When the sun sets over Singapore and the streets begin to quiet, photographer Tan Yong Lin grabs his camera and heads out into the dark. He isn’t searching for city lights or skyline shots — he’s looking for something much rarer.
His favorite subject isn’t easy to find. Hidden in the shadows, with fur like smoke and eyes that gleam like lanterns, the common palm civet rules the night.
As Lin walks through quiet neighborhoods, he scans the trees and rooftops, hoping to catch a flash of movement — or, if he’s lucky, a pair of wide, curious eyes staring back at him.
Finally, he spots one. A civet scurries gracefully between houses, pausing just long enough for Lin to lift his camera.
“The civets are largely nocturnal, and I do not use any artificial lights to photograph them,” Lin told The Dodo. “I rely on the ambient light of the housing estates for my photos.”
Under the soft glow of porch lights, the civet glances toward him — a fleeting, magical moment — before disappearing into the darkness again.
Many Singaporeans have never seen a civet in person. One commenter on Lin’s Facebook page, Hei Mao Mao, expressed disbelief after seeing his photos:
“I’ve lived in Singapore for 50 years and never seen one.”
For Lin, though, these elusive creatures have become a familiar — and deeply treasured — presence.
“Prowling in the shadows, our urban common palm civets use the cover of nightfall to hunt and search for food, both on the trees and on the ground,” Lin wrote on Facebook. “Making use of fences and railings, they navigate our sleeping city with ease. And with the abundance of tall trees, they can quickly take refuge whenever they feel threatened.”
Even after years of photographing wildlife, Lin never tires of his nighttime encounters with these mysterious animals. To him, they embody the quiet, unseen magic that still exists in the heart of the city.
“These civets can be extremely shy,” Lin said. “So I keep my movements minimal and give them space by keeping a distance.”
Through patience and respect, Lin has earned a glimpse into a world few ever see — a world where, long after the city falls asleep, the civet still reigns beneath the moonlight.
You can see more of Tan Yong Lin’s stunning photography on his Facebook and Instagram pages.
