What a shame: Jurong forest treated as dumping ground

STOMPer Robin Hood feels disappointed that this forested area in Jurong is so ill-maintained and polluted. He says:

"These pictures were taken at the forested area near Jurong Road, opposite Jurong Canal Drive.

"Some lorries come in the night to unload their garbage along this godforsaken road.

"You can see old ropes, cupboards, pails and even durian husks.

"Some lorries unload their building debris, concrete pillars, wooden boards and plastic bags.

"Even an old tyre was left behind and this has collected water and soon the mosquitoes will breed in abundance.

"There are no kerbs and many lorries and buses usually park on the side of the road resulting in the destruction of the turf.

"You can see deep tyre marks and on rainy days the tracks usually collect stagnant water.

"This is also a source of mosquito breeding.

"I hope NEA officials and the traffic police will visit this area more often to nab the culprits who have chosen to pollute the environment and cause damage to our roads."

Read more!

Ex-squatter settlement now a forest with rare cacao trees

This forest, located in Jurong, used to be a bustling area occupied by squatters. Today, it has become a nature trek, says STOMPer Nature Lover, who spotted a cacoa tree there.

The cacao tree bears cacao beans that are used to make chocolate.

In an email, STOMPer Nature Lover says:

"These pictures were taken at the forest near Track 22, Jurong Road.

"This area was once inhabited by squatters who are now settled in the HDB estates at Jurong East and Jurong West.

"As I was walking through the forest I saw this old clock on a tree trunk and this was probably left behind by the previous squatters.

"I also saw a yellow-brown insect that lives in the secondary forest.

"There was also a cacao tree (Theobroma cacao) which grows to a height of 8 metres. Its seeds are used to make cocoa and chocolate.

"Cacao flowers are pollinated by tiny flies. The fruit is ovoid, ripening to yellow and weighs about 500 g.

"The pod contains many seeds, usually called beans, embedded in a white pulp. Each seed contains fat and theobromine, a compound similar to caffeine."

Read more!

Monday Morgue: 13th July 2009

Olive snail (F. Olividae)
Tanah Merah, 8th February 2009

Wild Fact Sheets Read more!

What a strange-looking tree!

A STOMPer noticed this tree with branches lying at a strange angle and would like to share with the rest why that is so.

STOMPer Arborist says:

"These pictures were taken at the East Coast Park.

"This tree called the Sea Hibiscus (Hibiscus tiliaceus) has branches that are very long and the stem gets tired after some time.

"So the stem has to take a rest and then re-grow at an angle, and so you see only an angled branch of a tree.

"The tree bears flowers with yellow petals which in the afternoon fade to a dull orange colour with a maroon eye.

"The capsules are spherical topped by the persistent sepals.

"This tree is found in beaches and mangrove swamps."

Similar stories:
Check out this Leaning Tree of Singapore
Branch hanging on for dear life

"The stem gets tired after some time"? Seriously?!

I'm no self-proclaimed arborist, but I strongly doubt the accuracy of his statements.

Besides, he fails to account for all the other normal-looking sea hibiscus (Talipariti tiliaceum) that can be seen growing in coastal areas all over Singapore.

I think it's far more likely that in this case, the original trunk had been broken off before, close to the ground, and that the 2 branches subsequently sprouted from the stump that remained. It might not be correct, but I think it's far more reasonable and plausible than some incredibly ridiculous nonsense about the trunk needing to rest after getting tired from having to support such long branches. Read more!

TC: Overgrown hedges at Hougang that attract insects have been trimmed

Aljunied Town Council says they have sent horticulturists to trim the overgrown hedges at Hougang.

In an earlier post dated July 4, STOMPer Mouse wrote in saying that the overgrown hedges at Hougang Ave 6 besides the Punggol Community Centre attract bees and hornets, and is dangerous to pedestrians.

In an email to STOMP today (Jul 9), a spokesperson from Aljunied Town Council says:

"We refer to the story 'Overgrown hedges at Hougang attract hornets and bees' posted on STOMP dated July 4 2009.

"We'd like to thank STOMPer for the feedback on the overgrown hedges beside Punggol Community Club.

"We are pleased to inform that the Aljunied Town Council's horticulturists have since trimmed the hedges and completed all landscaping works.

"Picture above shows the trimmed hedges.

"Residents may also contact the Town Council at 6744 1033 if they have any other feedback or suggestions."

Related article:
Overgrown hedges at Hougang attract hornets and bees

Before hedges were trimmed

Related post: Overgrown hedges at Hougang attract hornets and bees (5th July 2009) Read more!

Litter and pollution at East Coast ruins leisurely swim

While at East Coast Park for a relaxing swim, STOMPer Swimmer was appalled by the dirt and pollution op the beach and in the air.

Not only was the shore covered in litter left behind by visitors, the air was also polluted by nearby ships.

In an email, STOMPer Swimmer says:

"These pictures were taken at East Coast Park last week.

"When I visited the beach, I was shocked to see the filth left behind at low tide.

"The beach was strewn with bottles, plastic bags, cigarette boxes and also flotsam and jetsam washed ashore by the tide.

"I was also able to see the black smoke being emitted for hours from the funnels of the ships anchored not far from the shore.

"This caused serious air pollution and might affect the health of those residents in the HDB estates as they are exposed to such polluted air throughout the day.

"I hope NParks can keep this beach clean for swimmers and picnickers and NEA can punish those ships which foul up our clean air and dirty our shores."

Read more!

Music not only entertains but helps attract fish to line too

A STOMPer visited Bedok Jetty last week and learnt from an angler that music attracts fish to the bait.

Fisherman told STOMP today (Jul 9):

"These pictures were taken at the Bedok Jetty near the East Coast Park.

"Everyday hordes of anglers make their way to this jetty to enjoy the thrill of fishing from a pier.

"They come on foot, bicycles or motorbikes.

"The squid that was caught and kept in a polystyrene box.

"Last week I visited Bedok Jetty and found that anglers come here everyday of the week.

"They came with their fishing gear, hooks, baits and even stools and canvas to keep out the sun.

"One angler told me he was there for two days and he had a good catch including eels, crabs, squids and some ikan chermin.

"He liked the jetty as it is close to the public toilets and food centre.

"He also brought along his radio and DVD player as he believes that music somehow attracts fish to his line and he was glad he had a good catch for two days."

I see a trumpeter perch ( Pelates quadrilineatus), flower crab (Portunus pelagicus), and what is probably a blue-spined swimming crab (Thalamita prymna) in the first photo.

That's not a squid in the fourth picture, but an octopus.

Ikan chermin is a local name for Indian threadfin (Alectis indicus), a pelagic predator of coastal waters.


Indian threadfin, Bedok Jetty;
(Photo by lkc_stib)

The eel is probably a brown-spotted moray eel (Gymnothorax reevesii).

Oh, and I'm not too sure if fish are really attracted by music, although I won't be surprised if they might be drawn by the vibrations that are transmitted to the water. The underwater realm is far from silent, and a great deal of marine species use sound to communicate. Read more!

Free fruits in Bukit Timah Nature Reserve

A STOMPer was in Bukit Timah Nature Reserve when he realized that people has been plucking fruits off the trees in the forest. Through these pictures he told a story of the forest and its free fruits.

Arborist told STOMP via email today (Jul 7):

"These pictures were taken at Rifle Range Road near the forest at Bukit Timah Nature Reserve.

"A motor-cyclist came early in the morning to pick rambutans and durians growing on state land.

"Anyway these are free as there is no notice put up to tell visitors that picking of fruits is prohibited.

"The problem is that when the fruit hunters left, they left behind broken branches from the denuded rambutan tree.

"Many rambutan trees became bare after the raid by these fruit hunters and they left behind the broken branches as evidence of their trespass.

"At times three or four foreign workers would climb up a tall rambutan tree and the stem became slanted as the tree could not take the combined weight of the fruit hunters.

"The more religious workers brought along items for praying as they kept a vigil for the durians.

"They brought newspapers, eggs, oranges and pineapples to pray to the spirits of the forest so that they would not be harassed by the spirits and also to appease them.

"However, when the workers left, the monkeys came down from the trees to enjoy the free eggs on the forest floor.

"Soon the squirrels would come to feast on the free pineapples provided by the human visitors."

Related posts: All night vigil for free durians at Jln Kampong Chantek (6th July 2009)
Durian paradise uncovered in Lim Chu Kang (6th July 2009)
Psst! Here's the secret of where to get durians in S'pore -- FREE (3rd July 2009)
Wild buah langsat at Jalan Murai a treat for foreign workers (28th June 2009) Read more!

Singapore Zoo welcomes baby pygmy hippo!

Meet Divo, the latest addition to the pygmy hippo family at Singapore Zoo.

A spokesperson from Singapore Zoo says:

"Say 'hello' to the Singapore Zoo's underwater ballerina!

"Latest addition to the pygmy hippo family at Singapore Zoo - a male baby named Divo born on 4 June 2009 seen in picture with mom, Minah. Weighing 6.2 kg at birth, Divo is the eighth successful birth for proud parents Mina and Babu.

"Found mostly along coastal and riverine systems within a small area of West Africa, pygmy hippo cannot swim as its body is too dense to float, instead it tiptoes along riverbeds gracefully, earning the title of "underwater ballerina of West Africa."

The pygmy hippopotamus (Hexaprotodon liberiensis) is currently endangered, so it's good news that the Singapore Zoo is doing its part to sustain the captive population. I was at the zoo recently, but I think I just missed the appearance of the baby, since I only saw 1 adult, while a family of visitors who had been there when I arrived were still talking about the baby and mother that had presumably just gone into the den to seek some privacy.

I'm particularly fond of this exhibit, as it features an underwater viewing gallery, where visitors can get an excellent view of the hippos as they gambol and frolic about in the water, accompanied by schools of African cichlids.


Pygmy hippo underwater, Singapore Zoo;
(Photo by mariellewagner)

The pygmy hippopotamus is a native of rivers and swamps of west Africa, in the dense rainforests of Liberia, Sierra Leone, Guinea, and Ivory Coast. A second population, thought to represent a second subspecies, was documented to live in the Niger River Delta, but most likely became extinct by the middle of the 20th century. The primary threats to its survival are habitat destruction, poaching for the bushmeat trade, and armed conflict. Less than 3,000 pygmy hippos are thought to remain in the wild, and the discovery that there were some still living in Sapo National Park in Liberia was a good sign that the hippos have managed to survive despite 2 civil wars, illegal logging, and poaching.


Pygmy hippo in the wild, Liberia;
(Photo from the EDGE blog)

Compared to the hippopotamus (Hippopotamus amphibius), the only other extant member of the Hippopotamidae, the pygmy hippo is tiny, less than half the size of its larger cousin, and weighing only about a quarter as much.


Life-size cutouts comparing size of hippopotamus and pygmy hippopotamus, Singapore Zoo;
(Photo by pink_emmie_bat)


Graphic comparing weights of hippopotamus and pygmy hippopotamus, Singapore Zoo;
(Photo by iamgist)

Both species of hippo spend a lot of time in the water, but emerge at night to graze on land. The pygmy hippo is somewhat more terrestrial than the hippopotamus, and is largely solitary.


Pygmy hippo, Singapore Zoo;
(Photo by Amsk)

The hippopotamus (also known as the Nile hippo to avoid confusion with the pygmy hippo) has a wide distribution across much of sub-Saharan Africa; historically, it ranged all the way up to the mouth of the Nile, and during warmer periods of the Pleistocene, also inhabited north Africa and even parts of Europe. However, its range is now very much reduced due to hunting and loss of suitable habitat; hippos and humans don't get along very well. The stronghold for this species is in the network of parks and reserves found in east and southern Africa, where large herds can still be found in rivers and lakes.


Hippopotamus, Kenya;
(Photo by Rob Inh00d)


Hippopotamus herd, Tanzania;
(Photo by elosoenpersona)

It has to be emphasised that despite their comical appearance, hippos are certainly no laughing matter. Those tusks, which are used to resolve disputes between these massive ill-tempered herbivores, can do very serious damage. Territorial bulls and mothers with young calves are especially dangerous, especially to hapless people in flimsy little boats. This, combined with an irritable disposition and a willingness to charge at anything perceived to be a threat, makes the hippopotamus one of Africa's deadliest animals.


Hippopotamus fighting, Kenya;
(Photo by Jayanand)


Hippopotamus yawning, Tanzania;
(Photo by Alejandro Tawil)


Hippopotamus, Kenya;
(Photo by Edgar Thissen)

Several other species of hippopotamus are known to have lived during the Pleistocene and early Holocene; these included 4 species of hippo on several islands of the Mediterranean, as well as 3 species on Madagascar. These island species appear to have become dwarves as a result of insular dwarfism. It is likely that humans encountered many of these species, although it is unknown whether hunting contributed to the eventual extinction of these island forms.


Pygmy hippo, Singapore Zoo;
(Photo by Peter Garnhum)

More information about the pygmy hippo is available here at the EDGE of Existence site, with blog updates about measures to learn more about the pygmy hippo in the wild. Read more!

Tropical fruits galore at Bukit Timah Nature Reserve's mountain biking trail

STOMPer mountain biker was astounded by the array of tropical fruits he saw along the mountain biking trail at Bukit Timah Nature Reserve.

This STOMPer says:

"These pictures were taken at the mountain biking trail at the Bt Timah Nature Reserve.

"While cycling along this jungle trail I stopped several times to look at the fruit trees along the way and snapped these pictures.

"This half-eaten cempedak (Artocarpus champedan) was found on the forest floor. This fruit is native to Malaysia and Thailand.

"The tree grows up to 20m and the fruits are seasonal and barrel-shaped. It is smaller than the jackfruit and when cut, the fruit secretes a sticky latex.

"The outer rind consists of fleshy spines and in each fruit are about 30 seeds which are surrounded with yellow edible flesh.

"The langsat is a small fruit which is green, slowly ripening to a light brown colour. Inside the langsat are 5 segments of juicy white flesh, the flavour being a combination of citrus and sweet. The bark of the tree is used to treat dysentery and scorpion stings.

"The coconut tree grows to a height of 30 m and when ripe the fruit drops to the ground. The unripe fruit is full of sweet water which makes a refreshing drink.

"The rambutans (Nephelium lappaceum) are green slowly turning red when ripe. Rambutans are rich in vitamin C.

"The durian is a popular fruit in Singapore. The animals in the jungle have a constant supply of fruits throughout the year."

Related posts: Durian Loop better than Botanic Gardens (14th April 2009)
Fruit trees galore at Lim Chu Kang cemetery (7th April 2009) Read more!

All night vigil for free durians at Jln Kampong Chantek

Foreign workers keep an all night vigil at Jalan Kampong Chantek in order to get free durians, says STOMPer curiousman.

This STOMPer says:

"These pictures were taken at the Durian Loop, off Jln Kampong Chantek.

"June and July is the season when durians ripen and fall.

"Last week as I was trudging through the Durian Loop, I came across some foreign workers who were leaving the forest laden with bags of durians picked from the jungle.

"They had kept a constant vigil by the side of the durian trees during the night and they were amply rewarded with a bountiful harvest of the spiky fruit.

"They came equipped with the necessary gear to stay awake throughout the night. They lit joss sticks and candles to keep the mosquitoes away while they were waiting for the durians to fall.

"To protect themselves from the ferocious mosquitoes they sprayed themselves with insecticide and the can was discarded after use.

"They came laden with newspapers, cigarettes, food, drinks and bottles of beer as they were there waiting for many hours.

"The reward came in the early morning when they harvested the durians which were free."

Related articles: All for the love of Durian (29th June 2009) (Mirror)
Durian warning and happy pickings at park (2nd May 2009) (Mirror)
Free durians for the picking (20th July 2008) (Mirror)

Related posts: Psst! Here's the secret of where to get durians in S'pore -- FREE (3rd July 2009)
Blue net at Pulau Ubin can save your life (4th June 2009)
Durian Loop better than Botanic Gardens (14th April 2009)
Durian trees grow in Lim Chu Kang cemetery (8th April 2009)

I don't mind people entering our forested areas in search of durian and other fruits, but I do wish they would be more responsible and conscientious and not spoil the place with their garbage. Read more!

Squirrels jump from tree to tree at Bukit Timah Nature Reserve

STOMPer Jungle Man would like to share these pictures he took of the interesting wildlife at Bukit Timah Nature Reserve with fellow STOMPers.

In an email to STOMP today (Jul 6), the STOMPer says:

"These pictures were taken at the Rifle Range Trail of the Bukit Timah Nature Reserve.

"The squirrel is a small furry animal that jumps from tree to tree. Last Sunday I saw this squirrel clambering up a rambutan tree and a durian tree.

"It plucked a rambutan and then sat down on a branch with its hind paws grappling the branch.

"With the front paws holding the fruit, it bites into the skin and eats the juicy pulp effortlessly.

"In another picture, you’ll see a half-eaten durian lying on the forest floor. This provided a good meal for the ants.

"Some ripened rambutans dropped onto the forest floor after a shower of rain.

"In another picture is an insect with a black body. Its crimson wings have two saw-tooth antennae.

"The last picture shows a white and brown bracket fungus growing well on dead tree trunks."

The squirrel in the photo is the plantain squirrel (Callosciurus notatus), which is the species most likely to be encountered here in Singapore. It's widespread and common, even in urban housing estates. The stripes on the flanks and the reddish belly distinguish it from all the other squirrel species in Singapore.


Plantain squirrel, Singapore Botanic Gardens;
(Photo by mjmyap)

Another squirrel species that is quite commonly encountered is the little slender squirrel (Sundasciurus tenuis), around half the size of the plantain squirrel. This species is restricted in its distribution, being found largely in the forested areas of the Central Nature Reserves and Singapore Botanic Gardens.


Slender squirrel, Upper Peirce;
(Photo by hiker1974)

A relative of the plantain squirrel, the variable squirrel (Callosciurus finlaysoni) is not a native of Singapore, being found in south Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Thailand and eastern Myanmar. True to its common name, there is a great deal of geographic variation within this single species; depending on the subspecies and the location, the colours can range from entirely black to reddish-brown to grey to white. Since the early 1990s, a population belonging to the subspecies bocourti from central Thailand has become established in Singapore, largely in the Woodleigh area. It's not known what possible ecological impacts might occur as a result, especially if the squirrel manages to spread to more parts of Singapore.


Variable squirrel, Bidadari Cemetery;
(Photo by hiker1974)

Singapore's other squirrel species are much more elusive, and rarely if ever spotted. The shrew-faced ground squirrel (Rhinosciurus laticaudatus) is restricted to the forests of the Central Nature Reserves, as are the red-cheeked flying squirrel (Hylopetes spadiceus) and Horsfield's flying squirrel (Iomys horsfieldii). The red-cheeked flying squirrel, known only from Bukit Timah Nature Reserve, was first recorded locally only in 1996.

Unfortunately, the three-striped ground squirrel (Lariscus insignis) is thought to be extinct in Singapore, while the fate of our 2 giants of the squirrel world looks bleak.

The story of the cream-coloured giant squirrel (Ratufa affinis) is especially tragic, considering that the species was first described by Sir Stamford Raffles, and was once quite common throughout Singapore. In fact, it was often caught as a pet or for food up to the late 1960s. Deforestation seems to have been the main cause of the squirrel's decline; it appears that it was eventually restricted to the forests of Bukit Timah and the Central Catchment Area. With a frightfully small population (estimates of the total population in Singapore range from a mere 2 to 10 individuals), it's clear that even if the squirrel hasn't already gone extinct in Singapore (it was last sighted in 1995), it's just about nearly so.

Less is known about the red giant flying squirrel (Petaurista petaurista) in Singapore. This species was last recorded in 1986, so it's possibly already extinct. However, its nocturnal nature and shy habits mean that there is a chance that it still survives in our forests.


Red giant flying squirrel, Sabah;
(Photo by alphonsusloinsang)

Not to be mistaken for a squirrel is the common treeshrew (Tupaia glis), a mammal that's actually much more closely related to primates than rodents.


Common treeshrew, Singapore Botanic Gardens;
(Photo by astro08)

Similarly, the Malayan colugo (Galeopterus variegatus), another distant primate relative, is not to be mistaken for a flying squirrel.


Malayan colugo, Central Catchment Area;
(Photo by Lip Kee)

In a completely unrelated vein, the insect pictured above is a net-winged beetle. Net-winged beetles belong to the family Lycidae, and many species feed on nectar as adults. Most species are brightly coloured in hues of red or orange, signaling that they are toxic and distasteful. They're related to fireflies, among many other beetle families.

Here's a picture of the long-nosed lycid beetle (Porrostoma rhipidius), an Australian species, for comparison.


Long-nosed lycid beetle, Melbourne;
(Photo by ~ Anne ~) Read more!

Canal at Ulu Pandan Park Connector polluted and filled with rubbish

STOMPer shutterbug is alarmed by the state of this canal at Ulu Pandan Park Connector, which is polluted and filled with rubbish.

This STOMPer says:

"These pictures were taken at the Ulu Pandan Park Connector near the Toh Guan Flyover.

"The water in the canal has assumed a rainbow colour, possibly due to the oil and other pollution causing substances discharged by some of the factories nearby. The image of the building is reflected in the water.

"The canal looks filthy with discarded plastic bags, cups, drink cans and other debris. The water here flows into Sungei Pandan."

Related posts: Pollution at Sungei Pandan wreck lovely scenery (24th June 2009)
Man fishes at Sungei Pandan despite polluted waters (7th June 2009)
Water in Clementi canal turns bright blue (7th February 2009)

It's quite ironic that there is a water reclamation plant just nearby that supplies industrial water and NEWater. When will people ever learn that the responsibility of maintaining the cleanliness of our waterways falls upon all of us? We tend to take for granted the fact that the water that flows from our taps is clean enough to drink, but we seem so myopic that we're unable to realise just how irresponsible disposal of rubbish and other wastes can affect our own water supply. Read more!

Durian paradise uncovered in Lim Chu Kang

Deep in the greenery of Lim Chu Kang lies a hidden treasure cove for durian lovers, says STOMPer Durian Lover.

The area is always ransacked by durian enthusiasts during June and July every year.

The king of fruits grows on the trees left behind by farmers who used to occupy the land.

Every year, those in the know come to this forested area in Lim Chu Kang to get their hands on some free durian.

STOMPer Durian Lover says:

"These pictures were taken near the end of Lim Chu Kang Road.

"This stretch of Lim Chu Kang Road from Ama Keng Road to the sea was formerly farmland where farmers used to rear poultry and plant fruit trees.

"The land was acquired by the government and the erstwhile farms became uninhabited for many years.

"However these farmers left behind their banana, rambutan and durian trees.

"Come June and July every year, you will see motorcycles, cars and pickups making a beeline for this area as these durian hunters make their annual pilgrimage to Lim Chu Kang in search of their favourite -- the king of fruits.

"They come early in the morning and also in the evening and on weekends they camp overnight to wait for the ripe durians to fall.

"There are no paths in the forests but during the fruit season, you can see several beaten paths created by the pounding of hundreds of human feet.

"These durian lovers would brave all odds, the inclement weather, the attack by snakes, bees and hornets.

"Their love for durians has overpowered their fear of snakes and tarantulas.

"The spiky fruit will always draw a crowd of durian addicts who feel that free durians picked from the forest taste better than those you can buy in the marketplace."

Related articles: All for the love of Durian (29th June 2009) (Mirror)
Durian warning and happy pickings at park (2nd May 2009) (Mirror)
Free durians for the picking (20th July 2008) (Mirror)

Related posts: Psst! Here's the secret of where to get durians in S'pore -- FREE (3rd July 2009)
Blue net at Pulau Ubin can save your life (4th June 2009)
Durian trees grow in Lim Chu Kang cemetery (8th April 2009) Read more!

Monday Morgue: 6th July 2009

Green mud crab (Scylla paramamosain)
Tanah Merah, 8th February 2009

Wild Fact Sheets
A Guide to Seashore Life
A Guide to the Mangroves of Singapore Read more!

Anglers break rules and go fishing at Lake View Promenade

No fishing is allowed at Lake View Promenade, but nobody seems to care, says STOMPer Fisherman.

In an email to STOMP today (Jul 5), the STOMPer says:

"These pictures were taken at Lake View Promenade beside the Jurong Lake, just opposite the Jurong Country Club.

"The notice says 'SWIMMING, FISHING AND ANY WATER RELATED ACTIVITIES ARE NOT ALLOWED'.

"Last Sunday, when I visited the park I was surprised to see a big crowd of anglers fishing at the pier beside the lake.

"This causes pollution of our waters as these anglers use live baits.

"Perhaps PUB should send its wardens to visit this place on weekends."

Related posts: Stop fishing illegally at MacRitchie Reservoir! (12th June 2009)
Man fishing illegally at Labrador beach (10th May 2009)
Inconsiderate people disobey rules and fish at Upper Peirce reservoir (9th March 2009)
No fishing at West Coast Park: Nobody gives a damn (7th March 2009)

Lake View Promenade... isn't that close to where a person drowned in May? Read more!

Overgrown hedges at Hougang attract hornets and bees

STOMPer Mouse says the overgrown hedges at Hougang Ave 6 besides the Punggol Community Centre attract bees and hornets and is dangerous to pedestrians.

In an email to STOMP today (July 4), the STOMPer wrote:

"At Hougang Ave 6, beside Punggol Community Centre, along the pavement, there is an overgrown hedge which hornets and bees love to circle around.

"I found that it is rather dangerous for the residents, as many use the pavement to get to the bus stop and MRT, at the location where this picture is taken."

Read more!

Ulu park has trees planted by royalty and famous people

A STOMPer hopes that more people will visit this godforsaken park which has a rich history where the trees there were planted by famous people.
Historian told STOMP via email today (Jun 4):

"These pictures were taken at Jurong Hill which is a small hill near the Jurong Bird Park.

"At the end of the road is a small car park and a circular building.

"There was once a bustling restaurant here but now the place looks forlorn and quiet, a far cry from its heyday.

"Beneath every tree is a ceramic plate which tells you of its rich history as every tree here was once planted by a king, queen, president or a famous politician.

"You see the names of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, Queen Elizabeth II, former President Ferdinand Marcos of the Philippines and Kukrit Pramoj the 13th Prime Minister of Thailand.

"The place is now quiet, reminiscent of a cemetery even on a weekend.

"Once visited by famous personnel, the hill now lies in a godforsaken corner of Singapore.

"I hope JTC can inject some life into this deserted hill which is a sad reminder of its glorious past."

Read more!

Psst! Here's the secret of where to get durians in S'pore -- FREE

STOMPer Isaac says some durian lovers have managed to get durians for free by waiting for them to fall from durian trees in the wooded areas around Bukit Batok or Punggol.

In an email to STOMP yesterday (Jul 2), the STOMPer said:

"It is the durian season again and typically if you are a durian lover, you would have to pay for it whether it is of the D24 variety or unnamed type.

"However, some have got it for free by waiting for the durians to fall from durian trees in the wooded areas around Bukit Batok or Punggol.

"If you do not have patience for nature to do its work, an excavator to rock the trees for the fruit to fall might just to the trick.

"This was what I found out from a trip to Punggol this morning.

"I was there to take some pictures of the durian trees and the durians before it was all gone when I chanced upon some folks who were there to pick durians.

"One guy was quite upset as he related to me that some construction workers who were clearing the area in the vicinity used the excavator to knock on one of the durian trees till the fruits fell.

"I talked to the foreman who was present at the area and in the small chat that followed, he said that he was tasked to clear the area where the durian trees because a huge water pipe would be laid across.

"I took the opportunity to mention to him that his workers had actually vandalised the trees and that this kind of activity was not acceptable. He was apologetic and assured me that he will take care of the problem.

"For readers who are interested in picking these durians free of charge, you will have to compete with other folks who actually camp overnight to wait for the sweet sound of the durians to fall through, typically in the wee hours of the morning."

Other durian stories:
Durian Loop better than Botanic Gardens
Durian trees grow in Lim Chu Kang cemetery

Related articles: All for the love of Durian (29th June 2009) (Mirror)
Durian warning and happy pickings at park (2nd May 2009) (Mirror)
Free durians for the picking (20th July 2008) (Mirror)

Related posts: Blue net at Pulau Ubin can save your life (4th June 2009)
Durian trees grow in Lim Chu Kang cemetery (8th April 2009)

I normally publish these posts from STOMP with minimal editing, but today, I was facing a bit of a dilemma, and was wondering if I ought to censor the contents of this post a little.

As you can see, when this person submitted this post to STOMP, he also included a map that pinpointed the locations of durian trees in this part of Punggol. I wonder if the people who frequent the area during this time of the year will be pleased at all.

I realise that it might not be much of a secret, and that revealing the location by marking it down on a map and posting it on STOMP may just be stating the obvious, but still, I'm not comfortable in broadcasting the location so that anybody can just head down and jostle for space with all the other folks who are there for their share of durian.

I'm not one of those who heads down to the forests for durian fresh from the trees, but I would expect the people to be not too pleased at having to compete for prime territory with a whole bunch of other people who have come down out of curiosity or just plain greed.

Not to mention the possible impact from an even larger number of people walking around, trampling vegetation, frightening away wildlife and in some cases, leaving behind rubbish.

Here, in the case of the durians at Punggol, the same location had already more or less been divulged by The New Paper, which included a map of the area in their recent article. The person who submitted the map to STOMP might not have made any significant difference, since many other people would already be aware of the site. If I had chosen not to repost the maps on my blog, it might not have made much impact at all, since anyone could follow the link to the original article on STOMP and view the map for themselves.

As nature lovers, we often face a great dilemma. It is essential to raise awareness of our nature areas and of wildlife sightings, so that people know that we have these places of great beauty and value. Yet at the same time, there is always the risk that with greater awareness and greater accessibility, more people will visit and inadvertently lead to the degradation and destruction of what they've come to appreciate. It's my greatest fear that someday, Chek Jawa might face this fate; after reclamation was deferred, so many people visited, unthinkingly trampling and collecting marine life that the place was in danger of being loved to death. Now, with the boardwalk and trails, more people are given the chance to explore and appreciate the place, yet there is also the chance that litter is given the chance to accumulate, due to the extremely irresponsible actions of certain visitors.

In this older post on STOMP, you can view a very interesting discussion in the comments about the struggle between keeping locations a secret to protect them from thoughtless actions by the general public, and raising awareness of these sites to increase public support for their protection.

Similarly, where birdwatching is concerned, revealing the location of a rare bird often means that hordes of enthusiasts will descend upon the location, and there is always the risk that some of these will be irresponsible enough to deliberately trample the vegetation and disturb the wildlife. In the case of nesting birds, revealing the location invites poachers and unwanted trespassers who might cause so much distress that the breeding attempt fails. You can see an example of how agitated people can get when a nest site is revealed online over at this post on the Bird Ecology Study Group.

Yet on the other hand, by being overly secretive and wary of sharing information, we deprive others of sharing in the joy of our discoveries. Ordinary people who might take a benign interest stand to learn a lot from experts willing to tolerate their presence, and they in turn may pass on their knowledge to the people around them. If we zealously guard the secret of every rare bird sighting, nesting record, or exploration of a new shore, nature appreciation transforms into a highly elitist activity, open only to a small group with the right connections. This is definitely not the right sort of environment for a novice to learn from others who are more experienced, especially if these amateurs are deliberately being kept out of the information loop. How then are these beginners supposed to grow and develop their knowledge and skills, and eventually take over from the old-timers?

Besides, there will always be times when we need the public to be aware of what we still have out there, and what we stand to lose if we don't do anything to protect these threatened places and species. The campaign to raise awareness and garner public support was probably one of the main driving factors behind the government's decision to defer reclamation of Chek Jawa. If the place had remained a closely-guarded secret, known only to a select few, I doubt that the move to save it from development would have managed to make much headway at all. Similarly, by publicising reports of sightings of rare and endangered species, we alert others to the fact that these species are still surviving here in Singapore. Yes, raising awareness can inadvertently attract the wrong kind of attention, but it is a risk that we all must take.

Ultimately, a balance has to be struck between keeping certain things a secret, and publicising the information. There will be times when it is necessary not to reveal the location of a particular sighting, so as to protect the animals or habitat from excessive attention. Yet at the same time, there will be times when it is in everyone's best interests to widely disseminate information, so as to raise awareness for the need to protect certain threatened habitats. The whole reason why there are some many nature-themed blogs in Singapore is that we are well aware of the need to fight the perception that there is very little biodiversity left in Singapore, and there is little worth saving. By blogging about our trips and encounters, we hope to have an easily accessible online resource that enables anyone to see that Singapore still possesses a great deal of biodiversity and natural heritage, and encourage people to be more sensitive and aware of how irresponsible actions can negatively impact the environment and the myriad species which still survive in our midst. Read more!

SQUASHED! What happens when a snake tries to cross a road

A bus ran over this snake as it was crossing the road, just as STOMPer Isaac was preparing to take a photo of it.

Here's what the STOMPer wrote in an email today (July 2):

"This morning as I was driving towards the end of Punggol Road, I saw a snake gliding its way across the road.

"As I was on a photography trip to Punggol this morning, I decided to pull to the side the road and capture the snake's path across the road.

"Before I could capture the first shot, an SBS bus number 82 came along and ran over the snake.

"I thought 'Oh no, this snake's life has been cruelly cut short through no fault of its own other than trying to navigate across a man-made object'.

"Bus 82 made a u-turn at the end of the road just slightly ahead and narrowly missed the snake on its return path. All the while, the bus driver was oblivious of the drama that had just unfolded as the creature he had crushed was too small to be seen.

"The snake's life and world was probably akin to that of the Lilliputians where the rest of the world are full of creatures of gigantic proportions that would be a constant threat.

"What could I have done in the case of this accident? Probably nothing, as the snake was badly crushed and probably had not survived as the photographs show.

"In any case, there is probably no hospital that would accept an injured wild animal that could be dangerous and poisonous as well."

Related posts: Monitor lizard gets run over by vehicle in Pasir Ris (27th May 2009)
No jaywalking. Monkeys more law-abiding than humans (1st April 2009)

Chee Kong tells me that it looks like an Indo-Chinese rat snake (Ptyas korros), and I agree that it's the most likely identification.


Indo-Chinese rat snake, Thailand;
(Photo by Herpetologe)

This is a species found throughout much of Asia, from eastern India and southern China to Indonesia. Here in Singapore, it's considered to be widespread but uncommon. It can grow quite large, up to 2.6 metres in length.

Largely terrestrial and diurnal, Indo-chinese rat snakes feed on rodents, frogs, lizards, birds and other smaller creatures. They're largely harmless, although there are some accounts which state that these snakes can get very aggressive when cornered, and have strong jaws that can cause nasty wounds when they bite.

Although once considered non-venomous, recent research reveals that rat snakes do in fact possess venom glands, just that the effects of the venom aren't noticeable in humans.

When threatened, rat snakes will rear up a little, puff up their throats and hiss loudly, in an attempt to appear more intimidating to a potential predator. This behaviour is seen in many species of snakes, and is taken to an extreme in the cobras.


Oriental rat snake (Ptyas mucosus) with throat inflated, India;
(Photo by Vivek vaidyanathan (sagivivek))

You can see an example of a rat snake (most probably an Oriental rat snake) attempting to defend itself from a king cobra (Ophiophagus hannah) by adopting a threat posture. Ignore the cringeworthy narration; when I watched this scene several years back, the original narration wasn't so puerile.



There are 8 species in the genus Ptyas, and besides the Indo-chinese rat snake, 3 other species have been recorded in Singapore.


Oriental rat snake, Taiwan;
(Photo by Yugan Dali)
The status of the Oriental rat snake is Indeterminate, although given its supposed wide distribution across much of Asia, it is likely that it does occur here. This snake is supposedly capable of reaching 3.5 metres in length.


Keeled rat snake (Ptyas carinatus), captive specimen;
(Photo from DierenParadijs.be)
The keeled rat snake is a species that is said to grow to very large sizes, possibly reaching up to 4 metres. There is a particularly large preserved specimen in the public gallery of the Raffles Museum of Biodiversity Research (RMBR). Uncommon and recorded from the Central Nature Reserves, this snake can be easily confused with the king cobra.


White-bellied rat snake (Ptyas fuscus), Lower Peirce;
(Photo by Marcus)
The white-bellied rat snake is known only from the Central Nature Reserves, and is rarely encountered. This is another large snake, reaching close to 3 metres in length.

These snakes belong to the family Colubridae, which has shrunk lately due to research which clarified the relationships among the caenophidian or advanced snakes. It turned out that several groups traditionally thought to be colubrids are actually more closely related to vipers or cobras, and hence "Colubridae" as we knew it then was a polyphyletic wastebasket group containing every advanced snake that wasn't a viperid or elapid.

The family traditionally known as the Colubridae has now been split up into 8 different families, as shown here:



The Colubridae still exists, but is a much smaller group now. In Singapore, the classification status of most of our 'colubrid' snakes remains unchanged.




Upper left: Oriental whip snake (Ahaetulla prasina);
(Photo by Ria)
Upper right: Paradise tree snake (Chrysopelea paradisi);
(Photo by hiker1974)
Lower left: Painted bronzeback (Dendrelaphis pictus);
(Photo by *Damselfly*)
Lower right: House wolf snake (Lycodon capucinus);
(Photo by *Damselfly*)
Here's a selection of colubrids commonly encountered in Singapore.


Left: Spotted keelback (Xenochrophis maculatus), Singapore;
(Photo by Shirl6900)
Right: Painted mock viper (Psammodynastes pictus), Borneo;
(Photo by dennisikon)
However, the keelbacks and mock vipers now form their own separate family, the Natricidae.


Left: Puff-faced water snake (Homalopsis buccata), Nee Soon;
(Photo by Siyang)
Right: Dog-faced water snake (Cerberus rynchops), Sungei Buloh;
(Photo by Ria)
As do the water snakes, which now belong to the Homalopsidae.


White-spotted slug snake (Pareas margaritophorus), Kuantan;
(Photo by 2121studio)
The slug snakes have been split off to form the Pareatidae. The white-spotted slug snake is the only representative of this family known to occur in Singapore, and it is most likely an introduced species.

It was once thought that the majority of 'colubrid' species were non-venomous, and that the rest possessed venom that was not lethal to humans, with the exception of several African species. However, as mentioned earlier on, research has shown that even those species commonly thought to be non-venomous do in fact possess venom. Subaraj has a very interesting account of being envenomated by a blue-necked keelback (Macropisthodon rhodomelas), a natricid snake commonly regarded as non-venomous and harmless.


Blue-necked keelback, Singapore;
(Photo by Shirl6900)

In a previous post, I had briefly mentioned that snakes are vulnerable to traffic. Drawn to the road as a place to bask, as the tarmac absorbs heat more quickly than the surroundings, many snakes do not move out of the way of oncoming traffic until it is too late. Then there are people who will deliberately swerve to run over a snake that happens to be crossing the road. In this particular incident, no one is really to blame; I'm sure the bus driver had no idea that he had run over a snake, and I don't think there was anything that the person who posted this on STOMP could have done. Like so many other snakes that have been spotted as roadkill, this Indo-Chinese rat snake just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Perhaps it might be feasible to look into the viability of creating wildlife crossings in certain areas, so as to reduce the number of casualties that come about when animals try to cross to road. Read more!

So many dead fish washed ashore near The Oasis in Kallang

The sight of so many dead fish on the shoreline near The Oasis at Kallang surprised STOMPer Ricky. He says that these fish are Tilapia, a species that is normally very resistant to pollution.

Here's what the STOMPer had to say:

"I was watching the sunset today (July 1) at about 7:00 pm near The Oasis in Kallang.

"I spotted so many dead fish washed up along the shore there. This is not normal.

"The fish are Tilapia, which are usually very strong fish that do not die easily. This means that the water must be very polluted in order to kill them.

"I hope the relevant authorities will look into the matter soon."

Related Stories:

Marine life destoyed by massive pollution at Kranji Reservoir

Api Api River is now too polluted for fishing

Dead fish at Kranji beach: Poisoned by polluted waters?

Related posts: Why so many dead fish in Rochor River? (10th February 2009)
Dead fish clog this waterway near Toa Payoh flyover (29th January 2009)

I wonder if other forms of aquatic life are dying off as well, or if only tilapia (Oreochromis spp.) are being affected. Read more!

At Alexandra Village foodcourt, you get extra ingredient of bird droppings in your kway teow

STOMPer Food Lover was disgusted when a myna perched on the beam above him excreted bird droppings right into his kway teow soup. The STOMPer elaborates:

"These pictures were taken at the food centre at Alexandra Village at Jalan Bukit Merah.

"The NEA has built this food centre with many horizontal bars where the birds can rest.

"You can see the white-vented myna perching on the ceiling bars.

"When I was eating my kway teow soup, suddenly these birds decided to release their daily 'bombs' and one of them landed inside by bowl of kuay teow soup.

"My lunch was a great disappointment but my colleague advised me to go to the nearby shop to buy a 4D lottery ticket.

"I was too disappointed to queue up for a ticket.

"When the diners leave, the birds have a field day. They swoop down like hungry vultures and help themselves to the food remnants.

"After this invasion, you can see bird droppings on the table, stools and the floor.

"These birds are a public nuisance and it is time the NEA get rid of these pests.

"Also, hawker centres and food centres should not be built such that birds have a place to perch above the tables where the diners are sitting."

Related posts: How unhygienic! Pigeons feast on leftover food at Bendemeer Market (12th April 2009)
"No avian flu here but this bird can spread other diseases" (6th March 2009)
Crazy pigeon is not afraid of people and steals food from their plates (23rd January 2009)

Note: The Javan myna (Acridotheres javanicus) we commonly see here in Singapore was once thought to belong to the same species as the white-vented myna (Acridotheres grandis), which is a different species altogether and not found in Singapore at all. However, one does still find the name white-vented myna being used for the Javan myna.


Javan myna, Singapore;
(Photo by mjmyap)


White-vented myna, Bangkok;
(Photo by mmp86)

Well, that really is an unfortunate way to have one's meal ruined by the birds. When I was in junior college, I had once ordered a plate of chicken rice in the school canteen, and left it there on the table while I went to get a drink. When I returned, someone at another table informed me that the sparrows had started feeding on my lunch while I was away. I probably should have thrown my food away and ordered a new plate, but I was silly and short of cash then, and I reasoned that if the birds were willing to eat the food, it meant that the food being sold in the canteen wasn't too bad. So I just carried out on eating, oblivious to any possible health risks.

On the other hand, what does it say about the food being sold at the establishment in this post? That it's so bad that birds poop in it? I kid, of course.

Yet another post on the unwelcome presence of urban birds. Birds like the Javan myna, common myna (Acridotheres tristis), house crow (Corvus splendens), Eurasian tree sparrow (Passer montanus), and feral pigeon (Columba livia) are so widespread and prevalent that I sometimes wonder if people ever notice the other birds that can be commonly seen in urban Singapore, such as the olive-backed sunbird (Cinnyris jugularis), Asian glossy starling (Aplonis panayensis), yellow-vented bulbul (Pycnonotus goiavier), common tailorbird (Orthotomus sutorius), black-naped oriole (Oriolus chinensis), Pacific swallow (Hirundo tahitica), Sunda pygmy woodpecker (Dendrocopos moluccensis), collared kingfisher (Todirhamphus chloris), spotted dove (Streptopelia chinensis), or pink-necked green pigeon (Treron vernans).

This is one reason why I strongly support getting people to clear up after themselves. If people had the initiative to bring their trays and utensils to clearing points, it would reduce the amount of food available for the birds, as the birds would have less time to swoop in and grab a morsel. Ideally, this should eventually lead to a decrease in the number of birds seen hanging around food centres, as they look for easier pickings elsewhere.

These birds are only exploiting a niche available to them, and we ourselves are all too willing to provide them with the resources for them to survive and prosper. Once again, it's all about changing human attitudes and behaviour. One doesn't always have to resort to culling and shooting and poisoning in order to manage our relationship with other animals. What sort of attitude does that convey? That killing is an acceptable initial response to any problem in which animals and humans come into some sort of conflict? I'm no hippie, and I do accept that killing is sometimes necessary in order to manage populations of other species, but I believe that there are always other viable methods that ought to be explored first before we reach for the poison and guns.

I'm sure there are far more human solutions than the one that has been adopted in this video below:



Even when culling is necessary in order to bring the population down to more manageable levels, it is important that preventive measures are taken so as to ensure that the bird populations don't rebound. In some cases, after culling, the survivors find that there is less competition over resources such as food and nesting sites, and are able to breed more often and with higher survival of the young, thus completely negating the intended effects of the culling. Culling should always take place in conjunction with efforts to limit access to resources. You can shoot or poison as many birds as you want, but as long as there is food available, and places for the birds to roost and nest, then the birds will just keep on breeding.

In a case such as the food centre pictured in this post, if culling is seen as a necessary measure, then it should be held in conjunction as part of a comprehensive plan to control the growth of bird populations.

Access to food should be limited by making sure that proper rubbish disposal practices are adhered to, and by making sure that leftovers are cleared promptly before the birds get a chance to swoop in. Littering creates scavenging opportunities for birds, and should be curbed. One also has to ensure that consistency is adhered to within the entire neighbourhood; a single business or residence that doesn't comply may cause the problem to persist. For example, well-meaning but misguided residents who insist on feeding the birds may artificially sustain high populations even as they are being deprived of sources of food elsewhere.

Steps should be taken to humanely exclude and repel birds from food centres. Bird spikes, chemical repellents, predator decoys, recording of alarm calls, and even ultrasonic repellents are all available in the market, with varying degrees of success in real-life situations.

Another very important measure is to reduce the availability of breeding and roosting sites. This means sealing any gaps in buildings which may be used as nest sites, using devices like those mentioned above to prevent them from roosting in buildings, or even a simple matter of pruning the trees. Removal or destruction of nests with eggs and young can be an effective measure to reduce the population, but it should probably only be carried out in combination with measures to reduce the likelihood of the birds breeding there again.

Trapping and relocating birds may not necessarily be a feasible option in small, densely-populated Singapore, and only means that you're transferring the problem to somebody else. Releasing non-native bird species in nature areas isn't a very good idea because of the possible threat to native ecosystems. Also, the birds, once relocated, may be disorientated and face difficulties in adapting to a sudden change in environment, or may simply take off and fly back to where they were caught. Here in Singapore, it may be more feasible to humanely euthanise the birds that are trapped. This site here discusses various means to dispose of house sparrows (Passer domesticus), a non-native species in North America and one that often negatively impacts the reproductive success of native songbirds.

In most cases, if culling is carried out along with a host of other measures to control the factors which allow the population to increase in the first place, one should eventually notice an appreciable decrease in bird numbers, and consequently reduce the conflict between humans and birds. I'm not sure how far culling alone has contributed to the reduction in house crow numbers in Singapore, but I'm sure that it was not the only contributing factor. It would be foolhardy to assume that the population was reduced solely by blasting them out of the sky at intervals, and I wonder if someone is looking into the various factors that have led to this decrease in the population.

It doesn't take a genius to figure out that this multi-pronged approach to controlling birds can and should be adapted in the control of other pests, whether be it rodents or insects. Similarly, just as how shooting crows only serves to kill the birds without doing anything about the reasons behind the growth in their population, setting glue traps (which are extremly cruel in my opinion) and poison bait for rats does nothing to combat the underlying causes that led to the problem in the first place. And often, that means educating people in the need to prevent these problems from occurring at all.

It is usually impossible to completely eliminate cockroaches, rats or crows from an area; the only viable solution is to manage their numbers and ensure that their populations do not explode. Proper storage of food and waste disposal and clamping down on littering are necessary measures to prevent these opportunists from taking advantage of our negligence and laziness. We can call for the authorities to get rid of these so-called pests as much as we want, but ultimately, if we are to truly manage the populations of these adaptable species, then the main thing that we have to manage is our own behaviour. Read more!

Birds and droppings everywhere at this once-beautiful park

STOMPer Shutterbug feels that it is a pity this promenade at Queen Elizabeth Walk is overrun with birds and their droppings everywhere.

He says:

"These pictures were taken at the promenade at Queen Elizabeth Walk.

"Once a beautiful park, the beauty of this park has been totally ruined.

"The whole place is now invaded by our winged friends who choose to make this place their unnatural habitat.

"The floor, the benches and the parapets are all stained with bird droppings.

"You see hordes of mynahs, pigeons, crows and other pests.

"A crow with a red eye is a ferocious bird as it attacks children when it is in a bad mood.

"If ever there is a bird flu, this place will be most vulnerable.

"As this place is overrun with birds, perhaps the NParks and NEA could think of ways to reduce the bird population."

While I understand that there might be a need to control bird populations from time to time, it is absolute nonsense to claim that crows with red eyes are "ferocious".

First of all, crows don't have red eyes. Secondly, it's extremely foolish to assume that one can judge the temperament of a bird based on eye colour alone. And how do you tell whether a crow is in a bad mood or not? I'm not quite sure if I follow this person's chain of reasoning. If a crow with red eyes (which to my knowledge, doesn't exist) is in a bad mood (how we can tell, I do not know), it will attack children, and hence, it is considered to be ferocious.

...What?

I admit that urban birds such as the house crow (Corvus splendens), feral pigeon (Columba livia), Javan myna (Acridotheres javanicus), common myna (Acridotheres tristis) and Eurasian tree sparrow (Passer montanus) do not have many fans, even among birdwatchers, and that these birds might possibly have a negative impact on populations of other bird species, but it still doesn't warrant such baseless scare-mongering and exaggeration.

I'm not sure what this person means when he says that this area is an "unnatural habitat" for these birds. Do enlighten us as to what ought to be so-called natural habitat for these birds. As commensal species, these birds are doing so well simply because they have adapted to living alongside us, exploiting the ecological niches we have created in our urban landscapes. In fact, species such as the house crow and Eurasian tree sparrow are so specialised that they are apparently found only close to areas of human activity.

And how ironic that he refers to the birds as "our winged friends" in one sentence near the beginning, and then ends off with a not very subtle hint to cull the birds. Read more!

Boatman works hard scooping out rubbish to keep the Singapore River clean

Thanks to this boatman who steers a motor boat up and down a river to scoop up dead leaves and debris, our river is kept clean, says STOMPer Boatman.

In an email to STOMP today (June 30), the STOMPer says:

"These pictures were taken at the Singapore River. The boatman steers a motor boat up and down the river.

"His job is to scoop up the dead leaves and debris to keep our waterways clean.

"As seen in the pictures, there is an orange floater at the mouth of a canal to retain the dead leaves and debris.

"Many dead leaves can be found in our rivers.

"It takes a lot of effort to keep our rivers clean. So next time before you throw your drink can or cigarette box into the river, think of the people who have to clean up the rubbish in the river."

Read more!

Wood-degrading fungus thrives at Admiralty Park

The fungi seen in these pictures are known as polypores, says STOMPer Mangrove Man, who wishes to highlight the wood-degrading species to all nature enthusiasts.

The polyporus fungus grows on tree trunks and is commonly spotted on fallen tree trunks.

In an email, STOMPer Mangrove Man says:

"These pictures were taken at Admiralty Park.

"This fungus called the polyporus fungus is leathery, hard and woody. It has no stripes and grows bracket-like on tree trunks.

"The orange polypores are common on fallen tree trunks because of their ability to degrade wood.

"This mangrove tree (Bruguiera cylindrica) can reach a height of 20 m and has buttress roots. The hypocotyl is about 15 cm long, like a green cigarette and slightly curved.

"The trunk of the tree is used for firewood and timber."

Based on my copy of A Guide to Tropical Fungi, it appears that the fungus in these photos belong to the genus Polyporella, although a bit of Googling suggests that the more accurate name for these bracket fungi may be Pycnoporus instead.


Pycnoporus cinnabarinus, Florida;
(Photo by pellaea)

There's an error in the description above; it's supposed to be "It has no stipes", which is a different matter from "It has no stripes". The stipe is the stem or stalk-like structure supporting the cap of a mushroom.

Bracket fungi are often found growing on decaying logs, and play an important role in helping to break down rotting wood, and facilitating the recycling of nutrients. However, some species are capable of becoming parasites, infecting living trees and causing the death of their host.

The famous lingzhi (Ganoderma lucidum) used in traditional Chinese medicine is a type of bracket fungus.

It would have been better if the person who submitted this to STOMP had provided a picture of a mangrove hypocotyl and explained what it was as well. I'm sure most of the people who read this post have no idea what a hypocotyl is.

Here's a photo of a bakau putih (Bruguiera cylindrica) propagule. The hypocotyl is the long green part that has already sprouted from the seed.


Bakau putih propagule, Pulau Ubin;
(Photo by Chay Hoon) Read more!

It's monkey land at Admiralty Park

STOMPer Engineer was at Admiralty Park and noticed that monkeys were moving freely in the area.

In an email to STOMP today (June 29), the STOMPer wrote:

"These long-tailed macaques were frolicking on a mangrove tree.

"The mother monkey was swinging the branch to gain momentum and after a short while, it jumped onto the pillar supporting the bridge.

"It then climbed up to reach the railing of the bridge. The baby monkey followed suit and soon the whole troupe was on the bridge.

"The monkeys climbed up the railings and jumped over each other. However, it was risky for if it missed a step it could end up in the river below which meant a fall of 5m.

"The monkeys were observing a cyclist, who was cycling past the bridge.

"These macaques live in primary and secondary forest, mangroves and the outskirts of towns and villages.

"They travel in troupes of up to 30. In Singapore it is the most common primate.

"They feed on buds, fruits, insects, crustaceans, spiders and cereals. Their most feared predator is the deadly python."

Ria has visited Admiralty Park on a number of occasions, and on her last trip there, encountered a group of long-tailed macaques (Macaca fascicularis). Read more!

Monday Morgue: 29th June 2009

Rat (Rattus sp.)
Pasir Ris, 26th May 2009

This could be any of the following species of rat commonly found in urban areas:

Oriental house rat (Rattus tanezumi), formerly considered conspecific with the common house rat (Rattus rattus)
Ecology Asia
Wildlife Singapore
Global Invasive Species Database
Animal Diversity Web

Common rat (Rattus norvegicus)
Global Invasive Species Database
Animal Diversity Web

Polynesian rat (Rattus exulans)
Ecology Asia
Global Invasive Species Database
Animal Diversity Web Read more!

Meet the carnivorous pitcher plant

STOMPer Botanist saw the pitcher plant at Bukit Batok Nature Park and shares his knowledge of it. He says:

"These pictures were taken at the Bukit Batok Nature Park at Bukit Batok East Ave 2.

"This particular species, the pitcher plant (Nepenthes gracilis) is common and widespread in Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia.

"It is easily spotted on road banks and cleared areas and grows well up to altitudes of 1000m.

"These carnivorous plants contain traps that can hold up to 50 cubic cm of liquid.

"Each leaf of the pitcher plant resembles a jug, or pitcher and has a lid to keep out the rain.
"An insect is lured by the bright colour and abundant nectar of the pitcher but the rim has a slippery surface.

"When the insect tries to get the nectar, it loses its footing and easily slides into the pool of liquid at the bottom.

"These plants make use of the proteins obtained from insects when their bodies are ingested."

The 120 species of tropical pitcher plants belong to the genus Nepenthes, and have a widespread distribution, from Madagascar and the Seychelles in the west, all the way throughout India, Sri Lanka and Southeast Asia, to Australia and New Caledonia in the east. It is in the Sunda region, however, that they are at their most diverse, particularly in Borneo.

There are 3 species of pitcher plant in Singapore:


Narrow-lidded pitcher plant (Nepenthes ampullaria), Central Catchment Area;
(Photo by NatureInYourBackyard)


Slender pitcher plant (Nepenthes gracilis), Tuas;
(Photo by Siyang)


Raffles pitcher plant (Nepenthes rafflesiana), Sentosa;
(Photo by Ria)

It is possible that the carnivorous habits of pitcher plants are an adaptation for obtaining nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus in soils that are deficient in these essential elements; in Borneo, pitcher plants are a prominent feature of heath forests or kerangas, where the soils are sandy and acidic, while here in Singapore, they can be found in the secondary forests known as adinandra belukar, which are also characterised for having acidic, nutrient-poor soils.

There are several interesting posts on pitcher plants in Singapore. Siyang and Kok Sheng have posted about their encounters with pitcher plants in the Kent Ridge area, while Gabriel Tan of eTour-Singapore.Com has a page detailing his encounters with the 3 different species of pitcher plant. He also mentions the Naked Hermit Crabs and the walks that we conduct on Sentosa. Joseph Lai has some excellent pictures of the 3 pitcher plant species, while Marcus has a post describing the unique features of each species, as well as some of the interesting relationships that pitcher plants share with some forest animals.

It's interesting to note that despite the digestive enzymes in the liquid within the pitcher, there are animals that actually live in pitcher plants. These include the larvae of many species of mosquitoes, midges and gnats, which feed on the remains of prey, and may play a role in breaking down large prey items and improving the rate of digestion. Otherwise, the enzymes secreted by the pitcher plant may act slowly, resulting in prey decomposing and leading to the growth of undesirable bacteria and fungi. These insect larvae are in turn preyed upon by the larvae of other fly species, such as the mosquito Toxorhynchites; larvae are voracious predators on mosquitoes, including their own kind.

Other creatures that utilise pitchers include a crab spider (Misumenops nepenthicola), which hides within pitchers and ambushes victims that are lured within, even descending down to retrieve insects that have fallen into the liquid. This spider can even submerge itself in the liquid and hide for several minutes if threatened.


Misumenops nepenthicola in pitcher of Raffles pitcher plant;
(Photo by Thomas Carow)

Crabs belong to the genus Geosesarma are also known to associate with pitchers; in Peninsular Malaysia, Geosesarma malayanum is known to raid the pitchers of the narrow-lidded pitcher plant to feed on the insects trapped within. And here in Singapore, a second species of crab, Geosesarma perracae, was found hiding within a pitcher.

Ng, P. K. L. & Lim, R. P. 1987. The taxonomy and biology of the nepenthiphilous freshwater sesarmine crab, Geosesarma malayanum Ng & Lim, 1986 (Crustacea, Decapoda, Brachyura, Grapsidae) from Peninsular Malaysia. Malayan Nature Journal, 41, 393–402.

Tan, H. H. & Ng, P. K. L. 2008. First record in Singapore of a nepenthiphilous crab, Geosesarma perracae (Crustacea: Decapoda: Sesarmidae). Nature in Singapore, 1, 201–205.


Geosesarma perracae in pitcher of narrow-lidded pitcher plant, Central Catchment Area;
(Photo from Tan & Ng, 2008)

Tadpoles of the black-spotted sticky frog (Kalophrynus pleurostigma) have even been found living inside the pitchers of the narrow-lidded pitcher plant.


Black-spotted sticky frog;
(Photo by kwokwai76)


Tadpole of black-spotted sticky frog;
(Photo from Frogs of Borneo)

In northwestern Borneo, the fanged pitcher plant (Nepenthes bicalcarata) has developed a fascinating relationship with an ant, Camponotus schmitzi. These ants nest only in the swollen hollow tendrils of the pitcher. While ants are a major prey item for many pitcher plant species, these special ants are able to crawl about the pitchers without slipping. They sip nectar from the glands on the rim of the pitcher, and even venture within the traps. Here they retrieve large prey items that would take too long for the plant's enzymes to digest, preventing the insect remains from putrefying. They are even able to dive into the liquid and swim around in pursuit of mosquito larvae.


Camponotus schmitzi retrieving insect prey from fanged pitcher plant, Brunei;
(Photo by clado)

Another amazing relationship takes place between Low's pitcher plant (Nepenthes lowii) and the mountain treeshrew (Tupaia montana). Instead of feeding on insects, the upper pitchers of this plant derive a large proportion of their nitrogen requirements from treeshrew poop.


Mountain treeshrew sitting on Low's pitcher plant, Sarawak;
(Photo by Ch'ien C. Lee)

These small mammals feed upon the nectar produced on the underside of the lid of the pitcher, which this species secretes in copious amounts. While feeding, they are perfectly positioned to defecate right into the pitchers. Consequently, these upper pitchers have all but lost the ability to trap insects, and instead obtain 57 to 100% of their nitrogen from treeshrew droppings.

Clarke, C. M., Bauer, U., Lee, C. C., Tuen, A. A., Rembold, K. & Moran, J. A. 2009. Tree shrew lavatories: a novel nitrogen sequestration strategy in a tropical pitcher plant. Biology Letters, published online before print.

To end off on pitcher plants, here's an interesting video from the BBC documentary series, The Private Life of Plants, on how the pitchers develop from the leaf tips.

Read more!

"Clean up Lim Chu Kang beach before it turns into marine graveyard"

STOMPer Aesthetician feels that the beach at Lim Chu Kang should be cleaned up so that more people will head there to soak in its rugged beauty. He says:

"These pictures were taken during low tide at the beach near the end of Lim Chu Kang Road.

"On the beach you can see old tyres, plastic sheets, plastic bags and polystyrene boxes.

"The beach looks filthy and muddy.

"I hope this part of Singapore can be cleaned up and perhaps NParks could build some boardwalks so that the public can get to enjoy the sea and appreciate the mangrove swamps with its rich flora and fauna.

"The beach is worth saving before the pollution turns this into a marine graveyard."

This stretch of coast at Lim Chu Kang is another area that's monitored every year as part of the International Coastal Cleanup Singapore (ICCS).

Siva has a gallery of photos from his recce trip in June last year, and it shows the appalling amount of trash that has accumulated in the mangroves.

This led to a cleanup session in July 2008, where various volunteers as well as Miss Earth Singapore 2008 contestants cleared more than 250 kilograms of man-made rubbish. The photos from that cleanup session can be viewed in this Flickr set, while Marcus has also blogged about the session over here.

A second cleanup session was held in September, where 435 kilograms of trash was cleared.

You can view the Flickr set containing photos from last year's cleanup session, and here are the results from the 2 groups who participated, Coca Cola and Republic Polytechnic.

It might seem impossible to stop the stream of garbage that washes up on our coastline every day, but we do what we can. I can only hope that in time to come, we will be more aware and more sensitive of the impact of our actions, and play a more active role in maintaining the cleanliness and health of our shores. Read more!

Wild buah langsat at Jalan Murai a treat for foreign workers

After a hard day's work, this foreign worker enjoys the simple pleasure of eating wild buah langsat growing along Jalan Murai.

STOMPer Langsat Addict, who struck up a conversation with the worker, said:

"I was driving along Jalan Murai when I saw a group of foreign workers climbing up some trees to pick the fruits.

"Being curious, I stopped my car and politely asked them what they were picking.

"One foreign worker showed me a bunch of ripened 'buah langsat' and asked me to try one.

"I popped one into my mouth and found that it was very sweet as it tasted like 'buah duku' the larger species.

"It was in the evening and the workers had finished their daily work. So they went around to look for fruits which grew in the wild.

"This friendly worker, in his 20s, told me that on weekends his friends and he would go to a vacant piece of land next to the Chinese cemetery in Choa Chu Kang to look for free durians and rambutans.

"As June is the fruit season they get to enjoy our tropical fruits.

"Since the trees grow in the wild these workers need not pay to harvest them.

"This worker told me that he enjoyed our langsat more than the mangoes he used to eat in India."

Langsat is the Malay name for Lansium domesticum, a fruit-bearing tree native to the region. Here is a link for more information on this species.


Langsat fruits, Kundasang;
(Photo by jdream mx)


Langsat tree with fruits;
(Photo by Pretty Lady 241)

Apparently, the fruit we know as duku is a variety of langsat as well.


Duku fruit;
(Photo by kangdekry) Read more!

Weaver bird nests spotted at Lim Chu Kang fish farm

STOMPer Ornithologist went to the fish farm at Lim Chu Kang and saw several weaver bird nests and a school of Japanese carp.

Sharing his findings, he says:

"These pictures were taken at a fish farm at Lim Chu Kang Lane 6.

"At the entrance of the farm I noticed several weaver bird nests on a tree.

"The weaver birds are gregarious birds which breed colonially. The birds build their nests together, and usually the male birds weave the nests and use them as a form of display to lure the females.

"I also saw a school of kois in a pond. The koi is also known as the Japanese carp.

"Kois have no stomachs. What they do have are expandable small intestines and they function as a pseudo stomach.

"They have small teeth in the back of the throat that they use to crush any crustaceans they may ingest.

"Kois are 'pigs' of the water because they love and eat anything they can find. They can consume up to 2% of its body in a day."

More nests of the baya weaver (Ploceus philippinus), I see. I wonder if they are still in use.

I was surprised to learn that common carp (Cyprinus carpio) actually lack a proper stomach. Instead, the oesophagus opens up into the lower intestine.

According to this link on digestion in teleost fishes:

Carp lack a stomach, but have a long intestine which winds extensively throughout the visceral cavity. The gall bladder rests on the dorsal surface of the anterior midgut and the bile duet opens into the intestine just anterior to the gall bladder. In addition, the liver has no specific shape, but seems to serve as packing material around the intestine. Food seems to be ingested in small particles in a relatively steady stream instead of intermittently in large units, so the storage function of a stomach probably is not missed. With the liver filling all the available visceral space, there would be no room for accommodating the stomach expansion of a large meal anyway.

By the way, koi is both singular and plural. There is no such word as 'kois'. Read more!