Monday Morgue: 23rd November 2009

American cockroach (Periplaneta americana)
Tanah Merah, 23rd August 2009

Despite its name, the American cockroach did not originate from the Americas. Instead, it is likely to be originally native to Africa, from which it has managed to spread and colonise much of the world.

Animal Diversity Web
American cockroach (Periplaneta americana)
Featured Creatures Read more!

Mynah plagues customers at Paya Lebar McDonalds

A common black mynah bird made its way into the McDonald's outlet at Paya Lebar and STOMPer SL sent in this video of it being chased by both the staff and customers.

In an email to STOMP today (Nov 21), the STOMPer wrote:

"A common black mynah found it's way into a McDonalds outlet at Paya Lebar Singpost.

"The customers and staff of McDonalds were seen chasing the bird out.

"The bird seemed lost and couldn't find its way to the door which was held open by a customer.

"It took more than five minutes before the bird was chased away.

"The below clip was taken by my iPhone and I decided to share with fellow STOMPers. Check it out!"

Do check out the video posted on STOMP. Although to be honest, the camera work is horrible; you hardly get to see the bird at all. Forget it, watching the video is a complete waste of your time.

If a myna (Acridotheres sp.) can cause such a flap, imagine the chaos if it were something much larger and potentially more dangerous. Like this coyote (Canis latrans) that walked into a Quizno's sandwich shop in downtown Chicago. Fortunately, no one was hurt in that encounter, and the coyote was subsequently released, although it does make for some very interesting lunchtime conversation. Read more!

Birds feast on leftovers at hawker centre

These birds were having a ball of a time feasting on leftovers at the Bendemeer Hawker Centre.

The plates and bowls were left uncleared for a long time, attracting the birds.

STOMPer Loh finds this unhygienic as the birds could spread harmful germs.

The STOMPer says:

"Dining with birds.

"All are welcome at Blk 29 Bendemeer Hawker Centre."

If the person who submitted this was trying to make a statement, I don't quite see it. Unless his last sentence was a poor attempt at being sarcastic.

Still, this is essentially a people problem, one caused by leaving leftovers uncleared, providing birds like these feral pigeons (Columba livia) an opportunity to swoop in and scavenge on whatever edible tidbits remain. Read more!

Yikes! Snake found in my QQ

STOMPer Angela got the shock of her life when she spotted a python in her car.

In an email to STOMP yesterday (Nov 16), the STOMPer said:

"On Nov 12, I drove my car to work at Loyang. After parking my car and opening the door, the 'thing' caught my eye. I jumped out of my car and called my boss.

"We then called the pest control people to catch the python.

"The car was parked at my office carpark for 4 nights when my family went for a holiday at Genting. No idea how it got in but we suspect that there was grass pruning over the weekend and it might have destroyed the python's home.

"Last weekend was quite a wet one so maybe it decided to stay put in my car.

"It did not attack anyone or scare me while I am driving. If it did, I cannot imagine what might have happened.

"The interesting part is that it was in my car for so long and yet it did not disturb anyone."

It certainly is a very interesting place for a reticulated python (Broghammerus reticulatus) to seek refuge, but it's not the first time a snake has been found hiding in a car. It's likely that in cold weather, a snake might attempt to conserve heat by crawling inside a car.

There are 2 recent stories from the United Kingdom and Florida about snakes in cars, and there is actually a similar incident that took place in Loyang during this same period of time last year. At least in these cases, the snakes were captured unharmed, unlike the snake in this particular incident. Read more!

Beautiful Pulau Ubin slowly eroded by waves

Pulau Ubin might disappear over time as waves continue to erode its coast and the flora and fauna on it, says STOMPer Botanist, who saw signs of erosion on the road near Noordin Beach.

Over the years, even trees have been consumed by the hungry waves, says the sender.

Worried, STOMPer Botanist says in an email:

"These pictures were taken at Noordin Beach in Pulau Ubin.

"Many cyclists travel along this macadamised road from the jetty to the beach.

"However, the end of the road has been washed away by the waves which keep pounding on the road day and night.

"Even some of the trees have been washed away by the hungry waves.

"If nothing is done, the land area of Ubin will shrink over the years.

"With the disappearance of the soil and trees, the flora and fauna of this peaceful island will be adversely affected."

Read more!

Bold rats at Kim Keat Link even emerge in broad daylight

Rats at Kim Keat Link have been getting bolder and bolder, even appearing by day to feed on scraps left for the birds by people there, according to STOMPer Kevin.

Here's what Kevin wrote in an email today (Nov 17):

"The location is at Kim Keat Link between Block 247 and 246.

"Residents here have written in and called the Toa-Payoh Bishan Town Council's hotline with regards to the increasing number of rats.

"They live inside the drains, near the walkways leading to the carpark.

"Someone has been feeding the birds here attracting the rats to this area.

"I hope something can be done before the situation gets really bad."

Read more!

Picnickers burn hole in bench at Pulau Ubin

STOMPer Swimmer saw that the public benches and shelter on Pulau Ubin have been defaced, and feels this is a shame. He says:

"These pictures were taken at Noordin Beach on Pulau Ubin, the idyllic island near Changi.

"The rain shelter has a U-shaped bench for picnickers and swimmers. Unfortunately some campers have decided to hold their barbecue on the wooden bench and the hot charcoals burnt a hole in the wooden bench.

"The campers cooked their food and after eating, they left the burnt firewood on the sand and expect the cleaner to clear the mess they left behind.

"The graffiti on the pillars of the rain shelter could have been done by some mischievous school kids or campers and these people just do not have a civic sense to protect public property."

Read more!

Monday Morgue: 16th November 2009

Laganum sand dollar (Laganum depressum)
Seringat-Kias, 28th June 2009

Wild Fact Sheets
The Echinoid Directory
World Register of Marine Species Read more!

Climbing Bukit Timah

Despite my passion and interest in exploring our wild places, I have to say that I have neglected the forests of the Central Nature Reserves. Including today's trip, I have visited Bukit Timah Nature Reserve only a miserable 5 times in my entire life.

Today wasn't supposed to be a relaxing hike up and down the hill; this was meant to be a training session in preparation for my trip to climb Mount Kinabalu in December. Still, I did stop to take photos whenever possible.


I started up the Main Road, then took the Rock Path, which was a path I had never used before.


There's something about walking down narrow forest trails that never fails to remind me of the time I spent in the Maliau Basin in 2007. Especially when the trail soon forces you to grab onto tree trunks, or even get down on all fours as you scramble over obstacles. One big difference though is the absence of bloodthirsty leeches.


Despite it being a weekend, there were not many people using these trails, possibly because of the somewhat rainy weather. At least it didn't rain while I was there, and it did make for a relatively pleasant and cooling hike through the forest.


It's always nice to stop for a break at one of these small forest streams.


After scaling the Rock Path, I went up the Summit Path, and finally reached the highest point in Singapore.


The reason behind such a blatant showcase of stupidity still eludes me.

I continued down the Rengas Path.


Signs of treefall are everywhere, but this is probably a very recent case. While trees die and fall all the time, it does raise a lot of questions about the continued health of our rainforests.


Are our trees dying at an especially high rate? And if so, what could be the reason? Accelerated erosion from trampling? Changes in the microclimate of the forest due to opening up of trails, leading to increase in penetration of sunlight, decrease in humidity, loss of moisture and stability of the soil?


And even if trees are dying at apparently normal rates comparable to more pristine habitats, one wonders about recruitment of seedlings. Are enough seedlings germinating and surviving to replace their fallen predecessors? How has the loss of many of our large frugivores affected the dispersal of seeds? The tangled and intricate tapestry that links a multitude of species is especially apparent in rainforest ecosystems.


The Dairy Farm Loop branches off the Rengas Path. This was another trail I had yet to visit.


Even within these forests, it is not difficult to discover signs of past human activity.


There are small clearings with dense patches of ferns and other secondary vegetation more typical of forest edges. The young fronds always make for interesting photo subjects.


I continued down Seraya Loop.


There are regular reminders to stick to the trail. Still, one wonders if there are people brave or stupid enough to ignore the warning signs, and get themselves killed or seriously injured.


I cross another stream. This one seems more heavily silted up and clogged with forest debris though.


Reaching Jungle Fall Path was somewhat of a relief, as I was quite exhausted by now, and was ready to head back down towards the Visitor Centre.


There is something very disappointing when you realise that the waterfall here flows out of a drain.


Upon returning to the Main Road, it was a brisk walk downhill back to the Visitor Centre.


As I headed out of the nature reserve and returned to civilisation, I could not help but notice the construction works going on right at the edge of the forest. The impacts of urban development, as well as the inevitable human-animal conflict that results, raise a lot of questions about the long-term survival of this last substantial patch of primary rainforest.

Hopefully, the planned ecological corridor that intends to reconnect Bukit Timah to the Central Catchment Area will help revitalise these forests, giving them a new lease of life as reunited fragments of a larger whole.

Bukit Timah is priceless, not just in terms of its biological treasures, but also in its iconic status as part of our natural heritage. While its continued existence as a Nature Reserve appears secure for now, the forests are in a state of upheaval, slowly changing in the face of degradation and loss of the vital links that once sustained certain elements of this habitat. Hopefully, the forest will weather these changes, and continue to flourish. It may not be the same forest that once captivated Wallace, but it is still a very important forest in our collective psyche, and any further loss and degradation would be an unspeakable tragedy for all. Read more!

Missing

Singapore's last remnants of rainforest harbour few remaining hazards for careless hikers; having lost virtually all of our large mammals, wannabe explorers, blind and deaf to everything around them, have no fear of being ambushed and eaten by jungle denizens. By our hand, the forests have been tamed, sanitised, and made almost entirely safe for everyone to explore and enjoy. What remains is but a shadow of a forest primeval, a shell that at first glance still seems wild and untamed, but which actually disguises a biome thrown off kilter.



If only the forest could share the stories from its past, of the rumbling growls of tigers, of the clash of antlers as stags fought, of the thundering of hooves as wild boar charged through the undergrowth. In a forest devoid of its megafauna, and subsequently thrown into a state of disarray, do the trees clamour for the return of the tiger?



The tiger is long gone, and will never return. And yet, if you just close your eyes, allow your mind to wander, and listen, you may just catch the slightest ghost of a roar of a long-dead big cat. And for a moment, you forget everything else, and you feel the rush of adrenaline coursing through your veins, as dulled senses are heightened once again, awakening memories once thought lost and buried. Read more!

Why was this famous tree at East Coast Seafood Centre removed?

STOMPer Poh claims that this tree, planted by Mr. Lee Kuan Yew, has been removed from its location at the East Coast Seafood Centre.

This STOMPer says:

"This tree at East Coast Seafood Centre was removed two days ago.

"Why was it removed?

"It was planted by Mr. Lee Kuan Yew in 1972 during the second Tree-planting Day.

"Could the National Parks Board please explain this?"

Read more!

Monday Morgue: 9th November 2009

Common Asian toad (Duttaphrynhus melanostictus)
Pasir Ris, 8th August 2009

Ecology Asia
Wildlife Singapore
AmphibiaWeb
Amphibians and Reptiles of Malaysia Read more!

Are 'botak' trees weaker than trees with leaves?

STOMPer Trekker noticed these 'botak' trees and wonders if they are weaker and more prone to collapsing during rainstorms.

He says:

"These pictures were taken near the junction of Jurong West Ave 2 and Jurong West Ave 3.

"This tree is devoid of leaves and only ferns are growing on the trunk and branches.

"If there is a rainstorm this tree might collapse and this poses a danger to pedestrians.

"This vehicle registration number plate was found hanging on a tree and a lorry was parked nearby. I wonder how it got there."

Read more!

Thankfully nobody was hurt when this tree fell at Gambir Walk

STOMPer ana was shocked when she spotted this tree falling this afternoon (Nov 4) at Gambir Walk.

In an email to STOMP today (Nov 4), the STOMPer says:

"A huge tree along Gambir Walk suddenly fell today at 4:35pm. Nobody was hurt. No major damage resulted from the incident.

"The trunk of this old tree was not strong enough to hold its many branches. This could happen again anytime, anywhere. Next time, someone could get hurt.

"Perhaps inspections can be made to see if our trees are sturdy and pose no threat to the safety of our residents."

Read more!

Johor refineries spew smoke day and night over Punggol

STOMPer Irene is frustrated with the smoke emitted from the refinery at Johor, as she says this causes serious air pollution.

Says the STOMPer:

"There is serious air pollution in Punngol due to the refinery at Johor.

"It is pollution, day and night, for us Punggol residents."

STOMP found that it is standard practice for refineries to release exhaust gases to protect pipes from over-pressurisation. This controlled burning of waste gases is known as 'flaring' and the resulting smoke is a mixture of water and carbon dioxide.

Read more!

"Overgrown creepers at Penjuru bus stop gives me sense that living things lurk behind"

STOMPer Bus commuter doesn't feel safe when he waits for a bus at the Pandan Reservoir bus stop along Penjuru Road. The overgrown creepers make him feel as if there are hornets and snakes lurking in them.

Says this STOMPer:

"This picture was taken at a bus stop opposite the Pandan Reservoir at Penjuru Road.

"The creepers are overgrown and covering the railings beside the drains.

"Whenever I wait here for the bus to arrive, I have a sense of trepidation that there might be hornets and snakes lurking in the bushes.

"I hope the creepers could be removed for public safety."

Seriously, some people really have nothing better to do.

Read more!

Dangerous tree stumps in Teban Gardens can lead to fatal accident

These bare tree stumps left by the road at Teban Gardens Crescent are a danger to pedestrians as they might fall during thunderstorms, says STOMPer Weak Heart.

The sender hopes that something can be done to remove these dangerous stumps so that an accident can be prevented.

In an email, STOMPer Weak Heart says:

"These pictures were taken at Teban Gardens Crescent(TGC).

"There are many vertical tree stumps left near the road.

"Some of the trees are dead and are devoid of leaves.

"I fear that during a thunderstorm, these stumps might fall and hurt passers-by.

"I hope the authorities can chop down these stumps so that they don't pose a hazard to pedestrians.

"I always say my prayers each time I have to walk past TGC."

Read more!

Penjuru Road canal polluted with oil and other liquids

Look at how white the water is, says STOMPer chemical engineer, who is concerned about the polluted water in Penjuru Road canal.

The STOMPer hopes relevant action will be taken to stop this pollution.

He says:

"These pictures were taken at a canal at Penjuru Road.

"Some of the factories have been discharging a white liquid and oil into the canal.

"All these pollutants will flow into the rivers and the open sea and kill marine life.

"I hope NEA will conduct more stringent checks on these sources of pollution of our waterways."

The nearest major bodies of water in the vicinity include Pandan Reservoir, Sungei Bajau Kanan, as well as Jurong Lake. Read more!

Monday Morgue: 2nd November 2009

Rat (Rattus sp.)
Pasir Ris, 17th June 2009

It's interesting to see how carcasses deteriorate over time; for some reason, this rat (which was shown in this post) didn't fully decompose, and instead became mummified. I'd first discovered the carcass in May, but by late July, which was the last time I really bothered to inspect it, it had turned quite flat and crispy.

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!

Monkeys roam freely in Pasir Ris

STOMPer Darwin spotted these two monkeys near West Plaza at Pasir Ris today (Nov 1).

In an email to STOMP today (Nov 1), the STOMPer says:

"My friends and I were walking through one of the parks in Pasir Ris, near West Plaza, when we saw two monkeys walking around freely.

"Residents were very much intrigued. They stopped by just to observe the two monkeys."

Well, looks like the long-tailed macaques (Macaca fascicularis) are back at Pasir Ris. After a couple of sightings in April this year at Elias Mall and Sungei Api Api, and an individual spotted by several of us at Sungei Tampines in August, here we have a record of a pair in the area.

I hope nobody starts feeding them. Read more!

So much rubbish for these small bins at Henderson Waves

These bins along the Henderson Waves bridge are too small to handle the volume of rubbish picnickers leave behind them on weekends, says STOMPer May.

Here's what she wrote in an email today:

"I took these pictures today (Nov 1) at 7:50am.

"I hope NParks will look into this matter. There are only four small bins along the entire length of the bridge, and the bins are of a relatively small capacity.

"Over the weekends there are many people picnicking on the bridge and their leftover food is not placed into the bins as they were already full."

Note the pair of long-tailed macaques (Macaca fascicularis) foraging among the trash in the first photo.

It certainly does pose a problem when there are insufficient rubbish disposal facilities in our parks and nature areas. If left uncleared, the garbage will attract scavenging animals, and might also end up polluting the environment. However, these photos also indicate a problem with the mindsets of many people who use our parks and nature areas. Instead of complaining about a lack of bins along this stretch, why don't people just hold on to their garbage until they find another one that isn't full?

Here in Singapore, we have become used to the idea of having a dustbin conveniently situated every few metres, even in the middle of our nature reserves. However, this is not the case elsewhere; in most other countries, when out hiking or camping, it is basic decency to take all trash with you when you leave. Perhaps it would be a good idea to introduce and reinforce the idea of a hiker's basic code of conduct here in Singapore; it does seem that basic hiking etiquette is sorely lacking in many people who use our parks and nature areas. Read more!

Eagle-like bird spotted at Serangoon North Ave 2

STOMPer John Patrick's wife and son spotted this huge eagle-like bird perched on a tree top at Serangoon North Ave 2.

In email sent to STOMP today (Oct 31), the 49-year-old civil servant wrote:

"My wife and son spotted this bird which looks like the eagles we see in Jurong Bird Park from our eighth floor flat at Serangoon North Ave 2.

"This was in the afternoon of Oct 29 and it appeared to be a very large bird."

Do check out the video posted on STOMP.

The video quality is horribly poor, but if I had to make an educated guess, I wouldn't be surprised if it was an Oriental honey buzzard (Pernis ptilorhyncus).


Bidadari Cemetery;
(Photo by NatureInYourBackyard)


(Photo by hiker1974)


Bukit Panjang;
(Photo by kampang)

As the name suggests, the Oriental honey buzzard actually has quite a unique diet; it specialises on raiding the nests of wasps and bees for their larvae, although it also feeds on other insects, and will take small vertebrates.


Oriental honey buzzard feeding on wasp nest, Japanese Garden;
(Photo by NatureInYourBackyard)

Compared to other raptors, the Oriental honey buzzard appears to have a long neck with a small head. Its nostrils are slits, and it has special scale-like feathers around its face, nostrils and forehead. These are adaptations to protect the bird from the stings of wasps and bees.


(Photo by NatureInYourBackyard)


(Photo by cedphotos)

This is a species that is more commonly seen in forested and wooded habitats, although it is becoming quite frequently encountered in urban areas in recent years. Even your jaded Singaporeans, more used to mynas (Acridotheres spp.), feral pigeons (Columba livia), tree sparrows (Passer montanus) and house crows (Corvus splendens), would find it very hard to miss the large raptor perched right outside their homes.


Bukit Panjang;
(Photo by kampang)

The Oriental honey buzzard is not known to breed in Singapore; instead, most sightings are believed to be of migrants from further north. There are 2 main populations; the northern population, belonging to the subspecies orientalis, breeds from Siberia east to China and Japan, and migrates to India and Southeast Asia during the winter. The bulk of sightings of Oriental honey buzzards in Singapore are of birds belonging to this population, and it is considered to be a common winter visitor and passage migrant. Birds belonging to this subspecies have little or no crest.


Khatib Bongsu;
(Photo by kampang)


(Photo by cedphotos)

The southern population consists of 5 subspecies resident in the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia; the most distinctive feature that sets these subspecies apart from the northern population is the presence of a crest.


The nominate subspecies (ptilorhyncus) is endemic to Java;
(Photo by dimar_bioui05)

The subspecies torquatus is an uncommon resident breeder in Peninsular Malaysia. It is likely that the occasional records of this subspecies in Singapore are of newly fledged birds dispersing after the breeding season, in search of new territory. Such birds account for most records of Oriental honey buzzards here in the summer months.


(Photo by Laurence Poh)

The torquatus subspecies is considered to be an uncommon non-breeding visitor; however, there is always the possibility that eventually, some of these might establish themselves and start breeding locally.


Here is a very interesting photo taken in Malaysia; the bird on the left is a male Oriental honey buzzard belonging to the resident race torquatus, while the bird on the right is a male of the same species, except that it belongs to the migratory race orientalis. You can see how different they are in terms of coloration of plumage, and by the presence of a crest in the resident form.

One very interesting fact about the Oriental honey buzzard is that it apparently mimics other raptor species. In terms of plumage, the Oriental honey buzzard is said to bear a close resemblance to several species of hawk-eagle (Nisaetus spp.) of Southeast Asia.

For example, the subspecies torquatus, resident in Peninsular Malaysia, Sumatra and Borneo, closely resembles Wallace's hawk-eagle (Nisaetus nanus).


This is an Oriental honey buzzard belonging to the race torquatus, photographed somewhere in Malaysia;
(Photo by Laurence Poh)


This is a Wallace's hawk-eagle, Kinabatangan;
(Photo by Leif Gabrielsen)

There is also a much less common morph of torquatus, known as the 'Tweeddale morph', that bears great similarity to Blyth's hawk-eagle (Nisaetus alboniger).


Here is an example of the 'Tweeddale morph' of the Oriental honey buzzard, taken at the Mandai Orchid Garden;
(Photo by Micky Lim)


And here is Blyth's hawk-eagle, Panti Forest;
(Photo by Micky Lim)

The 'Tweeddale morph' bird spotted at the Mandai Orchid Garden proved to be the source of some confusion earlier this year.

What makes the Oriental honey buzzard so interesting is that here in tropical South and Southeast Asia, all the different variations in colour and pattern of plumage seen in this species correspond to those of various species and age-classes of hawk-eagle. Besides Wallace's hawk-eagle and Blyth's hawk-eagle mentioned above, other candidates for mimicry include the changeable hawk-eagle (Nisaetus cirrhatus) (itself a highly variable species), Javan hawk-eagle (Nisaetus bartelsi), mountain hawk-eagle (Nisaetus nipalensis) and Philippine hawk-eagle (Nisaetus philippensis).

What is the purpose of this mimicry? It is not often known that larger raptors and owls can be significant predators of other species of raptor and owl; in what is called intraguild predation, smaller predatory species often fall prey to larger predators. However, a large raptor or owl would probably think twice about attacking a well-armed hawk-eagle, especially since it would increase the risk of injury. By mimicking the heavier, more powerful hawk-eagles, the relatively weak and defenceless Oriental honey buzzard probably gains some immunity against predation by other raptors.

The Oriental honey buzzard is just 1 of several raptor species that visits Singapore during the winter months, although it is among the most common. In spring, when it is time for these migrants to head back north to their breeding grounds, these birds may form large flocks, creating an amazing natural spectacle. Tanjung Tuan in Port Dickson is highly popular with birdwatchers each spring, as large numbers of Oriental honey buzzards and other raptors reach the Malay Peninsula, after crossing the Straits of Malacca from Sumatra. Read more!

Huge rats seen at Yishun Park

Something must be done to prevent a rat infestation, says STOMPer altonlsg, who was shocked to see huge rats and several burrows at Yishun Park.

This STOMPer says:

"These pictures was taken after a run on a bright morning, around the nearby Yishun Park when I was walking back home.

"I was looking at the scenery when I saw something odd.

"I saw a rat, not moving but still alive. Its size was quite big and from what I saw, it should be an adult one.

"This could be seen as trivial but I hope the relevant authorities can look into it as this area is a huge piece of land and easily neglected.

"I like the area as it provides a good running route but if I can see one rat there in the morning, I do not know what happens at night.

"Also, a few burrows were seen. Hope something can be done before they continue to breed."

Read more!

The oceans' bounty

Perhaps one of the best ways to catch a glimpse of marine biodiversity is to visit your local fish market. Jurong Fishery Port is no Tsukiji, but on your average early morning visit, it's hard not to be stunned at the sheer volume and diversity of marine life.


All manner of fishes, crustaceans, and other forms of seafood from all over the region arrive here, to be auctioned off and sold, then shipped to markets scattered throughout Singapore.



And yet, viewing the riches of the oceans, marvelling at the kaleidoscope of shapes and colours, one begins to wonder just how much longer we have until we truly reach the end of the line.



With numerous fisheries on the decline, and others on the brink of collapse, it boggles the mind to read about how acute myopia still cripples efforts to save the very resource so many communities depend on.



Aquaculture can provide solutions, but also creates many problems if mismanaged, with greater consequences for vital habitats.



Indeed, more and more are waking up to the fact that the oceans are far from bottomless, and that continued plunder to sustain our insatiable greed will only create undersea deserts.



The need for consumers to make a stand on sustainable seafood is a reality. By choosing what seafood we eat, and what we abstain from eating, we are making decisions that will have trickle-down effects on the suppliers. When demand drops, there will be less of a need to continue to pillage the ever-shrinking fish stocks.



It's a concept that hasn't quite taken root here in the region, although steps are being made to rectify this. As a nation that obviously loves seafood, it's about time we became more responsible and ecologically conscious in what we choose to eat. Read more!

The real deal

Today afternoon, I helped lead a group of students from the National Police Cadet Corps of Coral Secondary School, who were out on their Unit Hike and Community Involvement Programme at Sentosa. It had been raining heavily in the morning, so I was quite pleased that we were experiencing perfect weather.

We started out with a pleasant stroll from the Beach Station up to Imbiah Lookout, where we then began on a ramble through the Sentosa Nature Discovery.



Along one portion, known as the Nepenthes trail, the cadets were treated to a close look at 2 of Singapore's native pitcher plants, the slender pitcher plant (Nepenthes gracilis) and Raffles pitcher plant (Nepenthes rafflesiana).


This photo of the pitcher of a slender pitcher plant was taken along the trail during a previous visit.


This is Madam Nora, one of the teachers helping out with the event.



Once we'd completed the trail, and ended up at Siloso Beach, I gave a quick briefing about the next leg of the day's event, and one that I found to be of great significance - the Community Involvement Programme.



I had planned to get the cadets to clean up a stretch of shore at Tanjung Rimau, hence the purpose of my most recent visit. I knew that as students, they would probably have done quite a fair bit of beach cleanups; in fact, the lower secondary students had spent Monday and Tuesday morning picking up litter at the beach at Pasir Ris Park. However, I wanted to show them a real eye-opener, an authentic example of what happens when trash is continuously being deposited on the shore.

I find beach cleanups to be ridiculously simple jobs, especially if they are taking place mere hours after the army of cleaners has already removed much of the litter on the shore. East Coast Park and Pasir Ris Park do get heavy loads of trash, but most of it is cleared by the cleaners, who are often already hard at work even before sunrise.


Litter being cleared at East Coast Park;
(Photo by Ria)

In contrast, places like Tanjung Rimau, Tanah Merah and Pulau Semakau have almost never been cleaned up before, and so suffer from a heavy load of trash that just keeps accumulating.


Trash on Tanah Merah;


Trash on northern shore of Pulau Semakau;

And so, although we would probably make only a small dent in the amount of rubbish on Tanjung Rimau, at least the cadets would truly realise the impact of marine trash, and how they could help make a difference, both as individuals and as a group.

The cadets reached the shore and got down to work. This was what they had to tackle:


This photo was taken on my previous visit, but you get the idea.


Most of the cadets were truly taken aback at all the rubbish that had washed up on the beach, and many of them soon took to their task with enthusiasm.


Some ventured into the undergrowth to clear up all the empty water bottles and plastic bags.

We were there for only a short while, but the bags were filling rapidly, and we soon ran out of trash bags. We only managed to clear the rubbish from a small portion of the shore, but I like to think that we did make a difference in helping to rid Tanjung Rimau of some of its marine trash. Every little bit counts.

Here we are with our haul:


Well done, everyone! I'm really proud that the cadets were so willing to put in the effort. As far as I know, this is the very first cleanup session at Tanjung Rimau ever; hopefully there will be more to come. Read more!

So convenient to dispose paint into Geylang river when renovating tennis court

STOMPer Lester was not happy when he spotted paint apparently being discharged into the Geylang river for the renovation of a private tennis court at Aston Mansions.

Says this STOMPer:

"Aston Mansions at Lorong 42 Geylang were renovating their tennis court Lor 42 Geylang.

"Discharged paint into the Geylang river."

Read more!