Singapore appears to be experiencing a rat problem according to reports this year. There have been several reports of increasing rat infestations, with pest control firms noting a 15 to 20 percent rise in cases earlier this year.
Rat sightings in Singapore
A recent incident at a Serangoon coffee shop this week involved a rat unexpectedly crawling into a man’s pants while he was eating. The incident took place on October 19 around 2pm at Block 3 Lorong Lew Lian. The man, identified as Mr. Liang, told reporters he was enjoying his meal when he felt something move inside his trousers. Alarmed, he jumped from his chair, shook his leg, and to his horror a rat fell out. He stepped on the rat’s tail and prevented it from escaping before it was disposed of. However, the coffee shop declared it conducts regular pest control measures.
Users took to social media and Reddit to express their concern about this particular rodent incident. And in true Singaporean fashion, where we love to find humour in life’s little problems, comments were made such as ”What in the Tom & Jerry buffoonery is this?! Please take your paws off my crotch.” and ”Ratatouille had a bit too much to drink.”
Meanwhile, rats have been sighted in areas like Bukit Batok Estate, Tampines, Chinatown, Toa Payoh, Gardens By The Bay, and a notable rodentsighting occurred at Tangs Market Food Court where the video below went viral of rat on a food tray last year.
Allegedly, the causes of these increased rat infestations in Singapore are improper waste management, a higher level of rainfall which can flood rat burrows, and warmer weather leading to increased hunger and breeding by rats.
What is being done to reduce the rat problem?
The National Environment Agency (NEA) and Singapore Food Agency (SFA) are activity working to decrease rat activities in Singapore. These efforts include community awareness initiatives, increased enforcement against poor waste management and advanced surveillance used to spot rat burrows early. As a result, the average number of rat burrows have reduced in public areas by around 50 percent compared to last year.
It’s important to be aware of initiatives to help reduce the rat problem in Singapore, because rats can cause diseases such as leptospirosis, which is a bacterial infection spread through rodent urine.
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