Massive Himatayan vulture spotted in S'pore near East Coast Parkway

[metanoia]

 

[metanoia]

Massive Himalayan vulture spotted in S'pore near East Coast Parkway​

A vulture surprise.



Khine Zin Htet

January 11, 2026, 05:09 PM​

The presence of Himalayan vultures in Singapore has caused a flutter of excitement in the past week.

While the vultures, a species usually found within the higher regions of the Himalayas, have been spotted mainly in the west of Singapore, one has now been sighted along the East Coast Parkway.

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In the east side​

Instagram user @daniellegan_ told Mothership her mother first spotted the large bird as they were driving past at around 2:20pm on Jan. 11.

"It was camouflaged almost like a pile of leaves from the back as it was sat very still. Then we realised it was a vulture and connected it to the news stories we had seen recently," she said.

Danielle added that the family was "in awe" at how large the bird was and decided to circle back for a second look.

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The family watched the bird for around five minutes and she managed to capture a video of it flying off.

The bird has a wingspan of between 2.5m and 3m.

"When we left it was still perched on the trees above the ECP highway. I’d say it’d had to be there for at least 15 to 30 minutes," she said.

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Danielle added that she was “very lucky” to have seen the vulture, noting that it appeared unperturbed despite passing vehicles and onlookers nearby.

Another Mothership reader also sent in photos of the vulture at the ECP.

Bird community sightings​

Bird photographer Dylan CK also spotted the vulture at Tanah Merah Coast Road on Jan. 10.

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He shared photos on Facebook group Bird Sightings, to the delight of others in the community.

President of Bird Society of Singapore, Dr Movin Nyanasengeran, told The Straits Times that the vultures’ appearance is part of their post-breeding dispersal period.

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This is when juvenile birds become independent and leave their parents’ territory.

“Young birds tend to wander more than adults, and these vultures were probably lost during their dispersal,” he said.

He added that the birds are usually sighted in Singapore every two to three years around the start of the year.

Top photo courtesy of @daniellegan_/Instagram

 

[winners]

KNN, it's so heavy, just like an AIRBUS A380 taking off.

 

[GOD IS MY DOG]

no surer sign from heaven.....................Woody Goh's time on earth is almost up.................

 

[glockman]

What a big and majestic bird! Would make a great pet.