{
  "id": 4286892,
  "title": "More mosquitoes, less birdsong: Increasingly extreme El Ninos may favour pests while other animals swelter",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/29/more-mosquitoes-less-birdsong-increasingly-extreme-el-ninos-may",
  "topic": "science",
  "section": "Science",
  "published": "2026-08-29T22:00:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "CNA - Singapore",
    "slug": "cna-singapore",
    "url": "https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/el-nino-mosquito-bird-pest-wildlife-6330001"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "An increasingly extreme El Nino could favour pests such as mosquitoes, cockroaches and pigeons while posing challenges for native birds and animals, a new study suggests. Many wildlife species rely on natural food sources, and hotter, drier weather can disrupt their life cycles and make it harder for them to find food, experts warn.\n\nMosquitoes already thrive in Singapore's tropical climate and dense urban environment, and hotter weather can accelerate their life cycles and virus multiplication, according to the National Environment Agency (NEA). The agency predicts hotter and drier weather for Singapore from June to October, which overlaps with the traditional peak dengue season from May to October.\n\nOther animals, including cockroaches and human commensal birds like mynas and pigeons, are more likely to benefit from the extreme conditions, as they can utilise human infrastructure to survive. However, native animals like boars, macaques and the critically endangered Raffles' Banded Langur may face stress due to prolonged heat and reduced rainfall.\n\nExperts warn that consistently hot temperatures could negatively impact the reproductive success of many bird species, resulting in failed broods and increased mortality. For insects, hotter conditions may reduce numbers and types, as they retreat to cooler, sheltered areas or become nocturnal. Soil-dwelling insects may burrow deeper, making them harder to find for insect-eating species like the critically endangered Sunda Pangolin.",
  "summary": "More frequent and extreme El Nino events could push Singapore’s wildlife to the limit, while sparing human-adapted animals like mosquitoes, crows and pigeons.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Channel News Asia",
        "title": "More mosquitoes, less birdsong: Increasingly extreme El Ninos may favour pests while other animals swelter",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/29/more-mosquitoes-less-birdsong-increasingly-extreme-el-ninos-may-4292076",
        "published": "2026-08-29T22:00:00.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}