Singapore’s tiny wildlife detectives: Dung beetles could give scientists the scoop on Singapore’s forest wildlife by helping uncover elusive species that conventional surveys struggle to detect. Led by Assoc Prof Eleanor Slade from the Asian School of the Environment (@ntu_ase) and research fellow Ong Xin Rui, #NTUsg researchers analysed DNA preserved in the guts of dung beetles collected from Singapore’s Central Catchment Nature Reserve and detected 18 vertebrate species, including the elusive Sunda pangolin, Sunda slow loris and sambar deer. The method could complement camera traps by revealing animals that may otherwise go undetected, while also helping researchers understand ecological relationships and assess the resilience of tropical forest ecosystems. The team is now exploring a less invasive approach that entails swabbing beetles for traces of wildlife DNA before releasing them back into the forest. Read more: ntu.sg/DungBeetles-DNA #NTUsgResearch #NTUsgSustainability