Featured image adapted from Toh Jun De on Facebook.
A university student finally found an elusive spiny terrapin after three long years of searching through nature reserves in Singapore.
He eventually caught sight of his ‘target’ when his father happened to spot an odd shape at the base of a tree.
25-year-old university student Toh Jun De had always been interested in documenting animals he finds in Singapore.
He told MS News that nothing beats seeing an animal in person. Additionally, the “adventure” aspect of the hobby made for a fun way to de-stress from daily life.
One particular animal that Mr Toh had been trying to catch a glimpse of is the endangered spiny hill terrapin.
Source: Toh Jun De on Facebook
These terrapins are named after their distinct serrated shell edges as juveniles. The jagged serrations decrease in size as they age.
Unfortunately, they have proven to be highly elusive.
“I have been searching for this terrapin on and off for three years since I first started this hobby,” Mr Toh said to MS News.
Over the years, Mr Toh wandered through the Central Catchment Nature Reserve and Bukit Timah Nature Reserve countless times, yet with no sign of the animal.
He told MS News that spiny hill terrapins are solitary by nature and only get together to mate, making them difficult to find.
Source: Toh Jun De on Facebook
Their shells camouflage well into the leaf litter on the forest floor where they live. Furthermore, Mr Toh said they are highly mobile and fairly quiet when moving.
However, his luck finally took a positive turn on 8 Aug.
Mr Toh was walking along a boardwalk in the Central Catchment Nature Reserve with his father, who acts as a spotter.
His father suddenly noticed an “odd-looking dome-shaped object” near the base of a tree.
Mr Toh used his telephoto lens to take a closer look and was surprised to find out it was the spiny hill terrapin.
Source: Toh Jun De on Facebook
He moved to the closest point on the boardwalk, about one metre from the terrapin, and snapped a couple of photos.
I was in awe as I cannot believe that I managed to find it after so long.
He posted the photos to the Singapore Wildlife Sightings Facebook group on 9 Aug, where they received over 775 likes at press time.
Wildlife enthusiasts congratulated him on finally completing his search.
Source: Facebook
Despite finding the spiny hill terrapin, Mr Toh’s work isn’t done yet.
He is still searching for other elusive animals like the pangolin, leopard cat, Malayan porcupine, and several kinds of snakes.
Source: Jamie Allott on Facebook
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Featured image adapted from Toh Jun De on Facebook.