Swamp Forest, Lower Peirce and Kranji Reservoirs, and the Western Catchment Area; and the forested areas along Old Choa Chu Kang Road.

At Lower Peirce Reservoir, a group of up to 15 wild boar has been sighted repeatedly.

In the Jurong area, sightings have become so common that at least two 'Caution! Animals Crossing' signs have been put up at the Jalan Bahar side entrance of the Nanyang Technological University.

In 2009, a sub-contractor fell into a camouflaged 3m-deep pit while looking for herbs and durians in Lim Chu Kang. The impact shattered a bone in his left foot.

A few weeks after that, a dog was rescued by animal welfare group Action for Singapore Dogs in the same area with its hind paw severed.

The Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority of Singapore (AVA)difficult.

"To overcome these problems, we will study its population in two forests reserves -- Tabin Wildlife Reserve and Malua Forest Reserve -- using satellite telemetry, camera traps and genetic analyses," said DGFC director Dr Benoit Goossens.

It will also collaborate with several partners such as the Sabah Forestry Department, New Forests Asia Sdn Bhd and the Malua Biobank Project, Cardiff University, and the Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research.

Cardiff University doctorate student Penny Gardner, who is attached to DGFC, said they had started setting up camera traps in Malua and Tabin.

"In Malua, we have collected some pictures of healthy adult males and females, as well as juveniles," she said.

GEORGE TOWN: Syndicates are trying to cash in on an increase in the price of pangolins in the black market