Image of Singapore animal crossing falsely shared as 'wildlife bridge in the Netherlands'

Published on January 20, 2025 at 09:23
3 min read
By AFP France
Translation and adaptation Najmi Mamat , Liesa PAUWELS , AFP Malaysia , AFP Netherlands

Malaysian Facebook users have falsely claimed an aerial photo shows one of over 600 bridges and natural paths built in the Netherlands to help animals cross roads safely. The photo in fact shows a wildlife bridge in Singapore that lets animals cross over a highway between two natural reserves. Dutch authorities told AFP the country has 46 such "ecoducts".

"In the Netherlands, over 600 bridges and natural paths have been built to help animals cross the road safely. This initiative demonstrates the country's commitment to protecting wildlife and reducing accidents as a result of roads that pass through animal habitats," read part of a Malay-language Facebook post on January 3, 2025.

The post included an aerial image of a vegetation-covered bridge connecting patches of forest separated by a highway.

Screenshot of the false Facebook post, captured on January 15, 2025

The claim was shared elsewhere on Facebook here, here and here.

AFP previously debunked a similar claim that has circulated in French since 2021.

Wildlife crossings are part of a Dutch government effort to combat ecosystem fragmentation caused by infrastructure like highways and railways that create obstacles for animals moving across a habitat (archived link).

According to an article published by the Ministry of Waterways in May 2023, the Netherlands has about 80 such crossings (archived link).

The country has 46 ecoducts -- wildlife bridges similar to the one in the circulating photo -- a spokesperson for the Dutch Directorate General for Public Works and Water Management told AFP on January 15, 2025.

The photo, however, was not taken in the Netherlands.

Singapore animal crossing

A reverse image search on Google led to a similar photo published on the website of Singapore's National Parks Board, on a page about an ecological bridge that straddles the Bukit Timah Expressway (archived link).

"The Eco-Link@BKE is an ecological bridge sitting over the Bukit Timah Expressway (BKE). It lets animals cross safely between the Bukit Timah Nature Reserve and Central Catchment Nature Reserve, allowing wildlife to expand their habitat and genetic pool and increase their survival chances," read the description on the website.

"The two nature reserves used to be connected before the BKE was built in 1986," it added.

Below is a screenshot comparison of the image used in the false post (left) and the National Parks Board photo (right):

Screenshot comparison of the image used in the false post (left) and the National Parks Board photo (right)

The wildlife crossing can also be seen on Google Maps (archived link).

Screenshot of the satellite view of the Singapore's Eco-Link@BKE

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