The Herpetological Society of Singapore is a group of herpetology enthusiasts based in Singapore. We are a group of like-minded individuals who are enthusiastic about the study and conservation of reptiles and amphibians.
Herpetological Society of Singapore was officially approved and registered as a Society on 14 February 2020.
Left: Green Crested Lizard (Bronchocela cristatella)
by Law Ing Sind
Mission
To enhance the appreciation and respect of the Singaporean public towards the biodiversity, particularly reptiles and amphibians, of Singapore.
Vision
We strive to be a world-class herpetological society that champions ethics, rigour and outreach.
Our Principles
Ethics
We do not believe in harming any type of animals (or humans for that matter). Our first priority will always be the safety of the animal and of the people around it. It is important to ensure that our interactions with these animals minimize our impact on them. As such, we stick to some guidelines, to ensure the herps we encounter are treated with the respect they deserve.
Rigour
In these fast-paced times, scientific discoveries are happening every day. It is important for a science-based group like ours to be up-to-date with all these developments. We aim to be rigorous in our research and accurate in our communications. We will also provide citation of primary sources wherever necessary and possible. If there is something we have said that you believe might be inaccurate, send us an email at herpsocsg@gmail.com!
Outreach
We are not an exclusive group. Anyone can appreciate reptiles and amphibians. That is why outreach is a big part of who we are. We want to make the natural world accessible to the public in a safe manner. We engage in outreach efforts, both online and offline. In addition, we also hope to empower fellow herp-lovers to share their love and experiences with the world!
We highly encourage fellow enthusiasts to express themselves and to speak up about issues they feel strongly about. If you want to contribute to the blog, please do write in to us at herpsocsg@gmail.com!
Ethics in Herping
Herpetology is the study of reptiles and amphibians. The act of looking for these reptiles and amphibians is called ‘herping’. In the process of searching for these creatures, a photographer or an enthusiast may face several moral and ethical dilemmas. Before undertaking nature photography, one must understand the importance of conserving and protecting the welfare of the animals that are being photographed and that no harm comes to them.
Herpetological Society of Singapore 
Good morning! Im really interested in finding a good location to film draco lizards. Is there any one studying them or who knows of a place where they can be found reliably please? thank you!
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Good morning! That’s great! We have replied to your queries via email! Do keep in touch. 🙂
-Team HSS
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Dear Sir/Madam,
My name is Ash Bahadur Limbu and I am an undergraduate student and herpetologist-in-training at the Royal University of Bhutan – Sherubtse College. I am planning a research project that will improve our understanding of the breeding ecology of Amolops himalayanus and this will be the first species recorded in Bhutan. According to IUCN Red list, this species is not yet evaluated. To raise funds for my project, I have launched a crowdfunding campaign on Instrumentl to pull in small grants from individuals interested in amphibian conservation and the discovery of new species in a time where amphibians are declining at an unprecedented rate. I would be so appreciative if you can help my cause by sharing my campaign with your network and/or making even a small donation. Every bit counts!
There are only two working herpetologists in the country of Bhutan, so research on our local amphibians is scarce. To my knowledge, only 58 species of amphibians have been described in my country, however Bhutan is the world’s ten biodiversity “hotspots. So my dream is to build my career as a herpetologist and describe all the remaining amphibian species before they disappear!
For my current project, I am looking to raise $2,115 US to purchase the equipment I need to conduct field surveys of A. himalayanus breeding sites with 5 other undergraduate students over the next year. I hope to collect the data necessary to better understand the breeding ecology of this species and advise its conservation.
As an organization interested in conservation and herpetology, you can understand the challenges that come with finding funding for this kind of research, especially in a small country like Bhutan. I appreciate any help you can offer! If you have any questions, do not hesitate to contact me at ashlimbu82@gmail.com.
Sincerely,
Ash
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