One of the highlights of National Day Parade is the free fall displays by the Red Lions (SAF Parachute Team) who leap off a helicopter and parachute safely onto the parade ground! In the forests of Singapore, there is a nocturnal mammal (though occasionally seen in the day) that can also do the same thing! It uses a membrane that is joined from its limbs to tail to glide and navigate from tree to tree!
This large-eyed mammal is a Malayan Colugo (Cynocephalus variegatus), also commonly known as a flying lemur. They are common in Singapore, with its population size estimated to be 1500 in our forests. Colugos are arboreal, often photographed “hugging” trees and eat young shoots, flower buds and leaves! Don’t be surprised to see two pairs of eyes looking at you, you can sometimes spot a female colugo with its young peeking out. The young colugo clings tightly onto the mother’s membrane even whilst gliding!
a snapshot of nature 