Police investigating after picture of crocodile sighting at Pandan Reservoir found to be fake
Dilenjit Singh
The Straits Times
Aug 21, 2026
Police investigations are ongoing after a photograph of a supposed crocodile sighting at Pandan Reservoir on Aug 20 was found to be fake.
National water agency PUB had filed a police report after verifying the picture was unauthentic, it said in a Facebook post on the night of Aug 21.
“PUB takes a serious view of false information that may cause public alarm and disrupt activities. We have ceased search operations and made a police report,” it said.
It added that water activities at the reservoir, which were suspended on Aug 20, can resume from Aug 22.
The police have confirmed a report was lodged and that investigations are ongoing.
PUB had said on Aug 20 that it was alerted to the alleged sighting at about 3pm that day and then informed the National Parks Board (NParks).
PUB also told the Singapore Rowing Association (SRA) and Singapore Canoe Federation (SCF), which conduct water activities at the reservoir, to suspend all activities.
Activities conducted by SRA and SCF at the reservoir include kayaking, canoeing, canoe polo, dragon boating and rowing, according to PUB’s website.
PUB and NParks had also said on Aug 20 that they were conducting search and capture operations in the area, and that signs were being installed around the reservoir to alert the public about the crocodile sighting.
The national water agency had said then that based on the photo, the animal was likely to be an estuarine crocodile, a species known to inhabit both the Strait of Johor and the Singapore Strait.
There have been a series of crocodile sightings in 2026.
On May 6, a crocodile was seen in the waters off Sentosa Cove, prompting the suspension of water activities at Siloso, Palawan and Tanjong beaches. NParks and the Sentosa Development Corporation had conducted a search for the reptile then.
Earlier on April 30, NParks advised the public to be careful near the water’s edge in the Keppel Bay area after a crocodile was spotted a day before.
Explore more on these topics
See something interesting? Contribute your story to us.
