Pangolin kept safe in toilet by residents after trying to cross Upper Thomson Road, rescued by Acres

Residents at Springleaf Nature Park banded together to keep a pangolin safe after it was found wandering in a nearby carpark on Friday morning (Aug 16).

They redirected the animal, which had also tried to cross a busy road, to a public toilet at the park until staff from the Animal Concerns Research and Education Society (Acres) arrived.

Stomper Sneo said he was on his morning walk at the park when he noticed two residents taking photos of the Sunda pangolin.

Sneo recounted: "It wandered towards the carpark and walked towards Upper Thomson Road, so I called Acres.

"At that time, there was a group of around 30 residents doing line-dancing or some exercise in the park.

"As the pangolin had entered a guardhouse in the park and was near the public restrooms, I decided to get everyone to direct it into the handicapped toilet to keep it safe."

According to Sneo, the pangolin was calm throughout the incident and even went to sleep near the toilet bowl.

In response to a Stomp query, Acres' deputy chief executive officer, Mr Kalai Vanan, said the wildlife rescue team received a call about the pangolin at about 7.30am.

Mr Kalai told Stomp: "It was spotted near a nature park but unfortunately, it was at the open carpark.

"Traffic accidents are a huge threat to Sunda pangolin populations in Singapore and there is a chance that this individual could have stumbled onto the road.

"We have since rescued the pangolin and given a quick check to ensure that it is fine."

Asked how he felt about helping the pangolin, Stomper Sneo said it came as "second nature" for him.

He added: "I don't know how the pangolin came about, but it would have needed to cross the road in order to reach the forest, so it's good that it was rescued."

Members of the public who see any wildlife in distress or in need of help can call Acres' 24-hour wildlife rescue team at 9783 7782.

View more photos in the gallery.