exploringsingapore is exclusive ExplorerSG mini series where we reveal some of the lesser-known places, facts and history of Singapore.
Located deep within Bukit Timah Nature Reserve is the alleged nesting ground of Bukit Timah Monkey Man, a 2-metre tall ape-like cryptid.
The Monkey Man was first reported in 1805 when a Malay elder claimed to have seen a tall, hairy, bipedal creature in the forests of Bukit Timah. Similar sightings were also reported by the Allied troops and Japanese soldiers during the Colonial days and the Japanese Occupation.
More recent claims by hikers include hearing loud shrieks and smelling a strong urine smell while hiking through the forest reserve. A user in one of Singapore’s forum reported driving along Bukit Timah Road and seeing a 2-metre tall creature rummaging through a rubbish bin.
The latest and only recorded sighting came in 2012 when a video was uploaded to YouTube, claiming that a domestic helper had found the Monkey Man while jogging at Bukit Timah.
However, considering that the Bukit Timah Nature Reserve is only 1.6 square km large, it is likely that the Bukit Timah Monkey Man is nothing more than an ancient legend to deter children from wandering around at night.
