suitable prey.

The three parties will discuss whether to keep or separate the five leopard cats in the relocation, the Director of the NParks National Biodiversity Centre (Terrestrial), Zhou Boyi, told the media on Jun. 3.

He added that NParks will not be revealing the exact relocation sites, citing concerns about human disturbance and illegal activities such as poaching.

NParks made this announcement with SWAG ahead of the Festival of Biodiversity, happening on Jun. 6 and 7.

Leopard cats in Changi

The mainland leopard cat is an adaptable wild cat species native to Singapore and other parts of Asia, according to NParks.

Locally, the species is listed as critically endangered. To NParks' knowledge, there are currently less than 20 individual leopard cats on the Singapore mainland, Zhou added.

NParks said that it has been aware of occasional leopard cat sightings in the Changi area since 2019.

To better understand their presence and the distribution there, the agency facilitated a survey by SWAG along the Changi coast from July 2025.

Using 18 motion-sensor camera traps, the team confirmed the presence of five leopard cats — two adult males, one adult female, and two juveniles.

When asked how the creatures got there, Zhou said it was possible that some from the established population in Pulau Tekong might have swum across the sea to colonise the Changi area.

Protecting their welfare

NParks decided to relocate the leopard cats from Changi as part of biodiversity conservation efforts for the species.

Speaking to the media, the co-founder of SWAG, Vilma D'Rozario, described the sighting locations as near a lot of construction and roads where heavy vehicles pass.

There was a leopard cat roadkill in Changi in 2019 that raised the SWAG's concern about the welfare of the animals there.

Additionally, with the upcoming developments to the Changi landscape over time, relocation is required to better support the species' health and welfare, NParks stated in the press release.

Leopard cats generally require access to relatively large, contiguous forested areas to meet their daily ecological needs, NParks added.

D'Rozario added that she does not encourage people to look for the leopard cats in Changi, to avoid disrupting the relocation process.

Further assessments before relocation

Prior to any relocation and release, veterinarians from NParks and Mandai Wildlife Group will first assess the leopard cats to ensure that they are in good health.

"Any relocation, if carried out, will be undertaken progressively and carefully, with ongoing monitoring, and with the animals’ welfare and long-term survival as the primary considerations," the agency said.

Zhou also noted other possible risks such as stress during the recapture and the transportation, and the challenges of the animals adapting to the new environment.

"To mitigate this risk, what we will put in place is to ensure that the travelling and handling operations will be undertaken by trained professionals, and we will also have a vet on standby throughout the trapping period," he said.