El Nino threat leaves native wildlife struggling while pests thrive in Singapore

SINGAPORE, 30 AUGUST 2026 —

Singapore’s current El Nino, forecast to bring hotter and drier weather from June to October, is set to hurt native birds, primates and endangered species while helping mosquitoes, pigeons and cockroaches, experts say.

Human-adapted species will fare better. Ornithologist Dr Movin Nyanasengeran at the National University of Singapore (NUS) said birds such as rock pigeons, house crows and Javan mynas stay close to hawker centres and food waste, insulated from weather swings. “They are the ones making a living in open tray return areas,” Dr Movin said. Cockroaches—especially the American and German varieties—are “super adaptable,” said Associate Professor Eleanor Slade of the Asian School of the Environment.

“Anything can happen, and they’ll still be there.”

Native wildlife will feel the heat. NParks wildlife director How Choon Beng warned prolonged dry spells stress boars, macaques and the critically endangered Raffles’ Banded Langur. Associate Professor Frank Rheindt of NUS’s Department of Biological Sciences said consistent heat waves above normal temperatures cut bird reproductive success by raising mortality and causing failed broods.

Insects face similar pressure. Slade said hotter conditions shrink butterfly numbers and force them into cooler forest areas or nighttime activity. Caterpillars eat less, grow smaller and breed less successfully. Soil insects burrow deeper as ground heat and drought make them harder for insect-eating species such as the Sunda Pangolin to find. “If insect populations crash, this has knock-on effects for birds, bats and other mammals that feed on them,” Slade said.

“Breeding success is very related to food availability.”

The damage may show up slowly. “We really can’t tell until we have a few El Ninos, and we start seeing birds take hits,” Dr Movin said. Animals without human food buffers are most vulnerable when El Nino disrupts natural cycles.

Regional pest-control firms may benefit. The NEA’s hotter, drier outlook overlaps the May-October dengue peak, likely lifting demand for insecticide spraying and public education. Singapore’s pest-control sector could see higher sales, while the government may increase public health spending.

Neighbouring countries with tropical climates and dense cities could see similar shifts. Malaysia’s pest-control industry, already substantial, may face higher demand as El Nino episodes intensify. Regional public health agencies could see heavier dengue loads, prompting cross-border vector control and disease monitoring.

For Malaysian investors and policymakers, the takeaway is clear: climate-driven swings in pest dynamics and wildlife health carry economic consequences. Firms in pest control, public health and environmental services may grow, while conservation and tourism-linked businesses could face headwinds.

Related: Singapore