tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-76257119627803856172024-03-05T15:33:28.928+08:00The Lazy Lizard's TalesIvanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11637204084596462318noreply@blogger.comBlogger1050125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7625711962780385617.post-65480253719940787122013-12-18T18:00:00.000+08:002013-12-19T02:28:51.017+08:00Beehive hangs from Woodlands bus stop<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/hai_ren/11434748446/" title="Beehive hangs from Woodlands bus stop by Hai_Ren, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2886/11434748446_11554bf225.jpg" width="462" height="280" alt="Beehive hangs from Woodlands bus stop"></a><br />
<a name='more'></a><blockquote><i>STOMPer <b>Meshelle</b> found a linear-shaped beehive hanging from a bus stop in Woodlands.<br />
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The bus stop is after Woodlands Industrial Park E6 and its number is "B46481".<br />
<br />
The STOMPer wrote:<br />
<br />
"While waiting for the bus, I found a straight bee hive hanging from the bus stop.<br />
<br />
"I have also informed the town council about this."</i></blockquote><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/hai_ren/11434554043/" title="Beehive hangs from Woodlands bus stop by Hai_Ren, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3828/11434554043_f723fa20f7_o.jpg" width="339" height="600" alt="Beehive hangs from Woodlands bus stop"></a><br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/hai_ren/11434390945/" title="Beehive hangs from Woodlands bus stop by Hai_Ren, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5527/11434390945_65b7f1528f_o.jpg" width="338" height="600" alt="Beehive hangs from Woodlands bus stop"></a><br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/hai_ren/11434416244/" title="Beehive hangs from Woodlands bus stop by Hai_Ren, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2852/11434416244_7760066034_o.jpg" width="338" height="600" alt="Beehive hangs from Woodlands bus stop"></a><br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/hai_ren/11434391065/" title="Beehive hangs from Woodlands bus stop by Hai_Ren, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3809/11434391065_9f0f8cffe8_o.jpg" width="338" height="600" alt="Beehive hangs from Woodlands bus stop"></a><br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/hai_ren/11434391005/" title="Beehive hangs from Woodlands bus stop by Hai_Ren, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5476/11434391005_ed7554b377_o.jpg" width="338" height="600" alt="Beehive hangs from Woodlands bus stop"></a><br />
<br />
This is not a beehive, but the nest of a <a href="http://www.natureloveyou.sg/Minibeast-Bee/Ropalidia%20fasciata/Main.html">banded paper wasp</a> (<i>Ropalidia fasciata</i>).<br />
<br />
I wrote about these tiny wasps <a href="http://lazy-lizard-tales.blogspot.sg/2011/04/wasps-at-work.html">back in 2011</a>, after an encounter I had with a similar nest at a former workplace. <br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/hai_ren/5640976379/" title="Paper Wasps by Hai_Ren, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5067/5640976379_ee4976bc1e.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Paper Wasps"></a><br />
Nest of banded paper wasp, Upper Jurong Road;<br />
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It's worth noting what I said back then about the risk of being attacked by these small wasps:<br />
<blockquote><i>According to John Lee, who runs the <a href="http://www.vespa-bicolor.net/main/vespid/ropalidia.htm">Asian Hornet Net</a> website, Ropalidia wasps do not present much of a threat when colonies are small; the adults are usually quick to flee when disturbed. However, once the colony is large enough, the wasps will defend their nest quite aggressively. Considering the small size of the adult wasps, the stings can be quite painful. This is a rare occurrence though, since they will attack only when physical contact is made with the colony, such as when people unknowingly brush against it or poke it out of curiosity. Indeed, the wasps were highly tolerant of my presence, even though I was quite close to the nest (though I was not touching it), and went about their business without harassing me.</i></blockquote>(Where photos of other species of bees and wasps are featured in this post, I have also included <a href="http://iyb2010singapore.blogspot.sg/2010/02/hooked-on-hymenopterans-part-1.html">John Lee</a>'s expert opinions on whether they can be potentially dangerous)<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/chimck/2610107747/" title="Wasp @ St. John's Island by chimck, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3194/2610107747_b3a008d83e_z.jpg" width="480" height="640" alt="Wasp @ St. John's Island"></a><br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/chimck/2610938770/" title="Wasp @ St. John's Island by chimck, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3292/2610938770_f0c2cb747d_z.jpg" width="480" height="640" alt="Wasp @ St. John's Island"></a><br />
Nest of banded paper wasp, St. John's Island;<br />
(Photos by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/chimck/">Chee Kong</a>)<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/37823682@N04/4827106046/" title="wasp by [wj], on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4100/4827106046_67108b13ed.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="wasp"></a><br />
Banded paper wasp, Venus Drive;<br />
(Photo by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/37823682@N04/">James</a>)<br />
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My friend Rene shared <a href="https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.165651516827888.40192.133291903397183">a series of photos</a> documenting a colony of banded paper wasps in her balcony. Although the nest lasted for barely more than a month, it provided her with excellent opportunities to observe the behaviour of these social insects.<br />
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<a href="https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=165722730154100" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE2Jg5X5w-pvi-Nd7LdbpNaRh2-3OTXWT1_zh5TW0D_iYWRecFkP2kH8QiE6cM9NS3WjgZNSJZOOM1GpqtGz1sTWjGb-_zL3f0qpF3wq0qUfPpH6C8TzMirEfpzPH-3bEhLvs989KBlnFm/s500/225829_165722730154100_3774419_n.jpg" /></a><br />
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=165749870151386" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifG7WdHDMg7eBeFNJXZRaqJ2Ee8aIqU3PJ5_uEHfk4-XIU4jEBuDIXqUm5MUWp70lu1O79-iRvD3pSugo43nFiYlEy0zIGMCzsA41vHxj1JAwrk6J5W5LwRR8ptN6UgaUzjQ7i6Db1cpjo/s500/225118_165749870151386_4418168_n.jpg" /></a><br />
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=165787910147582" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVNKk2jMbOioA9O9GsSjhytCNbC9W5AFKDOAjxqs6OueTlVMcgzleeHbKnRVoAVcir60uAZWCv7ZJwdYYl1B1nXy6t6UXDCAvoemV1i4fC0kDKHedDt4n6rNSuibsYXA4zE-f8ptogXOk2/s500/224230_165787910147582_4126173_n.jpg" /></a><br />
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=165788786814161" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3lPrDycAL7IhXhed7qZH6nGxlhtGBU5OX_uFbSOGEh1iPitCmwuQLxNvNiJDYWx-7D5b0FAJfpd2CHEFsPKxHgfJ9yq4plflUedTE-506kJG2ncre6MxZlUiJlp_elYuU9Nbi_KFf2dI-/s500/223393_165788786814161_7650561_n.jpg" /></a><br />
(Photos by <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Naturely-Curious/133291903397183">Rene</a>)<br />
<br />
The perceived threat to public safety means that honeybee and hornet nests built close to areas with high human activity are usually destroyed, and such fear means that other more innocuous bees and wasp species may become collateral damage. On one hand, getting attacked by a swarm of honeybees or hornets can be <a href="http://news.asiaone.com/news/singapore/hazardous-remove-beehives-day">potentially life-threatening</a>, though an attack usually results from some form of provocation. Yet at the same time, these insects render valuable ecosystem services; hornets and other social wasps are skilled <a href="http://www.vespa-bicolor.net/main/observations/hunting-strategy.htm">hunters of other insects</a>, while bees and wasps visit flowers and play a vital role in pollination. <br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/arkiboxxx/4060964446/" title="bee by nonoiphotography (post and run mode), on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2737/4060964446_9ae9cf208f.jpg" width="500" height="500" alt="bee"></a><br />
Asian honeybee (<i>Apis cerana</i>), Singapore Botanic Gardens;<br />
<i>"Apis cerana has been described as docile (Hisashi, 2010), mild (Bhuiyan et al., 2002), tolerant and timid (Friedrich Ruttner, 1988) with a gentle temperament (Verma, 1990 in Partap, 2011) and low stinging tendency (Friedrich Ruttner, 1988), although it will sting when cornered or highly disturbed, just as Apis mellifera [western honeybee] does. Apis cerana is said to be less prone to stinging than Apis mellifera and has less alerting pheromone in its sting (half the amount of Apis mellifera ligustica, the Italian bee) – resulting in fewer additional stings by defending bees (Friedrich Ruttner, 1988). In a simulated attack on their nest, Apis cerana guards simply retreated into their nest cavity (Friedrich Ruttner, 1988; Thomas D. Seeley, 1983)."</i><br />
[John Lee did not have an entry on the Asian honeybee, so this description of this species' temperament is from <a href="http://asianhoneybee.net.au/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/AHB-behaviour-lit-review-FINAL2013.pdf">this document on Asian honeybees</a>]<br />
(Photo by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/arkiboxxx/">nonoiphotography</a>)<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/yewchung/10660426246/" title="Carpenter Bee (female) by Yew Chung, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7413/10660426246_18034e61c7.jpg" width="500" height="310" alt="Carpenter Bee (female)"></a><br />
<a href="http://vespa-bicolor.net/main/solitary-bees/xylocopa-confusa.htm">Lesser carpenter bee</a> (<i>Xylocopa aestuans</i>), Singapore Botanic Gardens;<br />
<i>"Carpenter bees often cause fear in many, due to their large size, intimidating appearance and loud buzzing. However, they are completely harmless. A sting from one of these giant bees is a lot less painful than one would expect, although it does cause some swelling. Furthermore, these bees never attack, so the only way one may be accidentally stung would be to actually crush one or to unknowingly touch the entrance hole."</i><br />
(Photo by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/yewchung/">Yew Chung</a>)<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/lonesomecrow/4020957529/" title="Blue-Banded Bee by kampang, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3490/4020957529_69fd84f0f5.jpg" width="500" height="343" alt="Blue-Banded Bee"></a><br />
<a href="http://www.vespa-bicolor.net/main/solitary-bees/amegilla.htm">Blue-banded bee</a> (<i>Amegilla</i> sp.), Chestnut Avenue;<br />
<i>"These bees pose virtually no threat to people. A sting from these bees feels like a mere pinprick and is extremely unlikely anyway. A neatly kept garden and well-maintained walls and brickwork will discourage them from nesting where people may contact them. It should be noted, however, that they should indeed be encouraged in gardens."</i><br />
(Photo by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/lonesomecrow/">kampang</a>)<br />
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It's important to recognise that among the many species of bees and wasps present in Singapore, only a select few pose any potential serious danger to people, and usually only in situations when a nest has been disturbed. Even when hornet or honeybee nests have been detected, simply <a href="http://otterman.wordpress.com/2012/05/24/detouring-around-a-hornets-vespa-affinis-nest-in-mandai-besar-mangrove/">avoiding the immediate vicinity</a> is typically enough to avoid provoking a defensive response. <br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/20493025@N03/3568863626/" title="Lesser Banded Hornet nest by kokhuitan, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3559/3568863626_1f40a23c71.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Lesser Banded Hornet nest"></a><br />
Nest of <a href="http://www.vespa-bicolor.net/main/vespid/vespa-affinis.htm">lesser banded hornet</a> (<i>Vespa affinis</i>), Neo Tiew;<br />
<i>"In my experience, Vespa affinis is not particularly defensive near the nest, and it is in fact possible to approach and observe a nest at close range. However, large numbers of workers will swarm out and attack pugnaciously when the nest is disturbed."</i><br />
(Photo by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/20493025@N03/">kokhuitan</a>)<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/lonesomecrow/2702863367/" title="BUZZ by kampang, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3168/2702863367_70b8eea7bf.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="BUZZ"></a><br />
Nest of <a href="http://www.vespa-bicolor.net/main/social-bees/apis-dorsata.htm">giant honeybee</a> (<i>Apis dorsata</i>), Chinese Garden;<br />
<i>"The nests are usually very high in trees in Singapore; this is a good thing, for these are some of the most aggressive and dangerous stinging insects known. According to some, they are even more aggressive than the hornets and show much more persistence in pursuing intruders."</i><br />
(Photo by kampang)<br />
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<a href="https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=607809105798" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkXGMFcmOP7DPVuJp-l1n3-pSOYnLYOWuXuXtDUATeSPmeqzVW7pCq7lPAsGJ3vIL2jcLQMI-d_OqWR3gVmlAEZ_iBSogqbpIY-wj5HFHouk7rxeFY_qSTMWdwn9evwB6sT186aIBK3WaG/s640/969678_607809105798_982057782_n.jpg" /></a><br />
Nest of dwarf honeybee (<i>Apis andreniformis</i>), East Coast Road;<br />
<i>"Apis andreniformis is not particularly defensive; it is certainly less so than Apis cerana or Apis dorsata. In my experience, a nest will start "trembling" or "tremoring" in defense when approached to within 3 feet. This behaviour is present in many Asian honeybee species (Apis cerana, Apis dorsata and Apis andreniformis). The bees swing their bodies from side to side rapidly, sending waves throughout the swarm, and more and more bees follow suit; the whole nest thus appears to "shimmer" at regular intervals of one or two seconds. There is usually a little "tail" of bees at the bottom of the nest. When disturbed, this "tail" lengthens noticeably, and at the same time, a loose swarm starts forming at the top of the nest, near the attachment to the branch. All these bees will be involved in attacking if the intruder comes closer.<br />
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Once thoroughly alarmed, these bees will attack viciously in large swarms, although it is rare for them to be agitated to this extent. Nests of these bees still pose little danger to the public in general, unless a nest is located in a low bush where one could accidentally knock into. The sting of these bees is not really painful but produces a surprising amount of swelling. Their stings are short and cannot easily penetrate the average adult's skin (except for softer parts such as the underside of the forearm or the neck). They, too, leave their sting in the wound as common honeybees do, and so only sting once."</i><br />
(Photo by <a href="https://www.facebook.com/liana.tang">Liana</a>)<br />
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Urban parks and gardens represent <a href="http://rmbr.nus.edu.sg/nis/bulletin2013/2013nis153-172.pdf">important foraging areas</a> for many hymenopteran species, and there is a possibility that forest-dependent bee species might venture into nearby parks to feed. It is likely that efforts to enhance urban greenery <a href="http://butterflycircle.blogspot.sg/2011/12/new-butterfly-garden-at-tampines.html">to attract butterflies</a> have inadvertently benefited bees as well, and such spaces might turn out to be of some conservation value, especially where some of our more uncommon bee species are concerned. However, there is the problem of whether any bee and wasp colonies that become established in such areas will be allowed to persist, or whether they will be assumed to be dangerous and destroyed regardless of the actual risk.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/siyangteo/3244472094/"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3131/3244472094_3eac6a2ed6.jpg"></a><br />
Nest of stingless bee (<i>Trigona</i> sp.), Pulau Ubin;<br />
<i>"Stingless bees do in fact have stings. It is just that their stings are too small and weak to penetrate human skin. However, some species ferociously defend their colonies by biting and even spraying certain chemicals which cause a painful burning sensation. However, they are not particularly defensive if the nest is left alone, and do not pose a threat in most cases."</i><br />
(Photo by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/siyangteo/">Siyang</a>)<br />
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<a href="http://www.independent.co.uk/environment/why-londons-beekeepers-are-a-growing-band-476750.html">Urban beekeeping</a> has become increasingly popular in recent years, although there has been <a href="http://phys.org/news/2013-08-urban-beekeeping-scientists.html">some controversy</a> as to whether cities like London have sufficient green areas with flowering plants to provide food for so many hives. Here in Singapore, where there is abundant urban vegetation and plenty of flowering plants to supply bees and other insects with nectar and pollen, perhaps it's worth exploring the possibility of allowing honeybees to <a href="http://news.asiaone.com/news/singapore/bee-hives-your-backyard-dont-worry">set up colonies</a> in sites where they are less likely to be disturbed by people or <a href="https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=743496142343618">destroyed by pest control</a>.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/azmanma/5522558612/" title="Beekeeping in Malaysia by Azman Md Ali, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5016/5522558612_e189702e12_z.jpg" width="480" height="640" alt="Beekeeping in Malaysia"></a><br />
Beekeeping in Malaysia, using Asian honeybee;<br />
(Photo by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/azmanma/">Azman Md Ali</a>)Ivanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11637204084596462318noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7625711962780385617.post-1689229157059429232013-11-20T18:00:00.000+08:002013-12-19T02:33:48.958+08:00Dangerous-looking bug with hundreds of spines found at foot of Hougang block<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/hai_ren/10961407905/" title="Dangerous-looking bug with hundreds of spines found at foot of Hougang block by Hai_Ren, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7378/10961407905_f088dacda5.jpg" width="462" height="280" alt="Dangerous-looking bug with hundreds of spines found at foot of Hougang block"></a><br />
<a name='more'></a><blockquote><i>STOMPer <b>Lau Lup</b> spotted this dangerous-looking creature in the garden at the foot of his HDB block at Hougang Avenue 10.<br />
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According to the STOMPer, the creature was so completely covered with spines he had thought it was a cactus at first.<br />
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Lau Lup wrote:<br />
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"On Sunday, Nov 3 at about 5pm, I walked pass the garden below my block and encountered this strange and dangerous-looking insect with sharp spines surrounding its entire body.<br />
<br />
"Initially I thought it was a cactus until the creature started crawling away from my foot.<br />
<br />
"I quickly rushed home and brought down my camera to shoot this creature.<br />
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"I have walked past this neighborhood garden numerous times.<br />
<br />
"This is the first time I have seen such a peculiar insect living below my block in Hougang Avenue 10.<br />
<br />
"I wonder if this insect is poisonous?<br />
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"How does it even mate with its spines and all?<br />
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"I hope to share this creature with my fellow Singaporeans."</i></blockquote><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/hai_ren/10961577464/" title="Dangerous-looking bug with hundreds of spines found at foot of Hougang block by Hai_Ren, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7383/10961577464_3fb13f2848.jpg" width="500" height="331" alt="Dangerous-looking bug with hundreds of spines found at foot of Hougang block"></a><br />
<i>STOMPer Lau Lup's unusual find</i><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/hai_ren/10961577454/" title="Dangerous-looking bug with hundreds of spines found at foot of Hougang block by Hai_Ren, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7448/10961577454_8ca1c4d731.jpg" width="500" height="331" alt="Dangerous-looking bug with hundreds of spines found at foot of Hougang block"></a><br />
<i>The insect appears to be completely covered with spines</i><br />
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This bizarre-looking insect is the caterpillar of a species of butterfly known as the <a href="http://www.butterflycircle.com/checklist/showbutterfly/71">baron</a> (<i>Euthalia aconthea gurda</i>).<br />
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Here are more photos of baron caterpillars.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tishfire/8986833331/" title="The Common Baron (Euthalia aconthea) by Tishfire, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2858/8986833331_a03c24a29d.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="The Common Baron (Euthalia aconthea)"></a><br />
(Photo by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tishfire/">Tishfire</a>)<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/lemonteayk/7822254234/" title="The Baron by LemonTeaYK, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7114/7822254234_5f37c22b51.jpg" width="500" height="331" alt="The Baron"></a><br />
(Photo by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/lemonteayk/">LemonTeaYK</a>)<br />
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This is what the adult form of the baron looks like.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/angiud/5997303299/" title="The Mango Baron by angiud, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6148/5997303299_f70d7d93da.jpg" width="500" height="340" alt="The Mango Baron"></a><br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/angiud/5997512401/" title="The Baron by angiud, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6136/5997512401_e9ff039b5a.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="The Baron"></a><br />
(Photos by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/angiud/">angiud</a>)<br />
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You can find out more about the baron in this page on the <a href="http://www.butterflycircle.com/checklist/showbutterfly/71">Butterfly Circle Checklist</a>, as well as <a href="http://butterflycircle.blogspot.sg/2008/02/life-history-of-baron.html">Life History of the Baron</a> on the accompanying Butterflies of Singapore blog. Kwan of natureloveyou.sg also has <a href="http://www.natureloveyou.sg/Minibeast-Butterfly/Butterfly_Euthalia%20aconthea%20gurda/Main.html">a gallery of photos</a> documenting the various life stages of the baron.<br />
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Baron caterpillars feed on the leaves of mango (<i>Mangifera indica</i>), and as a result, this species can be common in areas where mango trees have been planted, including urban parks and gardens. Because of its diet, it is also known as the mango baron elsewhere.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/9022095@N03/5426648011/" title="Euthalia aconthea gurda caterpillar by depeche77, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5015/5426648011_593ab2747c.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Euthalia aconthea gurda caterpillar"></a><br />
Close-up of the head and thorax of baron caterpillar;<br />
(Photo by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/9022095@N03/">depeche77</a>)<br />
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There is no information as to whether the baron caterpillar is venomous or possesses urticating (stinging) hairs; one way to know for sure would be to allow the caterpillar's spines or hairs to make contact with exposed skin (which is generally not a recommended course of action). The baron belongs to a family of butterflies known as the Nymphalidae, and the caterpillars of some species have been blamed for stinging people, although there does not seem to be any conclusive data. It would be prudent to avoid handling any caterpillar unless you are sure of its identity and know that it does not sting. <br />
<br />
As an aside, <a href="http://intl.ajtmh.org/content/72/3/347.full">here is a paper</a> that provides an excellent overview of what we know about stinging caterpillars. Symptoms are usually not life-threatening and are limited to itching and rashes, but some species are potentially dangerous, and a careless brush with one <a href="http://www.ajtmh.org/content/74/5/807.long">can really ruin your day</a>. <br />
<br />
Here are some examples of moth families with stinging caterpillars. However, most of the information as to which caterpillars are capable of stinging people is based on species found elsewhere in the world, not in Southeast Asia. The representatives of these same families in Singapore MIGHT be able to sting, although there does not seem to be much data about this at present. To make matters worse, unlike the butterflies, which are conspicuous and brightly-coloured, and are easy to observe, moths tend to be more cryptic, and hence many species have yet to be conclusively identified, nor have we been able to match the caterpillars with the (often plain-looking) adults. <br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/_husky_/4123955508/" title="seletar_JQL5925 by _husky_, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2690/4123955508_406bcb7157.jpg" width="500" height="336" alt="seletar_JQL5925"></a><br />
Limacodidae (slug moth), Upper Seletar;<br />
(Photo by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/_husky_/">Jacqueline</a>)<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/37823682@N04/5896285030/" title="IMG_5764s by [wj], on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5034/5896285030_26eec2f365.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="IMG_5764s"></a><br />
Lasiocampidae (snout moth), Chek Jawa;<br />
(Photo by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/37823682@N04/">James</a>)<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/marboed/3866752875/" title="Tussock moth caterpillar by marboed, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2610/3866752875_e71c68f342.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="Tussock moth caterpillar"></a><br />
Lymantriidae (tussock moth), Singapore Botanic Gardens;<br />
(Photo by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/marboed/">marboed</a>)<br />
<br />
Most of these caterpillars seem to lose their weaponry upon developing into cocoons and subsequently emerging as moths. There are old wives' tales warning against getting too close to moths and butterflies, for fear of coming into contact with the 'powder' from their wings, which can cause blindness. However, this danger has been exaggerated; the 'powder', which actually comprises the minute scales that cover the bodies and wings of these insects, is not going to cause any serious harm. Nonetheless, it is worth noting that some moths remain capable of causing skin irritation, thanks to the retention of urticating hairs into adulthood.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://newspapers.nl.sg/Digitised/Article/straitstimes19900710-1.2.9.5.aspx">Back in March 1990</a>, several residents in Bukit Panjang suffered an outbreak of itching and rashes. This coincided with an irruption of small, brown moths that were subsequently identified as tussock moths similar to the species <a href="http://www.mothsofborneo.com/part-5/nygmiini/nygmiini_1_1.php"><i>Arna bipunctapex</i></a> (known at the time as <i>Euproctis bipunctapex</i>). Tests showed that the skin conditions were <a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/1868703">caused by direct contact with the adult moths</a>. Fortunately, these symptoms subsided within a week. <br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/33398884@N03/5934362938/" title="Euproctis bipunctapex - Doi Su thep, Chiang Mai by Bennyboymothman, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6004/5934362938_206035e8c9.jpg" width="500" height="318" alt="Euproctis bipunctapex - Doi Su thep, Chiang Mai"></a><br />
<i>Arna bipunctapex</i>;<br />
(Photo by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/33398884@N03/">Bennyboymothman</a>)<br />
<br />
This episode happened in the midst of a period of hot and dry weather, which might have somehow favoured increased survival of caterpillars and pupae to maturity. Whatever the case, the result was that large numbers of these tussock moths had emerged, most likely from nearby patches of vegetation, and ended up coming into contact with people. Artificial lighting might have also been a factor in attracting moths towards residences, hence greatly increasing the likelihood of contact. <br />
<br />
Our urban greenery provides habitat for a wide variety of insects species. Some of them are often fascinating, even downright bizarre. Yet most people hardly notice their presence, which is a shame, since observing these insects can provide excellent opportunities to expose children and adults alike to urban biodiversity, and to gain a finer appreciation for the so-called minifauna and the important roles they play in our human-dominated ecosystems.<br />
<br />
I'm reminded of this clip from Sesame Street:<br />
<br />
<iframe width="500" height="375" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/TXR3mKg_9jw" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>Ivanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11637204084596462318noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7625711962780385617.post-34820296287525377922013-10-19T18:00:00.000+08:002013-10-20T16:39:38.437+08:00Sudsy deposits turn water in Sungei Kallang drain white<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/hai_ren/10376320154/" title="Sudsy deposits turn water in Sungei Kallang drain white by Hai_Ren, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3711/10376320154_b3dcdc4a1d.jpg" width="462" height="280" alt="Sudsy deposits turn water in Sungei Kallang drain white"></a><br />
<a name='more'></a><blockquote><i>STOMPer <b>Lisa</b> was concerned to see the water in a Sungei Kallang drain turn white at about 2pm today (Oct 19).<br />
<br />
The STOMPer also saw two workers doing construction work nearby, and wondered if that had something to due with the residue in the drain.<br />
<br />
Lisa elaborates:<br />
<br />
"Soon after lunch today at about 2pm, I noticed quite a lot of suds floating down Sungei Kallang near Circuit and Balam Road.<br />
<br />
"I was concerned as this is not the first time I had seen this.<br />
<br />
"The suds ended at a drain adjacent to Little Road , next to 13 Little Road and leading to a private residential estate.<br />
<br />
"I saw a worker working on something that looked like cement a little distance from where the suds ended and another worker working on the same thing further upstream.<br />
<br />
"There were some sand on the walkway and road work cones next to the drain.<br />
<br />
"I just wonder where these suds come from and whether these workers have anything to do with these suds.<br />
<br />
"I am concerned about the impact of such pollution on our drinking water and whether strict measures are enforced to ensure the cleanliness of our drinking water."</i></blockquote><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/hai_ren/10376358986/" title="Sudsy deposits turn water in Sungei Kallang drain white by Hai_Ren, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5530/10376358986_efba3ff00b_z.jpg" width="467" height="625" alt="Sudsy deposits turn water in Sungei Kallang drain white"></a><br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/hai_ren/10376320334/" title="Sudsy deposits turn water in Sungei Kallang drain white by Hai_Ren, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5485/10376320334_6d0eb5be1b.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Sudsy deposits turn water in Sungei Kallang drain white"></a><br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/hai_ren/10376335695/" title="Sudsy deposits turn water in Sungei Kallang drain white by Hai_Ren, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3816/10376335695_2160a0c5f1_z.jpg" width="469" height="625" alt="Sudsy deposits turn water in Sungei Kallang drain white"></a><br />
<br />
This looks bad, especially considering that the Kallang River drains into Marina Reservoir. I hope the <a href="http://www.pub.gov.sg/">Public Utilities Board</a> (PUB) and <a href="http://www.nea.gov.sg/">National Environment Agency</a> (NEA) were notified about this.<br />
<br />
Under Chapter 94A of the <a href="http://statutes.agc.gov.sg/aol/search/display/view.w3p;ident=c4a24c30-74e1-4540-8809-45c128b241c5;page=0;query=DocId%3A7cc1971c-6237-4f5a-a75c-dd378fc80179%20Depth%3A0%20ValidTime%3A20%2F10%2F2013%20TransactionTime%3A20%2F10%2F2013%20Status%3Ainforce;rec=0">Environmental Protection and Management Act</a>, Section 17 states:<br />
<blockquote><i>(1) Any person who discharges or causes or permits to be discharged any toxic substance or hazardous substance into any inland water so as to be likely to cause pollution of the environment shall be guilty of an offence and shall —<br />
(a) be liable on the first conviction to a fine not exceeding $50,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months or to both; and<br />
(b) be punished on a second or subsequent conviction with both imprisonment for a term of not less than one month and not more than 12 months and a fine not exceeding $100,000.<br />
<br />
(2) Where a person carrying on any trade or business has been convicted of a second or subsequent offence under subsection (1)(b) for the discharge of, or for causing or permitting the discharge of, any toxic substance or hazardous substance which is produced by any process or work in connection with that trade or business, the Agency may, by order in writing, direct that person to immediately cease carrying on that process or work either indefinitely or for such period as may be specified in the order.<br />
[4/2002]<br />
<br />
(3) Any person who fails to comply with an order made under subsection (2) shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $100,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 3 months or to both and, in the case of a continuing offence, to a further fine not exceeding $2,000 for every day or part thereof during which the offence continues after conviction.<br />
<br />
(4) If any person fails to comply with an order made under subsection (2), the Director-General may take such step or measure as is necessary to ensure that the order is complied with and the reasonable costs and expenses incurred by the Director-General in taking such step or measure shall be recoverable from the person in default as a debt due to the Agency.<br />
[4/2002]<br />
<br />
(5) For the purposes of this section —<br />
(a) a person shall be deemed to have discharged a toxic substance or hazardous substance into any inland water if he places the substance or causes it to be placed in a position where it is liable to fall or descend or be washed or to percolate or be blown into the water;<br />
(b) the discharge of a toxic substance or hazardous substance shall be deemed to cause pollution of the environment if the substance has been discharged or placed in such a manner or in such quantity (whether by itself or with any other substance) as to subject persons or animals to a material risk of death, injury or impairment of health or as to threaten to pollute (whether on the surface or underground) any inland water;<br />
(c) the fact that the toxic substance or hazardous substance is placed in containers shall not of itself be taken to exclude any pollution of the environment which might be expected to be caused if the substance were not in containers; and<br />
(d)where the toxic substance or hazardous substance has been discharged from any premises into any inland water, it shall be presumed, until the contrary is proved, that the occupier of the premises, other than a principal contractor to which section 35 applies, had discharged or caused or permitted to be discharged the toxic substance or hazardous substance in contravention of subsection (1).</i></blockquote>Ivanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11637204084596462318noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7625711962780385617.post-5224364339955336182013-09-29T18:00:00.000+08:002013-09-29T23:44:31.158+08:00Company responsible for yellow liquid in Loyang drain will face action: NEA<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/hai_ren/9874092636/" title="Water pollution? Yellowish liquid spotted in Loyang industrial estate's drainage by Hai_Ren, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5467/9874092636_2eff210e20.jpg" width="462" height="280" alt="Water pollution? Yellowish liquid spotted in Loyang industrial estate's drainage"></a><br />
<a name='more'></a><blockquote><i>A spokesperson for <b>NEA</b> has said that the company responsible for the yellow discharge in a Loyang drain will face action. <br />
<br />
STOMPer <b>Lim</b> had previously made a post about the <a href="http://origin-singaporeseen.stomp.com.sg/singaporeseen/in-the-heartlands/water-pollution-yellowish-liquid-spotted-in-loyang-industrial-estates-drainage">yellow liquid flowing in the drain</a> which is at Loyang Industrial Park.<br />
<br />
The spokesperson said the liquid was non-hazardous printer dye from a company's printing machine.<br />
<br />
Said the spokesperson: <br />
<br />
"We would like to thank Mr Lim for his feedback.<br />
<br />
"On 17 September 2013, the National Environment Agency (NEA) received feedback from a Mr Lim via the NEA hotline about a yellow discharge in a drain at Loyang Link.<br />
<br />
"In response, NEA officers went to the site to investigate but no yellow discharge was observed there.<br />
<br />
"A heavy downpour that had occurred earlier that afternoon could have washed off any signs of the discharge in the drain.<br />
<br />
"When NEA notified Mr Lim of its initial findings, he provided a photograph of the discharge to NEA.<br />
<br />
"NEA conducted follow up investigations and subsequently established that the discharge was a non-hazardous yellow dye from a printing machine belonging to a company located at Loyang Link.<br />
<br />
"NEA is taking enforcement action against the company responsible for the discharge of trade effluent into the drain."</i></blockquote><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/hai_ren/9874092896/" title="Water pollution? Yellowish liquid spotted in Loyang industrial estate's drainage by Hai_Ren, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3774/9874092896_9c7b3dcb2b_z.jpg" width="480" height="640" alt="Water pollution? Yellowish liquid spotted in Loyang industrial estate's drainage"></a><br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/hai_ren/9874083465/" title="Water pollution? Yellowish liquid spotted in Loyang industrial estate's drainage by Hai_Ren, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5345/9874083465_3d30ecea22.jpg" width="500" height="300" alt="Water pollution? Yellowish liquid spotted in Loyang industrial estate's drainage"></a><br />
<br />
<b>Related post:</b> <a href="http://lazy-lizard-tales.blogspot.sg/2013/09/water-pollution-yellowish-liquid.html">Water pollution? Yellowish liquid spotted in Loyang industrial estate's drainage</a> (21st September 2013)Ivanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11637204084596462318noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7625711962780385617.post-35862817589328163362013-09-24T18:00:00.000+08:002013-09-25T22:42:03.715+08:00What is this strange worm-like creature at Pasir Ris Park?<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/hai_ren/9913792005/" title="What is this strange worm-like creature at Pasir Ris Park? by Hai_Ren, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7377/9913792005_055863b6ce.jpg" width="462" height="280" alt="What is this strange worm-like creature at Pasir Ris Park?"></a><br />
<a name='more'></a><blockquote><i>STOMPer <b>Ziqi</b> spotted a strange worm-like creature at Pasir Ris Park's beach, and wondered why such creatures loved to frequent that area.<br />
<br />
She and her friends had gone to the beach to hold a birthday celebration, but ended up finding the weird creature instead.<br />
<br />
Ziqi said:<br />
<br />
"My friends and I went to Pasir Ris Park to celebrate one of our friend's birthday.<br />
<br />
"Then two of our male friends spotted something strange in the waters and they used a plastic bag.<br />
<br />
"And we found this creature.<br />
<br />
"Why does Pasir Ris beach always have weird creatures?"</i></blockquote><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/hai_ren/9913875704/" title="What is this strange worm-like creature at Pasir Ris Park? by Hai_Ren, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7320/9913875704_7762c735c9.jpg" width="500" height="374" alt="What is this strange worm-like creature at Pasir Ris Park?"></a><br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/hai_ren/9913792495/" title="What is this strange worm-like creature at Pasir Ris Park? by Hai_Ren, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7323/9913792495_b3c7944fb5.jpg" width="500" height="374" alt="What is this strange worm-like creature at Pasir Ris Park?"></a><br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/hai_ren/9913875934/" title="What is this strange worm-like creature at Pasir Ris Park? by Hai_Ren, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5335/9913875934_f708348e13.jpg" width="500" height="374" alt="What is this strange worm-like creature at Pasir Ris Park?"></a><br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/hai_ren/9913875834/" title="What is this strange worm-like creature at Pasir Ris Park? by Hai_Ren, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2862/9913875834_a98acd2769.jpg" width="500" height="374" alt="What is this strange worm-like creature at Pasir Ris Park?"></a><br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/hai_ren/9913875854/" title="What is this strange worm-like creature at Pasir Ris Park? by Hai_Ren, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7322/9913875854_8371823672.jpg" width="500" height="374" alt="What is this strange worm-like creature at Pasir Ris Park?"></a><br />
<br />
Why do I get <a href="http://lazy-lizard-tales.blogspot.sg/2012/03/strange-worm-like-creature-found-on.html">a sense of deja vu?</a> <br />
<br />
<a href="http://singaporeseen.stomp.com.sg/singaporeseen/this-urban-jungle/strange-worm-like-creature-found-on-pasir-ris-beach" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuS9qF0URIt_hDl2p-DTkVATzDJs1SLkc9fjsjq8Frt3TzXcIgylcL-7h6clTXpX_DXTcI5mhZBKkseaiLS9bI_9lt8dLjOT_6rvCdnH3f2rX2v3rw6RfxSmOrerILGdk_m5opBGRziFvq/s500/PasirRisAgain.jpg" /></a><br />
Oh, that's why.<br />
<br />
The so-called <a href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/worm/polychaeta/chloeia.htm">beautiful fireworms</a> (<i>Chloeia</i> sp.) can be common on some of our shores. For instance, here are some fireworms that were found in a single morning at Changi. <br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/hai_ren/2511544415/" title="P1050016 by Hai_Ren, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2404/2511544415_52cd333306.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="P1050016"></a><br />
<br />
Because there is some variation in colours and patterns, I think it is possible that more than one species of fireworm is present in Singapore, although only one species - <a href="http://annelida.lifedesks.org/pages/9120"><i>Chloeia flava</i></a> - <a href="http://rmbr.nus.edu.sg/rbz/biblio/41/41rbz279-295.pdf">has been positively identified so far</a>.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/wildsingapore/2079932803/" title="Beautiful fireworm (Chloeia sp.) by wildsingapore, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2097/2079932803_5b163b4e20.jpg" width="500" height="331" alt="Beautiful fireworm (Chloeia sp.)"></a><br />
<i>Chloeia flava</i>, Raffles Marina;<br />
(Photo by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/wildsingapore/">Ria</a>)<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/wildsingapore/2510465735/" title="Beautiful fireworm (Chloeia sp.) by wildsingapore, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2106/2510465735_b485fa6c20.jpg" width="500" height="368" alt="Beautiful fireworm (Chloeia sp.)"></a><br />
<i>Chloeia</i> sp., Changi;<br />
(Photo by Ria)<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ilmare77/2470398895/"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3007/2470398895_0f1d064927.jpg"></a><br />
<i>Chloeia</i> sp., Changi;<br />
(Photo by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ilmare77/">Chay Hoon</a>)<br />
<br />
We have yet to determine the identity of the particular fireworm species often encountered on the beaches at Changi and Pasir Ris.<br />
<br />
I'm particularly puzzled and amused by the question, "Why does Pasir Ris beach always have weird creatures?" I'm half-tempted to come up with a nonsensical answer involving deformed mutants due to sewage and toxic waste, radiation from Fukushima, or genetic experiments gone horribly wrong. This person needs to explore some of our other shores, where she is likely to encounter <a href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/echinodermata/crinoidea/red.htm">even more</a> <a href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/mollusca/slugs/sacoglossa/ornata.htm">bizarre</a> <a href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/crustacea/crab/majoidea/retusa.htm">marine organisms</a> - fireworms are hardly the strangest things to live in our waters.Ivanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11637204084596462318noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7625711962780385617.post-5361838210253709802013-09-21T18:00:00.000+08:002013-09-29T23:44:16.207+08:00Water pollution? Yellowish liquid spotted in Loyang industrial estate's drainage<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/hai_ren/9874092636/" title="Water pollution? Yellowish liquid spotted in Loyang industrial estate's drainage by Hai_Ren, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5467/9874092636_2eff210e20.jpg" width="462" height="280" alt="Water pollution? Yellowish liquid spotted in Loyang industrial estate's drainage"></a><br />
<a name='more'></a><blockquote><i>STOMPer <b>lim</b> was concerned at the sight of discoloured water coming out of a Loyang industrial estate's drainage system.<br />
<br />
In a phone conversation with STOMP, lim said:<br />
<br />
"I was heading back to work after lunch on Tuesday afternoon (Sep 17) when I came across the sight of yellowish water in the drain near Loyang Industrial Park.<br />
<br />
"This was the second time in the span of a week that I've seen coloured water in the drains -- I saw reddish water in the same drains last Tuesday as well.<br />
<br />
"I'm concerned at where it's coming from, and have made a report to the NEA (National Environment Agency).<br />
<br />
"However, a NEA officer -- Hasim Anam -- got back to me and told me that the agency checked with the company-in-question and they were told the yellowish water didn't come from them.<br />
<br />
"While I can't be certain, I believe this may be a form of pollution coming from a factory within the industrial area."</i></blockquote><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/hai_ren/9874092896/" title="Water pollution? Yellowish liquid spotted in Loyang industrial estate's drainage by Hai_Ren, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3774/9874092896_9c7b3dcb2b_z.jpg" width="480" height="640" alt="Water pollution? Yellowish liquid spotted in Loyang industrial estate's drainage"></a><br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/hai_ren/9874083465/" title="Water pollution? Yellowish liquid spotted in Loyang industrial estate's drainage by Hai_Ren, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5345/9874083465_3d30ecea22.jpg" width="500" height="300" alt="Water pollution? Yellowish liquid spotted in Loyang industrial estate's drainage"></a><br />
<br />
It is encouraging to see that people are reporting pollution incidents to the authorities, although I'm wondering whether the <a href="http://www.pub.gov.sg/Pages/default.aspx">Public Utilities Board</a> (PUB) should have also been notified.<br />
<br />
Depending on the location of this discharge, there is a chance that either Sungei Loyang (on the western edge of the industrial estate) or Sungei Selarang (on the eastern edge of the industrial estate) will be affected. <br />
<br />
<a href="https://maps.google.com/?ll=1.375498,103.969696&spn=0.012163,0.021136&t=h&z=16" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyCng0iEYrKP1rPP3zTs-CsAzRtfJqqKij1WSv3t3v0G_AFJsU8rg83QJHIqzqx1oEpY4L-CI2eSgbYuSBFCWOy-FDvDWiqZ-knK98wVLOg_qYKiHza-qYEA0r3Js3L3hVoC45VX4GiQ-g/s500/LoyangIndustrial.jpg" /></a><br />
<br />
Both these canals drain into the seas off Pasir Ris, Changi, and Pulau Ubin, where many of our offshore fish farms are located. Not to mention that water activities are frequently conducted in this area. <br />
<br />
<a href="https://maps.google.com/?ll=1.391307,103.97006&spn=0.024326,0.042272&t=h&z=15" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibWXkrbRoOwjK4Iqw7HS6kgHMoeKj3qlZahl1-U7QSLlqOakCOjI9aqqAFGaL3o6ZU4_vbbh-qt2KrKTPaIzV-qpPVCNq10tiYpX28p8fXv-fypJAzZq1NSR4u-JIBm9dD5QEBqJSh_f_v/s500/LoyangUbin.jpg" /></a><br />
<br />
It's likely that any pollution from industrial discharge is likely to be mitigated by dilution, but still, it does make one wonder if such reports are being taken seriously, and if steps are being taken to track down offenders and mete out appropriate consequences. After all, a serious incident has the potential to not only seriously affect marine ecosystems as well as people engaged in water sports, but also threaten to contaminate our supply of locally-raised seafood.Ivanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11637204084596462318noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7625711962780385617.post-83940336214461365412013-09-14T18:00:00.000+08:002013-09-15T03:57:51.324+08:00Spitting King Cobra spotted at Ulu Pandan Canal<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/hai_ren/9741269777/" title="Spitting King Cobra spotted at Ulu Pandan Canal by Hai_Ren, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7312/9741269777_f6c4a77ec1.jpg" width="500" height="302" alt="Spitting King Cobra spotted at Ulu Pandan Canal"></a><br />
<a name='more'></a><blockquote><i>STOMPer <b>Augusta</b> came across what appears to be a Spitting King Cobra at Ulu Pandan Canal.<br />
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According to the STOMPer, these snakes are apparently rather common sightings at Clementi.<br />
<br />
She said:<br />
<br />
"On Sep 13 at 9.30am , a Spitting King Cobra was sighted at Ulu Pandan Canal at the drain along the cycling track, towards Clementi Road.<br />
<br />
"A sweeper who was at the scene contacted his supervisor about his discovery.<br />
<br />
"However, by the time his supervisor arrived, the reptile had slipped behind the concrete slab.<br />
<br />
"Spitting King Cobras are quite common in Clementi, and I checked online and consulted some friends."</i></blockquote><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/hai_ren/9741269517/" title="Spitting King Cobra spotted at Ulu Pandan Canal by Hai_Ren, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7391/9741269517_d40112633a.jpg" width="500" height="302" alt="Spitting King Cobra spotted at Ulu Pandan Canal"></a><br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/hai_ren/9741269643/" title="Spitting King Cobra spotted at Ulu Pandan Canal by Hai_Ren, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7389/9741269643_228e039ce7.jpg" width="500" height="302" alt="Spitting King Cobra spotted at Ulu Pandan Canal"></a><br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/hai_ren/9743383302/" title="Spitting King Cobra spotted at Ulu Pandan Canal by Hai_Ren, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7439/9743383302_f96df71ff5.jpg" width="500" height="302" alt="Spitting King Cobra spotted at Ulu Pandan Canal"></a><br />
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Wow, a spitting king cobra? This is an extremely important discovery; it might even be the first recorded case of hybridisation between two different elapid snakes in Singapore!<br />
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No, not really. It's just another example of failing to get the name right. Which does make me wonder how rigorous was this person's fact-checking, given that she claims to have "checked online and consulted some friends". Then again, maybe her online checking was limited to browsing through <a href="http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20090516231724AAAdWiO">Yahoo! Answers</a> or <a href="http://wiki.answers.com/Q/Do_spitting_king_cobras_spit_venom">Answers.com</a>.<br />
<br />
If the person who submitted this sighting had actually done some proper online research, she would have easily found out that the <a href="http://ecologyasia.com/verts/snakes/king_cobra.htm">king cobra</a> (<i>Ophiophagus hannah</i>) does not spit venom at all.<br />
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The king cobra is still present in Singapore, as highlighted in <a href="http://lazy-lizard-tales.blogspot.sg/2011/06/king-and-i-king-cobras-in-singapore.html">one of my earlier posts</a>, but this largest of all venomous snakes is restricted to forest habitats in central and western Singapore, as well as some of our offshore islands.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/avianphotography/6281983625/" title="King Cobra by myrontay, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6114/6281983625_0e90a99393.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="King Cobra"></a><br />
(Photo by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/avianphotography/">myrontay</a>)<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/lipkee/6411225793/" title="A royal meal by Lip Kee, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6091/6411225793_ef7744f13a.jpg" width="500" height="400" alt="A royal meal"></a><br />
(Photo by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/lipkee/">Lip Kee</a>)<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/67479212@N05/8706697344/"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8393/8706697344_25318c17a2.jpg"></a><br />
(Photo by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/67479212@N05/">Noel Thomas</a>)<br />
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On the other hand, the <a href="http://ecologyasia.com/verts/snakes/equatorial_spitting_cobra.htm">equatorial spitting cobra</a> (<i>Naja sumatrana</i>), sometimes known as the black spitting cobra (due to the coloration seen in populations from Singapore and southern Peninsular Malaysia), is widespread and common, and can be found living in urban areas. This is the species of snake documented in the original post. <br />
<br />
Interestingly enough, I was doing fieldwork in a patch of secondary forest in Clementi earlier this year, when I found a snake shed.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/hai_ren/9741240453/" title="P1380170 by Hai_Ren, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7416/9741240453_31898eb38e.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="P1380170"></a><br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/hai_ren/9743355154/" title="P1380175 by Hai_Ren, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7423/9743355154_62a3c5405f.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="P1380175"></a><br />
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I checked online and consulted some friends, and managed to ascertain that this was the shed skin of an equatorial spitting cobra.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/hai_ren/9743355570/" title="260 by Hai_Ren, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7350/9743355570_f9ac658377.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="260"></a><br />
<br />
I wrote more about the equatorial spitting cobra <a href="http://lazy-lizard-tales.blogspot.sg/2011/07/goondu-snake-gets-head-stuck-in-drink.html">in this post</a>. As an aside, I really need to write about the other species of elapid snakes present in Singapore, such as the kraits, coral snakes, sea kraits and sea snakes.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/55215508@N00/469543319/" title="Black Cobra by Soo Ching, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm1.staticflickr.com/200/469543319_ff4ae2e7ed.jpg" width="500" height="334" alt="Black Cobra"></a><br />
(Photo by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/55215508@N00/">Soo Ching</a>)<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/20493025@N03/3568863814/" title="Equatorial Spitting Cobra by kokhuitan, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3655/3568863814_b04451b4dc.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Equatorial Spitting Cobra"></a><br />
(Photo by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/20493025@N03/">kokhuitan</a>)<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/38396164@N00/2525390162/" title="Equatorial spitting cobra by hiker1974, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2009/2525390162_bf8a049aeb.jpg" width="500" height="422" alt="Equatorial spitting cobra"></a><br />
(Photo by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/38396164@N00/">hiker1974</a>)<br />
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Based on the photos (all of which were taken in Singapore), the king cobra and equatorial spitting cobra look very different, and even if you did not know anything about snakes and was looking at coloration alone, it would be difficult to get the 2 of them confused.<br />
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As far as I know, the only known instance where a king cobra was recorded spitting venom was in <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0138797/">Hillenbrand & Hillenbrand</a> (1999). <br />
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<iframe width="500" height="375" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/22JtGG0h02g" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br />
<br />
The veracity of this source is in question, due to several inconsistencies; for instance, the snake observed was identified as a cross between an "African king cobra" (the king cobra is an Asian species) and an <a href="http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/herpetology/fl-guide/crotalusadamanteus.htm">eastern diamondback rattlesnake</a> (<i>Crotalus adamanteus</i>). <br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/anginelson/6682462123/"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7013/6682462123_2c83a30175.jpg"></a><br />
King cobra, Langkawi;<br />
(Photo by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/anginelson/">AngiWallace</a>)<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/michiganherper/5521043225/" title="Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake by Nick Scobel, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5175/5521043225_ec71679962.jpg" width="500" height="345" alt="Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake"></a><br />
Eastern diamondback rattlesnake, Florida;<br />
(Photo by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/michiganherper/">Nick Scobel</a>)<br />
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Although <a href="http://www.worldofballpythons.com/morphs/hybrids/">hybrids between different snake species</a> are known (with <a href="http://hanneyscorns.tripod.com/id24.html">the pet trade</a> producing various combinations), most involve closely related species within the same family. A hybrid between an elapid and a viperid (2 different families) really stretches credulity. Not to mention that not only does this putative hybrid possess a rattle, its hood apparently bears the characteristic markings seen in another species, the Indian cobra (<i>Naja naja</i>). <br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/minmaxmim/5451634648/" title="Untitled by m I m, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5217/5451634648_d9b641248c.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="Untitled"></a><br />
Indian cobra, India;<br />
(Photo by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/minmaxmim/">m I m</a>)<br />
<br />
This work looks like a classic case of <a href="http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/CriticalResearchFailure">Critical Research Failure</a>, and as a result, should not be used as a credible source of information regarding snake venom delivery techniques, reproduction, or biogeography.Ivanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11637204084596462318noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7625711962780385617.post-57204671534279111442013-07-12T03:54:00.000+08:002013-07-13T04:04:45.747+08:00Festival of Biodiversity 2013!It's time for the <a href="http://www.nparks.gov.sg/festivalofbiodiversity/"><b>Festival of Biodiversity</b></a>!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7060rTLJalbakkLh27hBgm6tqq7_DTPLhsnVZFck9VpFOL9-MCTymkb8j_QD-HLuFp3IeKBacA5zK6QNcgEACAx9rfHZU4hpQmqiHFAFavVSo2hvEhP47naiN5mJ4jt6UmLye18ktwUO9/s1600/Poster+-JPEG.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7060rTLJalbakkLh27hBgm6tqq7_DTPLhsnVZFck9VpFOL9-MCTymkb8j_QD-HLuFp3IeKBacA5zK6QNcgEACAx9rfHZU4hpQmqiHFAFavVSo2hvEhP47naiN5mJ4jt6UmLye18ktwUO9/s700/Poster+-JPEG.jpg" /></a><br />
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I'll be busy volunteering at the Marine Exhibition, but if you really can't make it to VivoCity this weekend, or are not in Singapore, do look out for tweets from myself (<a href="https://twitter.com/varanussalvator">@Varanussalvator</a>) and others, via the hashtag <a href="https://twitter.com/search/realtime?q=%23Festbiodsg">#FestBiodSG</a>.<br />
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<a class="twitter-timeline" href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23FestBiodSG" data-widget-id="355769604708118528">Tweets about "#FestBiodSG"</a><br />
<script>!function(d,s,id){var js,fjs=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],p=/^http:/.test(d.location)?'http':'https';if(!d.getElementById(id)){js=d.createElement(s);js.id=id;js.src=p+"://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js";fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js,fjs);}}(document,"script","twitter-wjs");</script><br />
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<a name='more'></a><blockquote><i>Do you know that Singapore is home to <a href="http://habitatnews.nus.edu.sg/guidebooks/marinefish/">more than 400 species of marine fishes</a>? Do you know that Singapore is also home to <a href="http://rmbr.nus.edu.sg/rbz/biblio/s22/s22rbz069-080.pdf">250 species of hard corals</a>, which is almost one third of the diversity found in the world? Do you know that species such as the <a href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/arthropoda/limulidae/limulidae.htm">horseshoe crab</a> and the <a href="http://www.ecologyasia.com/verts/mammals/banded-leaf-monkey.htm">banded leaf monkey</a> can be found in Singapore? Join us at the festival to explore and learn more about Singapore's rich biodiversity!<br />
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Join us in the <a href="http://iyb2010singapore.blogspot.sg/2013/07/13-14-jul-sat-sun-at-vivocity-festival.html">many exciting activities</a> we have in store for you at the festival, and find out how you can play a part in conserving our biodiversity. By participating in the festival, you can gain a deeper understanding and appreciation of Singapore's rich biodiversity, its benefits, and relevance to us in Singapore.</i></blockquote><br />
Some of the highlights include exhibitions about Singapore's natural heritage, as well as one dedicated to the native snakes of Singapore (it being the Year of the Snake and all), <a href="http://www.nparks.gov.sg/festivalofbiodiversity/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=9&Itemid=10">storytelling sessions</a>, and <a href="http://www.nparks.gov.sg/festivalofbiodiversity/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=3&Itemid=7">art & craft workshops</a>. <br />
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<a href="http://www.nparks.gov.sg/cms/docs/fob_art.pdf" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5OalUugxeknqVdEepqCiqu4DpGmU2Takctp7fA5etwzHMlsL8ObqrHUsFvN54U-jn8eLIu09GpthlexTqgRv-kMP8L2MeQMfiHxaZTjeuy1YEtKhclOEh5zgqRFUey6lw3VdYlMmI84Yg/s500/FestBiodSGWorkshops.jpg" /></a><br />
Schedule of Art & Craft workshops taking place at the Festival;<br />
(Click to view full size)<br />
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I'll try to post more updates after the weekend. See you at the Festival!Ivanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11637204084596462318noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7625711962780385617.post-62427298545643009672013-07-06T23:30:00.000+08:002013-07-13T06:13:32.723+08:00Singapore Blog Awards 2013: Thanks everyone for your support!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3Z8hlNoB1cAbkJUc28Ha52qrehD3U_vrBIJBzMQvnrPYkl2kJckSUxGs3DdnFRj6P0FaEd9iqdMBQoTb3baB8qZgV9kNXeLoQR5aETsgIbzzW7Kw8cARXMPhgxmZcaGhypGVciRQEFygI/s1600/SBAwinners.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3Z8hlNoB1cAbkJUc28Ha52qrehD3U_vrBIJBzMQvnrPYkl2kJckSUxGs3DdnFRj6P0FaEd9iqdMBQoTb3baB8qZgV9kNXeLoQR5aETsgIbzzW7Kw8cARXMPhgxmZcaGhypGVciRQEFygI/s1600/SBAwinners.jpg" /></a><br />
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I'm overjoyed and excited to announce that I won the <a href="http://sgblogawards.omy.sg/2013/category/?cat=ecochallenge">Panasonic Best Eco-Challenge Blog</a> category in the <a href="http://sgblogawards.omy.sg/2013/">Singapore Blog Awards</a>!<br />
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<a name='more'></a><a href="http://sgblogawards.omy.sg/2013/event/"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-IuVKAQhzPOxXFhLAzCAkPezKHx9btRifMejuD5kOo96nxWxUv9vwdczIMfTYxk5_kz-CaFF7V5XqVMivoLuBw-h0JZnSCT0taZONX2rfnWlV2_gzTsun6L6m2XNL5dgB9D6tHORihO_N/s750/SBAwinnerslist.jpg" /></a><br />
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It's such a thrill to see my efforts in writing about nature and conservation being recognised and validated. Given that I cover a rather niche topic, and don't attract large audiences comparable to other more famous local bloggers, I'm really pleased that <a href="http://fun.omy.sg/blog/">omy.sg</a> and <a href="http://www.panasonic.com.sg/">Panasonic</a> have provided such a platform for bloggers like me to reach out to a wider crowd.<br />
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<a href="http://knowyourmeme.com/memes/aww-yea-guy" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGMolhzPrlt1a57cMSoxZDwdFHcu9m31INFmqM0lGv7tSjimEpbR-9lZHFb9cj_DRWNRfoUOrmEGDdNjZpxbW_U5D00PYNeYjntNmQ3f5GFsc_tbcNV3GQCftH-5nBPu5V2WbGP0IGvndu/s400/fuck-yeah-aww-yeah%5B2%5D.png" /></a><br />
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The competition was tough, especially considering that many of my fellow finalists in this category do have a considerable online presence and following, especially in the local blogosphere. Being able to track the number of votes that everyone had received made things very stressful, but also helped to rally my friends and other supporters to vote daily, especially when I was lagging behind at the beginning of the voting period. I'm grateful to all who voted for me, publicised my participation in this competition and encouraged their own friends to vote for me as well, and shared links to <a href="http://blog.omy.sg/sba-plus/author/eco1309/">my posts</a>. Not to mention <a href="http://sgblogawards.omy.sg/2013/about/judge.html">the judges</a>, who deemed my content to be worthy of the title.<br />
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As I mentioned in <a href="http://lazy-lizard-tales.blogspot.sg/2013/05/im-finalist-in-singapore-blog-awards.html">my first post</a> about this year's Singapore Blog Awards, winning this category means that I have a <a href="http://www.panasonic.com.sg/wps/portal/home/products/digitalav/camcorder/fullhd/hd1mos/HXWA30GAA">Panasonic HX-WA30</a> Camcorder (which I am going to use as often as possible while out on my frequent adventures), as well as a paid blogging assignment with Panasonic worth $600.<br />
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I attended the Awards Ceremony earlier this afternoon, which was held at Shanghai Dolly. Since I could bring a companion along, I invited <a href="http://www.pulauhantu.org/">Debby</a>. She's been very actively involved in nature outreach in Singapore for several years, and is one of several other local nature bloggers whom I hold in very high regard for their dedication and passion.<br />
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Because of the 1960s-themed dress code, we drew inspiration from two wildlife icons whose careers were still just beginning back then.<br />
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Debby was channelling the young Jane Goodall, who <a href="http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/1963/08/jane-goodall/goodall-text">began her study</a> of the chimpanzees of Gombe in the 1960s.<br />
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<a href="http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/1965/12/jane-goodall/lawick-1965-photography" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhusJwvMQ8NGGrYl0ilsSysV8LHMuvTZ3AkQ9sRFYGgQS2NGBVCtNllQj4l3MlGeusNoLmudkDZWhFtlHNXJPD7cBFO4BIIowycfCj5OMBK-vMSTw7EvsoUCoCYEV1cS3crUMrBBXt2SNl1/s500/jane-goodall-baby-chimp_44346_600x450%5B1%5D.jpg" /></a><br />
(Photo by Hugo Van Lawick, from <a href="http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/1965/12/jane-goodall/lawick-1965-photography">National Geographic</a>)<br />
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While I attempted to dress a bit like young David Attenborough, who had already <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/bbcfour/collections/p00zw1jd/david-attenborough-the-early-years">gotten started in natural history programming</a> in the 1950s.<br />
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<a href="http://www.wildfilmhistory.org/person/85/photo/37/David+Attenborough+outside+a+cave+entrance+during+filming+for+Life+on+Earth.html" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrDmsSB94aCUUtETb31BCX4sF20RDm69XQJ_A69HVR5GSvCd-kRV5VrOWGLzkbU5SUS9x1kxm7n7ZGOHNYLODMRi780e3XubaIYxBpwbjxErqqWaVSB76eY7ae7Lk96I5K7DiH7qIgjiYU/s500/tumblr_l9h8iw81ZL1qdgi9ao1_500%5B1%5D.jpg" /></a><br />
(Photo from <a href="http://www.wildfilmhistory.org/person/85/photo/37/David+Attenborough+outside+a+cave+entrance+during+filming+for+Life+on+Earth.html">BBC Natural History Unit Images</a>)<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm0WW_VoxX1TCjvyu2DaNKt278qsRlFs0bU7lQcViD5BFgUAMRyWU57eMeOuZgY9Bh7eUB_73jpNZCimcRunHDJ3QOSsCxnTje8OxL0mvH4_7-t4BNRwm2zKy4Nuv-Of-NWz9eN60HbC6A/s1600/IMG_9862.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm0WW_VoxX1TCjvyu2DaNKt278qsRlFs0bU7lQcViD5BFgUAMRyWU57eMeOuZgY9Bh7eUB_73jpNZCimcRunHDJ3QOSsCxnTje8OxL0mvH4_7-t4BNRwm2zKy4Nuv-Of-NWz9eN60HbC6A/s640/IMG_9862.jpg" /></a><br />
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I did say that we <i>tried</i>. Fine, if you don't think we managed to pull off the look, you can just think of us as generic safari explorers from the 1960s. Maybe we should have turned to one of the <a href="http://sgblogawards.omy.sg/2013/category/?cat=fashion">fashion bloggers</a> for sartorial assistance. And yes, that's a toy scorpion on my palm, and a toy tarantula peeking out of Debby's pocket.<br />
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The presentation of the awards began with the Special Categories, which included the category that I'm in. I recall being really nervous when the list of nominees for the Panasonic Best Eco-Challenge Blog was read out, and then froze for a moment when I heard my name being announced as the winner.<br />
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<a href="https://twitter.com/hai_ren/status/353401944410304514" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm0GVDUGlhePdGfWJh5-ir-3Jr0MOGyM8QE6G33FCPWFNtvOh_OgE8cFnGqlsj6iq3n4hHHePu7yGQFNFeYPfmHjdYtHaTqRp3e1aNsDg26CXAX5MYgpmi-7fCeNcC2XFg9IyWzK2ht6Dj/s500/MyTweet.jpg" /></a><br />
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While I was on stage, Evelyn Kuek, the emcee for the awards ceremony, pointed out the scorpion perched on my shoulder, and I spontaneously decided to ham it up for the audience by pretending that it was a pet and kissed it*. At least I didn't trip and fall down or cause further embarrassment to myself.<br />
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<i>*Disclaimer: I will not be held responsible for any injuries sustained from attempts to kiss actual live scorpions. Besides, scorpions aren't allowed as pets in Singapore.</i><br />
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<a href="https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=588847177803269" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsX6XzojLTXyfCMyAVuf8xXLdSoCDWwtSIwsLfJyLgY8u3CCD5uZevu6hLYQJibb8UWdfagqJrSRLpt3Glt0X1fU_arDmswpPa7jM92fU8zQeRZUbO9DoDROYwQwk_2n2IOfzvmzMp16D7/s500/1005419_588847177803269_45372995_n%5B1%5D.jpg" /></a><br />
(Photo from <a href="http://sgblogawards.omy.sg/2013/event/">Singapore Blog Awards</a>)<br />
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Even after I'd returned to my seat, I was still trembling with excitement.<br />
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<a href="https://twitter.com/torvaanser/status/353405098464014336" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDQb99afIXssq2AtvKOkXALfLNJt7hcHFvK6ENVSaBsXYaLZGf53rtIFrHzi76psi8l7xQX2DDlUP4tnFPGS7k64BKxyE3Mgr2RDUWcenox3UT9EQfxSANrvn1rEb4BSu0PCH54eSSYhy_/s500/DebbyTweet1.jpg" /></a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB06vnD-XTK040WqNp0d1L67wUDfRaVNYIvVUHp8U2lcRUH1qwD08HU2hl1AZfiIhqrPV8JrC9WLHbEsjjDo56_ZuI0HbNlYpkNJB7mIGvkdKfNhdqHOw4mbIpyX6g0Knppmd69InsXIRx/s1600/BOeMEIwCcAAwTRs%5B1%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB06vnD-XTK040WqNp0d1L67wUDfRaVNYIvVUHp8U2lcRUH1qwD08HU2hl1AZfiIhqrPV8JrC9WLHbEsjjDo56_ZuI0HbNlYpkNJB7mIGvkdKfNhdqHOw4mbIpyX6g0Knppmd69InsXIRx/s500/BOeMEIwCcAAwTRs%5B1%5D.jpg" /></a><br />
(Photo by Debby)<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiozhD7_qUkjGXrJbBtaAd25vv4kKz2MpERZXN3xda8xS8s0Zz_BDaKeExvdjVN47vtBrO4X82kHKBjITpjCIYY4rgOq86GY6k3-W8kb6nrE018QnFOT1hcJnUdL5nMNlKYDQBoNLCKafOo/s1600/IMG_9865.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiozhD7_qUkjGXrJbBtaAd25vv4kKz2MpERZXN3xda8xS8s0Zz_BDaKeExvdjVN47vtBrO4X82kHKBjITpjCIYY4rgOq86GY6k3-W8kb6nrE018QnFOT1hcJnUdL5nMNlKYDQBoNLCKafOo/s500/IMG_9865.jpg" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw6dqi5l8OfVPh7CZezo1fZ-jO4e2j1zVAXaU17samS2D9-S3gBsSRHmP09nWS3qjYDnvtaI7WnbdWosyEt4P2rIziq5jE-qASVRIQFGxzdoBL3Mo68BzNGc2J2pGIxj3z0Ja2d_axfg9h/s1600/MyTweet2.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw6dqi5l8OfVPh7CZezo1fZ-jO4e2j1zVAXaU17samS2D9-S3gBsSRHmP09nWS3qjYDnvtaI7WnbdWosyEt4P2rIziq5jE-qASVRIQFGxzdoBL3Mo68BzNGc2J2pGIxj3z0Ja2d_axfg9h/s500/MyTweet2.jpg" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://twitter.com/torvaanser/status/353405744323895296" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEikxI88EDMcJY1emINEBambuYnmIsJrdYg4shbd8FHjAsDGLw7N_z8vmTxd1eYcGHOiEWQt4wHaBYc1uNp-wqeXueb7mnWiHxTjnOUy9pKTrROuaeoSTJijxFWVziZtdsoP24-BiJoz9w/s500/DebbyTweet2.jpg" /></a><br />
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(Confused? Don't be. I have 2 separate Twitter accounts for different content and audiences.)<br />
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<a href="https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=588847911136529" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRNARjzHmE-b9JMNT-J3VpSUE_NvVKhw59Cpi-rh1XYtGAjLUHJAZ0JwOPwXaB4eZN-zo6p-yrLZlHqthmqH8rqcBrI5dx8YE9Boh4wV5c0FcKEm-LO21XmR6E8w_1PHFoZl90oqWHK9-R/s500/1044513_588847911136529_883427345_n%5B1%5D.jpg" /></a><br />
(Photo from Singapore Blog Awards)<br />
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Together with winners from the other categories, I had the opportunity to meet the Guest of Honour, <a href="http://www.parliament.gov.sg/mp/lawrence-wong">Mr. Lawrence Wong</a>, who is the Acting Minister for Culture, Community and Youth and Senior Minister of State for Communications and Information. We had a short chit-chat about the topics I write about, as well as <a href="http://www.straitstimes.com/the-big-story/case-you-missed-it/story/what-world-heritage-status-would-mean-the-botanic-gardens-201">the hope</a> that the <a href="http://www.sbg.org.sg/">Singapore Botanic Gardens</a> will be listed as a <a href="http://whc.unesco.org/en/tentativelists/5786/">UNESCO World Heritage Site</a>.<br />
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<a href="https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=588847781136542" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhii7UNzXLGKFjKRcTBQcDmulA2RRfy0QFoggtoVmoxId12y-RdiOddfHVS6DW5SYnNNuYhPZA0xLWDYPTmAMrMPqrRVt7eNHY3uPSweOxQ69EHcxu5Bf-ZMQzf5q0oAoAM7BbXmvK2kewJ/s500/942125_588847781136542_875121067_n%5B1%5D.jpg" /></a><br />
(Photo from Singapore Blog Awards)<br />
The winners of the 10 Main Award Categories not only received <a href="http://sgblogawards.omy.sg/2013/about/prizes.html">a custom-made trophy</a>, they also get to go on a sponsored trip to Northern Territory, Australia. How awesome is that?<br />
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Alas, during the group photo-taking with all the other winners, my face ended up being blocked by the people in front. Damn, I didn't notice the gap just to my right.<br />
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<a href="https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=588844511136869" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_1lQsvWG4QJhEbu5hrXfZKkRk0s8yPHFmt2vv6xSL5CyjDMOWsy7eDdSVeySb2XXuhlhCuc0Ghi5SbRkqGnc_UVhHqKWjIhiajYJD0nPTtyfJf5DWAgPNePLatJVaU8WEUROANJt0joGb/s500/996808_588844511136869_279646272_n%5B1%5D.jpg" /></a><br />
(Photo from Singapore Blog Awards)<br />
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Debby had a funny quip though.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMG7h6LC5hu-rRTSwwc5BbBNC7iVGg6AAnsZ3An2DTUYRIAsqe2HjkzmBR-DqDGkx126WyPvaKAxvByqIj54w98L6DSgGzrIN54re8u59oLz_8w7VF8zeDDszToyc6dEs9ReofRYzpGz7V/s1600/DebbyTweet3.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMG7h6LC5hu-rRTSwwc5BbBNC7iVGg6AAnsZ3An2DTUYRIAsqe2HjkzmBR-DqDGkx126WyPvaKAxvByqIj54w98L6DSgGzrIN54re8u59oLz_8w7VF8zeDDszToyc6dEs9ReofRYzpGz7V/s500/DebbyTweet3.jpg" /></a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX9zKuYzvHE10rjlJQp91dQl8EmQrnOZIsL2Rm9d2_FLugwH7eVKJwLv-8Wyc0k1OZR6DdhT4dAyfNpWw8qzWSfvk7dU_5NHlAFx15BTEybFVHWPdV18rC7jd17Ga8HHbUQTS7Kps5A1uG/s1600/BOeYrivCQAIsuvd%5B1%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX9zKuYzvHE10rjlJQp91dQl8EmQrnOZIsL2Rm9d2_FLugwH7eVKJwLv-8Wyc0k1OZR6DdhT4dAyfNpWw8qzWSfvk7dU_5NHlAFx15BTEybFVHWPdV18rC7jd17Ga8HHbUQTS7Kps5A1uG/s500/BOeYrivCQAIsuvd%5B1%5D.jpg" /></a> <br />
(Photo by Debby)<br />
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More photos from the Awards Ceremony are in <a href="https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.588428281178492.1073741826.323158777705445">this photo album</a> on the Singapore Blog Awards Facebook Page, as well as <a href="https://www.facebook.com/szeping/media_set?set=a.10151722429181210.1073741832.694406209">this photo album</a> by Sze Ping, one of the other attendees.<br />
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And here are some posts by other bloggers who attended the event:<br />
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<ul><li><b>Alvinology:</b> <a href="http://alvinology.com/2013/07/06/winners-for-singapore-blog-awards-2013-announced-at-shanghai-dolly/">Winners for Singapore Blog Awards 2013 announced at Shanghai Dolly</a></li>
<li><b>Cooler Insights:</b> <a href="http://coolinsights.blogspot.sg/2013/07/glamming-it-up-at-singapore-blog-awards.html">Glamming It Up at Singapore Blog Awards 2013</a></li>
<li><b>mitsueki:</b> <a href="http://mitsueki.wordpress.com/2013/07/07/singapore-blog-awards-2013-award-ceremony/">Singapore Blog Awards 2013 Award Ceremony</a></li>
<li><b>The Occasional Traveller</b>: <a href="http://theoccasionaltraveller.com/2013/07/08/the-occasional-traveller-goes-to-singapore-blog-awards-2013/">The Occasional Traveller goes to Singapore Blog Awards 2013</a></li>
<li><b>Darren Sim:</b> <a href="http://www.darrensim.com/2013/07/06/a-special-feature-singapore-blog-awards-2013-%E6%96%B0%E5%8A%A0%E5%9D%A1%E9%83%A8%E8%90%BD%E6%A0%BC%E5%A4%A7%E5%A5%96-winners-results-reflection/">A Special Feature: Singapore Blog Awards 2013 (新加坡部落格大奖) – Winners, Results & Reflection</a></li>
<li><b>Malcolm Sunny:</b> <a href="http://malcolmsunny.com/2013/07/07/singapore-blog-awards-2013/">Singapore Blog Awards mark MalcolmSunny.com 1st Year Anniversary</a></li>
<li><b>Malcolm Sunny:</b> <a href="http://malcolmsunny.com/2013/07/08/what-really-happened-at-sba-2013/">What Really Happened at Singapore Blog Awards 2013</a></li>
<li><b>Only William:</b> <a href="http://onlywilliam.blogspot.sg/2013/07/omy-singapore-blog-award-2013-winners.html">The winners for Singapore Blog Awards 2013!!!</a></li></ul><br />
After the event, while I was talking to journalists covering the awards, I managed to share my interests and passion, and talked about my motivations and why I chose to write about niche topics like nature and conservation. I used the opportunity to mention how a childhood interest in animals, combined with inspiration from people who have been very active in the local biodiversity community, such as <a href="http://wildshores.blogspot.sg/">Ria</a> and <a href="http://otterman.wordpress.com/">Siva</a>, led me to focus on nature blogging. Sure, I may not get the attention that many <a href="http://sgblogawards.omy.sg/2013/category/?cat=food">food</a>, <a href="http://sgblogawards.omy.sg/2013/category/?cat=lifestyle">lifestyle</a>, and <a href="http://sgblogawards.omy.sg/2013/category/?cat=beauty">beauty</a> bloggers receive, and I probably won't be flooded with sponsorships and gain much meaningful income from this, but that's not the point. I'm passionate about nature, and people say I write well, so I suppose it's only natural (<i>heh</i>) for me to write about biodiversity and natural heritage, while at the same time highlighting many of the issues and challenges that Singapore faces as we try to strike a balance between conservation and development.<br />
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<b>Update:</b> I'm in <a href="http://wildsingaporenews.blogspot.sg/2013/07/19-bloggers-honoured-at-annual-awards.html">The Straits Times</a> again.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiCcYF0emL1ucOJaCjL8buhN8qOEtvE51gPpZoUqeShFeDcdqKTSeQKTSA3ZBo5uBX_rKUekup-gg_njlF4J73xjRk3uLKDBOHEspqkCKNNBM5mRwXnoERd4MeFH5e7lT_JdinV96IhFTr/s1600/ST_20130707_JCHBLOG37DY_3735263e%5B1%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiCcYF0emL1ucOJaCjL8buhN8qOEtvE51gPpZoUqeShFeDcdqKTSeQKTSA3ZBo5uBX_rKUekup-gg_njlF4J73xjRk3uLKDBOHEspqkCKNNBM5mRwXnoERd4MeFH5e7lT_JdinV96IhFTr/s500/ST_20130707_JCHBLOG37DY_3735263e%5B1%5D.jpg" /></a><br />
"Mr Ivan Kwan's post on what seemed to be an eviction notice to Pulau Ubin residents set the public abuzz."<br />
(Photo by Desmond Lui, from The Straits Times)<br />
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<blockquote><i>When Mr Ivan Kwan conceived his now award-winning blog in 2008, it was out of a personal interest in nature and wildlife conservation.<br />
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The former research assistant never thought that <a href="http://lazy-lizard-tales.blogspot.sg/2013/04/eviction-of-residents-at-kampung-melayu_10.html">his post in April</a> on what seemed to be an eviction notice to Pulau Ubin residents would set the public abuzz.<br />
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It even got the Government to publicly apologise for the poorly- worded letter, which was really meant to inform 22 households that they had to pay rent to continue living on the island.<br />
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This helped Mr Kwan become one of 19 winners at the Singapore Blog Awards held yesterday at a River Valley Road venue.</i></blockquote><br />
Since it was free seating and we were scattered all over the venue, I didn't get the chance to say hi to the other finalists in my category and hang out with them, which was a pity. We'd only met up once before during the <a href="http://lazy-lizard-tales.blogspot.sg/2013/06/fun-learning-with-panasonic-go-eco-get.html">Panasonic Go Eco, Get Crafty workshop</a>, and chatted briefly, but I guess I'll probably have the chance to meet them again at future events.<br />
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In any case, here are the rest of the finalists in the Panasonic Best Eco-Challenge Blog category. Do take a look at what they have to share.<br />
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<a href="http://deeniseglitz.blogspot.sg/" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV245Jg0Hij5-T2qYTFfsLYeVfjA-8wUoteCrD-CLU2Tfhv4KXvPKYwodk4HP3PSwysZBFS5dbY1xfl60UTjsiSVn1x_3vu44Xyn0IfHhRODo-oeH7PU1JR1hxmQCVaEKzovwHoWrGQmLU/s150/thumb_1369278639%5B1%5D.jpg" /></a> <a href="http://iamyuking.blogspot.sg/" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0TqlIvfS61b0UdMtZp7L1MPwxfd-dzvOs-irag1T3qELW5Kb1gXDlySZD7KDphY2IR1TsovsszldNl8SFHrCX_gZBq1KL6lVauYEB04jr5v2DXcJCd-94zNVc1FwQ9hNcc4_tJICSHRj8/s150/thumb_1369278461%255B1%255D.jpg" /></a> <a href="http://www.katjuju.com/"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglybKFjcleXDiuaBF5OX_4YNfkVayvVIgOmRq92f4q1RzyzdrnEygySjR9pFPhxBv0gKx7auO6gt26KyNFWs54HSZmbd3Pc-FJh4YdGD31VJDIK4A07oJP96i6T56gyYdVM6CFS9PioYuy/s150/thumb_1369278355%5B1%5D.jpg" /></a> <br />
<a href="http://www.renzze.com/" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4r5cutleB1szVW7R8Il8MbH5Tv2LiwjOY-u99u7vvggPus8Gq090uaiPldxNRmgNwzT8p7HaVft7lcTTgaHYdr6JAtegBorQUYylWo31L8xGCJCg86AOiucn0ImFEUWmkCutXQlKTDmal/s150/thumb_1369278288%255B1%255D.jpg" /></a> <a href="http://lovelivfe.com/" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS8ywn5DdpJVSbRz5cNExf4sze03YSJMz3772zkqUgQDY3HQchgwOmN2cL0Mld9LprxWU9QD9oDDKB5jlFy0EHBJGkBpEoe1SRfsP3Q6F1M-UUsEYmUswh3vGt7vKjsOMYXZ1gHoTIVlME/s150/thumb_1369278735%5B1%5D.jpg" /></a> <a href="http://merlionwayfarergoesgreen.blogspot.sg/" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyp41jFFXHa0B1lVOADDCBgGBx-4OIv3JokUuYClH7XGwsyH2YXsGdI8ztpIPLZuu3lTdWnuK5EUh54P2Bop4EMgGClBfk6GyoNbMGLWnUa5ovWO-mbZReNrpOSgErfgvsHQEbFjrNZl0s/s150/thumb_1369278601%5B1%5D.jpg" /></a><br />
<a href="http://onlywilliam.blogspot.sg/" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij5XOAzknzqXzwikXR6Lntd1dp8Xgqh8yvZKpu2IqetmD_rC4B9C8ZiasuBF5HsEfNY6P_ci5FwiQoPwkKQzv2JEJYBv5E_mhOnEat9rX8XyqFtNPp92hNbtiQBsbOOr3_0V4Ug9pKSemi/s150/thumb_1369278417%255B1%255D.jpg" /></a> <a href="http://www.pastureliving.blogspot.sg/" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBD1a1lLGGebWcvzA9iDmUDTYYzeN9ADXqlcKNZ3h_UXjeDdthyphenhyphenKf7Jpz0pXaIvA8EsV1F_2u9X0BerUeD72mHLOEcW-wlPgqEWssUP7OZpb2kw0zMPF3yOLYVPUTjzHI8guxR7McAUwCS/s150/thumb_1369278543%255B1%255D.jpg" /></a> <a href="http://blog.myfatpocket.com/alethea/" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeGQCykStexvTFHHCon49dsWpPh8GSfTrzyBjzVnTLYgJEWKzE_axfANeTF6TPKrdG277fLu6ZgBG4zN1cxj840dg4wP41T9VgnX6kicZM03ak1vGC1Wzl4qWyWxy2ZruLeihQqIQyY5si/s150/thumb_1369278701%255B1%255D.jpg" /></a><br />
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It was a pleasure to have met you guys, and despite the rivalry, I'm glad that we've all shown in our own ways how we care about the environment through our thoughts and actions. <br />
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Wait... does this kind of mean that I could be considered a celebrity blogger of some sort now? (<i>I kid</i>)<br />
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Still, now that I'm somewhat kind of slightly more famous (<i>for that metaphorical 15 minutes at least</i>), if you wish to meet me and get autographs (<i>YEAH RIGHT</i>), head to VivoCity next weekend for the <a href="http://www.nparks.gov.sg/festivalofbiodiversity/"><b>Festival of Biodiversity</b></a>!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7060rTLJalbakkLh27hBgm6tqq7_DTPLhsnVZFck9VpFOL9-MCTymkb8j_QD-HLuFp3IeKBacA5zK6QNcgEACAx9rfHZU4hpQmqiHFAFavVSo2hvEhP47naiN5mJ4jt6UmLye18ktwUO9/s1600/Poster+-JPEG.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7060rTLJalbakkLh27hBgm6tqq7_DTPLhsnVZFck9VpFOL9-MCTymkb8j_QD-HLuFp3IeKBacA5zK6QNcgEACAx9rfHZU4hpQmqiHFAFavVSo2hvEhP47naiN5mJ4jt6UmLye18ktwUO9/s700/Poster+-JPEG.jpg" /></a><br />
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Many of us have been working very hard over the last few weeks, and we can't wait to showcase Singapore's natural heritage to the general public, many of whom might not know about the many species that still survive in Singapore, and the many threats that they face.<br />
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In the morning, I was at a briefing and training session for the <a href="http://toddycats.wordpress.com/">Raffles Museum Toddycats!</a>.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJqL2EPNf16RFX2RboV-pTbOggUNLUl0QRkxX0XD_CkH_EOYg-Mq2qmWwmYvI5iGbqksvTyJMWBgUKr-B0pSUbMfBkSaN_hOH6PMYQMWqu6ZlZRdtZ7lN2PyGSfZX91ARIqe-Ba700CwBC/s1600/IMG_9851.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJqL2EPNf16RFX2RboV-pTbOggUNLUl0QRkxX0XD_CkH_EOYg-Mq2qmWwmYvI5iGbqksvTyJMWBgUKr-B0pSUbMfBkSaN_hOH6PMYQMWqu6ZlZRdtZ7lN2PyGSfZX91ARIqe-Ba700CwBC/s500/IMG_9851.jpg" /></a><br />
We've got quite a number of volunteers, all eager to help out at the Festival. Some of them are new recruits who heard about us and wish to contribute.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/habitatnews/9222821313/" title="IMG_0678 by habitatnews, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7391/9222821313_76ea4b15d4.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="IMG_0678"></a><br />
(Photo from <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/habitatnews/">habitatnews</a>)<br />
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Some of the more senior volunteers were appointed as subject specialists, presenting facts about some of the animals that we were going to showcase at the Festival - Marcus had his audience learning about native mammals found in our forests, David entertained his group with his imitations of bird calls, Oi Yee had plenty of stories about freshwater life, while I talked about marine animals.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/habitatnews/9225597714/" title="IMG_0682 by habitatnews, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7322/9225597714_032e315c1b.jpg" width="500" height="472" alt="IMG_0682"></a><br />
(Photo from habitatnews)<br />
Chay Hoon taught some of the other Toddycats how to make little clay models of our wildlife;<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/habitatnews/9225598818/" title="IMG_0686 by habitatnews, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2834/9225598818_3ba75333aa.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="IMG_0686"></a><br />
(Photo from habitatnews)<br />
Maxine is a graduate student doing a research project on plankton ecology in Singapore. With the assistance of some of the Toddycats! and several microscopes, she'll have the chance to highlight the importance of plankton in freshwater ecosystems, and how human activities can influence the populations of these microorganisms, thus affecting the quality of the water that we might end up drinking.<br />
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In the meantime, a small crew of Toddycats! as well as friends and affiliates of the Toddycats! were tirelessly working on <a href="http://wildshores.blogspot.sg/2013/06/getting-ready-for-festival.html">creating more plush mascots</a> for the volunteers.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/habitatnews/9222820239/" title="IMG_0687 by habitatnews, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3672/9222820239_0402ae6998.jpg" width="500" height="340" alt="IMG_0687"></a><br />
(Photo from habitatnews)<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidOsfVsGJZ7R-XWZVFZxBcqTeJt7mJbNGrhLFmwAChOWtUH-50XfkPuMSH6NfF_zq4gwENanhF9v4xOCXl_EY83z-YqcvHrk11ANh1GfDYelPKnbn7WaAeB_bmPu6DgVytul4D9XAdgtV3/s1600/IMG_9855.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidOsfVsGJZ7R-XWZVFZxBcqTeJt7mJbNGrhLFmwAChOWtUH-50XfkPuMSH6NfF_zq4gwENanhF9v4xOCXl_EY83z-YqcvHrk11ANh1GfDYelPKnbn7WaAeB_bmPu6DgVytul4D9XAdgtV3/s500/IMG_9855.jpg" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS8RUbc4-kmVl3nP8lOF93STwJnypdqRYDDLA-IIqnHcPzkEtOI2QncM5Wh7VZ-ilVW2kiYXCJl07novzTLr7WuAKnS8DjXS8WaexpEEg24R251UGRMyCofNT_Z4PIUBhAZ6tmUVTGFyWV/s1600/IMG_9856.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS8RUbc4-kmVl3nP8lOF93STwJnypdqRYDDLA-IIqnHcPzkEtOI2QncM5Wh7VZ-ilVW2kiYXCJl07novzTLr7WuAKnS8DjXS8WaexpEEg24R251UGRMyCofNT_Z4PIUBhAZ6tmUVTGFyWV/s500/IMG_9856.jpg" /></a><br />
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I had to rush off halfway through the session so that I could make it to the Singapore Blog Awards Ceremony, but I'm sure the newbies learned a lot, and everyone is getting themselves mentally prepared to face the crowds at VivoCity and put up a great presentation of Singapore's natural splendours and what we can do to protect them.<br />
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Once again, my gratitude to all who voted for me or showed their support in other ways. Now that the Singapore Blog Awards 2013 have come to an end, it's time for me to focus my energy on other upcoming events. See you at the Festival of Biodiversity!Ivanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11637204084596462318noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7625711962780385617.post-86329871949875737812013-06-24T12:00:00.000+08:002013-06-25T00:32:23.360+08:00Ecological musings<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTN5LbM_Kv8_81pVg1Wwi8pXb3myw_BISajetbLCSMU-7h1xfHsPBdMgrC2OSeFYukUaLN7Rzp9TjBKJC1Z02Xp8len6Mwh_wYA2vJyMvB4jQ2HKzC17JyKGhncE3HU9z6XlOpvCJhbsNK/s1600/BtTimah.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTN5LbM_Kv8_81pVg1Wwi8pXb3myw_BISajetbLCSMU-7h1xfHsPBdMgrC2OSeFYukUaLN7Rzp9TjBKJC1Z02Xp8len6Mwh_wYA2vJyMvB4jQ2HKzC17JyKGhncE3HU9z6XlOpvCJhbsNK/s500/BtTimah.jpg" /></a><br />
Bukit Timah;<br />
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<iframe width="500" height="281" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/oDlbBy9vfgI?rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br />
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As voting for this year's <a href="http://sgblogawards.omy.sg/">Singapore Blog Awards</a> draws to a close, I'd like to end with some final thoughts.<br />
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When it comes to giving tips and points on doing your part for the environment, one tends to encounter the usual suggestions on the 3Rs, cutting down on the amount of waste generated, saving water and electricity, and reducing our reliance on fossil fuels. These can all be summarised by this overarching concept:<br />
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<b>Reduce your level of consumption of the Earth's finite resources.</b><br />
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<a name='more'></a><iframe width="500" height="375" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/JsL9q3Pr4kw?rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br />
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In essence, it's all about operating under the knowledge that the Earth, for all its bounty and seemingly infinite ability to provide us with everything we want, does have its limits, and our civilisation is close to crossing that critical threshold, if it has not already done so. Patterns of consumption are unevenly distributed throughout the planet, and are the result of inequalities in the systems under which resources are extracted, processed, and distributed. We are running on a global deficit, and though we operate under the belief that the coming generations will develop new technologies and innovation that will delay or even stave off the inevitable collapse, time is running out.<br />
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<iframe width="500" height="375" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/TQmz6Rbpnu0?rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br />
Severn Suzuki (12), 1992:<br />
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<iframe width="500" height="375" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/karQQb-B8Uk?rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br />
Brittany Trilford (17), 2012:<br />
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Not much seems to have changed in the last 20 years.<br />
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Our civilisation is heavily reliant on fossil fuels. The need to extract and process the raw fuels into forms usable by us results in the need for massive installations that often necessitate the destruction and degradation of natural habitats, with the occasional accident resulting in even more catastrophic damage. Fossil fuels are burned to provide us with energy so that we can have light, function at comfortable temperatures, and can operate appliances that keep things cold, clean our homes and belongings, cook our food, and provide us with amusement or entertainment. These same fossil fuels power the machines that transport us over land, sea, and air, and are integral to virtually every step of the manufacturing process. The very act of burning coal, oil, and natural gas results in deterioration of air quality, and contributes to elevated levels of greenhouse gases that are blamed for climate change, with potentially dire consequences for communities and ecosystems all around the world.<br />
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<iframe width="500" height="281" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/bzQgB6eBj9c?rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br />
<iframe width="500" height="281" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/49DLPW7_TvE?rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br />
<iframe width="500" height="281" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/-nekqKEsbdU?rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br />
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Here's a bunch of infographics that cover various aspects, from the impact that our lifestyles have on the consumption and extraction of resources and generation of waste, to ecological footprints and greenhouse gas emissions. Click on each one to enlarge.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.reusethisbag.com/reusable-bag-infographics/the-truth-about-plastic.asp"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8iqH7l9uiWIP7YSKeWBm1OkYnUBlQpaK3Op3Vpc-BcATbJrrCvN-n4P0ys9ASkR18wQFckYIbQZxaP8LJsg42TPlgiXawcHnLZYlp4kRpTCqpSsmHJeZrHJfZHEcaVv3daNKQodBn-4w/s400/7446232054_5314baebf0_q.jpg"></a> <a href="http://www.arteideas.co.uk/blog/how-convenience-is-killing-our-planet/"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNp9H8YhNWHEIk_LTh-QQZn8XfokCiSWb7Ov6VuH5QYo8X8ziAGyaE-zb0SHa1tVp1Z157aBoS7Dr5iWyse7CpveZx4KGYCkpdcpRBgSOeNrwBuvXJKMJm9KKxuMZP8xMSGXZeNhDd_mU/s400/7448439892_cfa9ceec24_q.jpg"></a> <a href="http://1bog.org/blog/hidden-cost-of-gadgets/"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2e4eC1571i5EcDYxmMHGIoFc49UoVFe0e-YF6dyWIk0rpCduPoPORTvzvkEWXMswdP_ORtgdfrZxX6ppW3tWf0C-eVVOmdgPvxGXEDN63hJ5_A3guGcsMDuYwzY9ZN6DG_LuQkV5kVgc/s400/7445856404_b40336b0cb_q.jpg"></a> <br />
<a href="http://www.wellhome.com/blog/2011/08/light-bulb-infographic/"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsCLTq-1ZFWGt9RkLIsUeQ90mlH8_8G2FA_1j2wxrhxJD5UBIpdGdvdxnd-RwoB_rHQ0akMVBa4eCeGnct9gCjveD-MGcEo66JHDm0x-xTL4N7JGJnLuqj3R1xACaotF66wN2NUJzvzUY/s400/7446035358_63a460fe8b_q.jpg"></a> <a href="http://www.good.is/post/transparency-what-is-the-easiest-way-to-power-a-lightbulb/"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp7JKgkKQ2b8Oo_Sc1FBDL6h2MuR0HG3WpQvLg_yiNDmOoWK5u7I_wQH_eQTXdiOXC3mRWjVPiUSmqAQBH1Jwl20YRkMVbg3D4n-pCmVG5clVbmI-BQRtwdGDwhbVfWYndKUvxoSiCb5I/s400/7446223984_371708d36a_q.jpg"></a> <a href="http://geodata.grid.unep.ch/images/Resource%20Efficiency%20-%20Electricity%20Production.png"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRHDQ1BEW008PeQm2i_pP6tXNSI5Cbe4-9g0WkZSB6Ks7WRpP6rL8NDJabGofO6oHtUEkCqBVJpt1ZDo_AoUK0G068f4gVfLAtvkSfr2jR_u0JjV0Dy4ZUgpyrEtV7SOBphteHm1tD0ug/s400/7446228144_22563f7dc0_q.jpg"></a> <br />
<a href="http://geodata.grid.unep.ch/images/Resource%20Efficiency%20-%20Electricity%20Consumption.png"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJKhB9RAaoxNtAWC_TTLlWr6mRhLR3Cv1Tvn2QMmqgzVCo5rkowLkELUhe5NgY9aBYxpa66_qBziQ7nZPaXNynjcilfoLYS7d3MflL3NOB_FQ0T1Jca_twwkrrZ_9xq1EPu0V0fw1XnUc/s400/7446226736_d4fd52f211_q.jpg"></a> <a href="http://www.wellhome.com/blog/2011/05/energy-in-an-hour/"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJXJJCxt8ZWJWoY1HpUgN6bEVO6P8QKRgoEuQ-88gFWcZiurDemuWr6jiFr_jXWBrUWMUmK3i26redhPg4G6HonKH5zKbngyyE5Fw3kLp4ZfGBu9Dq9yN_p2ZESqySi0_DdCxfSCsWSE0/s400/7446011054_271369471b_q.jpg"></a> <a href="http://www.wellhome.com/blog/2011/05/the-energy-efficiency-of-movement/"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdDPNELUE3nSQ7IoHVhMbxeDl-OcSnIku7YF9SsKTifq3ZeWQWzuaUn_jlO9a_hkiqmsfmCIb47Ue3TUm9tk8gQZ2ZcpC2Xew1OJTvig_k_D4CyjR218z1iBvXE60MUn7plZe1qkkzgkY/s400/7446014404_322766107a_q.jpg"></a> <br />
<a href="http://www.wellhome.com/blog/2011/05/the-huge-environmental-impact-of-cars/"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpnSTr0TOmpGrIsnNqoP-YPOvjbC82WKOU-NO0llra7XRCjbtbRLAtWstwZuwes1NN2OSDHX_lXr5Y5sTQA2SGtHX0w4R9FNkn2iyqbEKT9iytmaDRx5LDMO1xe3pjEK56I_Bb_rHKlYo/s400/7446029354_a802cd1e78_q.jpg"></a> <a href="http://1bog.org/blog/infographic-green-cars-101/"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd7CMiNJvQh1SBCe6KwGpYrCcJl7rXIj4Os-Joqwm3o0n7xzFYfn77c0atFw1eokuYliMEVWsMyR_-zxk9_9nMA9ghCIyA5drtGUn6f06MkcvpqJkSELtjOqUJvisXkgU8aVvCVjF7XtI/s400/7446017414_d274da70f4_q.jpg"></a> <a href="http://www.autoinsurance.org/a-primer-on-electric-cars/"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6dmsLiDBQYCSPb1EtS9ciQ9ZYi9jzAW647Doh7marx_Y9nRvd3HLcQ1XyX5pOtVeR9Weir4stfrBjkYNqKKsZIYb9lLw3nssGdTPu1c97_7l2069MTWGkRumN2V2bKj1lhSDbvzujfeE/s400/7446224834_37d4ca342c_q.jpg"></a> <br />
<a href="http://www.reusethisbag.com/reusable-bag-infographics/pollution.asp"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHcnRY8gUs_Hcrn8F8RvFQCGl2s1Fz4J0LoRuTjTGEUuDL34WurTLUwMdpDaXC-G_a7TGEDJqBs_HdTa9F2Oo5PTllohvliFW4T0ZTs8ojt5aQ_HtlFNnCCxWb0jV2qNQv7mKhDJa8HRo/s400/7446177012_e8ec5b0deb_q.jpg"></a> <a href="http://www.mnn.com/lifestyle/recycling/stories/the-secret-life-of-garbage-infographic"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaceHFqrbqDcuFxGmydc91bsrCG6ks4jEZBeltcHHfb-mNMQzbJANFCS8089i-JKZEQIMUEOgvYMkJEjcr1DuRTR2SiNN6XkkJJhubjJm4b_JuuXn6LtxC10HnNUO4VKvY0WwUv-v6el8/s400/7445866620_04be488124_q.jpg"></a> <a href="http://www.reusethisbag.com/reusable-bag-infographics/how-a-landfill-works.asp"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg89fpeDZUTXk9IiiWanFeMlFS8ToWwIXZKreU-ePgJX9j-SX5RE9FdSAXGRRY5waOo19W7wTaej19MFeJuVWW9y-fehywq3LaCArzENRT2Avn9ejzGc4LM4f9wi_6s0bNFCsz_vpb45fE/s400/7446166110_7d2935dbfb_q.jpg"></a> <br />
<a href="http://www.good.is/post/action-sheet-003-your-hidden-toxic-waste-and-what-you-can-do-about-it/"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdJ4nBkLFPwxDaUsqcG-YR4GYUDqBPuvIFkpnw6Ajg-8Lp8jzlrhhNF7nYMEy5LHpA7KGMI4Lkw4FMFCCnQ-uWiFArK9uzYJX1sZry4p553xdaeaduMkNOtYXl2daAsubVFojsAeNKt04/s400/7446238398_77a2547f0b_q.jpg"></a> <a href="http://www.wellhome.com/blog/2011/05/electronic-waste-where-does-it-all-end-up/"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0cSD0s-i6IobL5arl-Ez23K5cG-GDL0APa9NYp5ojYzaH6MbNKWXN0Y5GE8V1_jHaM-BZqJ7SJvfeU-3ZmwNWFJu8LlXbYqGOH0yNaddEeFm8O7WDBgzRG_28vgl85Eu4nUeM9doLRfQ/s400/7446037934_5e4f1ffd6e_q.jpg"></a> <a href="http://www.good.is/post/infographic-why-don-t-americans-recycle/"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhprFrMMeRbpgEybVBKC84yb04tMj7LVKMyMiZrJwxerZbYn7HEhYVwQK6zUw4QtxWR2JvbwXtlQSfTyaq-OzARFBgKVryFmwJ199ai9sw9i_lEF1w2D9pfaOVSCvtlJItiR94lUlb9doU/s400/7446168386_dbd7273b0c_q.jpg"></a> <br />
<a href="http://www.reusethisbag.com/reusable-bag-infographics/all-about-recycling.asp"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaCggXnmewVR85foinkEmZnY_P0MXR1qTz-gK4cuoHAJMK-t6bHiZoinq1ENhjWGpdWMz-oqC7ErL5EM9_gt588GmXCRTljZR6YoA_XqKzAf7Itswt2V0kOfzQXzUlKZzn7ZqOdOqakiY/s400/7445864522_0c9be2cede_q.jpg"></a> <a href="http://geodata.grid.unep.ch/images/waste_management.png"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4YBHXjwDISBkEwKy7Pq53jIs1Si93gT9Dx0NYAajbUv2efd7jfT536rn5RWrmzRryx8DHZVH-MnTo-v0i556oHGwtAFewg51yO85UI9IPxdnOPdvOWxT9DmlFqUpI9cyh832jfMchp9o/s400/7446229796_d149753f5d_q.jpg"></a> <a href="http://www.wellhome.com/blog/2011/02/the-mechanical-monstrosities-of-fossil-fuel-extraction/"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNY4KjDBzJIZSWjQH6Bjsvp442n4I4xCCG1DflzajEFPm8UFjHycepMysY-oEurp9lqSjMzgovrJfRcpbfSuEB7Txb677CumuioI-pzYAlbu7Ur8klg1NAxIbYz_xffo6HlK33NNkT9xc/s400/7446025486_332070bd24_q.jpg"></a> <br />
<a href="http://www.mnn.com/earth-matters/wilderness-resources/stories/infographic-gulf-oil-spill-by-the-numbers"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0hPYeXwsOXqQvXYemPOlzo18CPzqkw2mKhEks138y4C4piUnZfRPGgQWLKg1nlekLc9ztA1LwCIc-Ku6foeCeCZ0u3ftAPb8VSCtxgVq9PXSi4OSBvjjma-AtLMshycDgjvkU_GJ-8cg/s400/7445857866_2f34d4bfc8_q.jpg"></a> <a href="http://1bog.org/blog/a-world-without-oil/"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV2beJEnrH_nzJ6DWrfWOIVIyenQWjCEsdr6vIr_CDaWllKMLH8AnCRRHAnoNH7Brs9e-CQjILu5RrRyNAFRoKzn0FZiVt7vi7l1btK1NfEBAoe54IHU8uDH1by3h_Kk1dVrbQSL2_McI/s400/7445855152_06dba12df4_q.jpg"></a> <a href="http://1bog.org/blog/infographic-the-dangers-of-natural-gas/"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0zQP4Q7hP2wOPQIocdQyGX_iNZ2-RsQ0xN5am2zWsYyhao2WRN_lPSrFcGsISWQV794wp_NFVlCN6W-Pu__H35k9C7QQ_iocPKYHQj3uXAqycBaY4RsusB2LVIy2pOPnaCViNyzjLSCI/s400/7446295058_8dc14f4ba2_q.jpg"></a> <br />
<a href="http://www.princeton.edu/~ina/infographics/water.html"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGphzPhTJ0Mt7bGUArX5Zl_CDCnQnVd-drt1lgvi-61rwmkqynlE3Jp3Cvlm1WURA780hsmrERQy2HFcdhQcsUbf9SGQ2qngV879Gfp1RpCIAOVwx-B8W3iYataAoRX8S74YCmf3wmKxw/s400/7445870362_d87f6482df_q.jpg"></a> <a href="http://www.good.is/post/infographic-10-ways-to-stop-wasting-water/"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUGzbd_w9TN6C_qC54C3dBPi_NcgCeVVN_BKZ65wcin-qBIxvSj_1Qv3DtEtML7XpZBtWf5toWJT9zV66bYsJWL9lBzWcXoNnICgw-Ad7wRz2Q9Bq9sK46uTxhkkWAdF3v43fPiTE81-s/s400/7446233100_fdc0d2c682_q.jpg"></a> <a href="http://www.seametrics.com/blog/why-care-about-water-conservation/"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih6gl7ULgowKv0iFEtb1mxHwVZYbmodKXIGpkTUpSNbyMl4AnExSqhDZniP57ioU-MIOQLzDZORkSS5J4rimF_bmNZlBxVkW9GjQ284cq7OH5U71CD2Jj5Z5HqjxuaojORBjMOkIetA3U/s400/7445874992_874fcf3ec0_q.jpg"></a> <br />
<a href="http://www.wellhome.com/blog/2010/03/whi27-low-hanging-fruit-infographic/"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCrirf9LCvoR6c_f4UF4Tvom28-Ys1eat2NWBBRBWbi7Oa8oNSxcvUunFai2jSEJj3LKZaxJjf9bYAhi4wv15F6iBs6VXtDjuTpj0Bqv_POy3f7wq72lfT7Il7c2dsHpsKF9AKCmU3Rnk/s400/7446020222_ac75a4b1d8_q.jpg"></a> <a href="http://www.wellhome.com/blog/2011/07/a-green-routine-saving-the-planet-one-day-at-a-time/"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj15z5hydcEp5cBC2YCCPPp6NKEmdyhzGxj4ScyP1T38Gee4G7MV7iRTi4XmzCx0yrsk5IKaSs43_u4PJUGrPZKcl6YcBxMNJ_YUpD2EEg7W5ZYQ4IuQRQ8Zn1wlxhMMPYCTzx0ZuQ_0ak/s400/7446009706_36bb6f10c6_q.jpg"></a> <a href="http://www.reusethisbag.com/reusable-bag-infographics/going-green.asp"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipeZ2FqR7UXiHLOOIGrORdCawjrWVC_hvgi0cK4nZK-LyKHOpX0n0DXFtyREATc87LYOS4OQjppPYaYTUMGZZo8IbtuYb8BQB_TzF7cE_E_C0iCcTmQ5owlaYOOeQ7yjHffFeLrhye6nM/s400/7446184564_f63f0ef9be_q.jpg"></a> <br />
<a href="http://www.mnn.com/green-tech/research-innovations/sponsorstory/infographic-12-ways-you-can-green-your-office"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic-tzO6AhYs2vRQTEpEuZXlP7m0uPLQZDiLgZTwZ0Ho2ufNIT892ihfYj_FW9lGFd1wCC4hq0_5nL5L0TRyagUyLAFby4gO1Y-HeO4eFqccKqH1QjcpgvHgDsqOxf-naucevZSXpC8ELQ/s400/7446297918_9b90be167b_q.jpg"></a> <a href="http://blogs.hrblock.com/2012/04/20/earth-day-go-green-and-save-money-infographic/"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6fFixdt3kdJm_Cr96S31_KnopfBQiauXZAt9fsHftrM4Xd6WJPu9jATfnuL5WO-Y4FgZtqBWgMsrYvTPIZJI9yUnICrZD4wMWjhs8A6J2nCWIlJxW1VY5BbGANw5GWcI-ooXhbb-1lUE/s400/7446030642_ce45c21fca_q.jpg"></a> <a href="http://www.thenewecologist.com/2011/06/environmental-statistics/"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_e8xatn-XC2O72oxfagn88yEYXqnCi2ep6pbhyphenhyphenrU9dkL5wXk7eiaiOMsfmxGqBu4zpcUNlGeggIoXnq7wwKEyIq1cmdn4AynOlPigRjCH97prBzbeOrZHX6f1bp2QzuAztEU8xhxhM2c/s400/7445868664_a9ddf955e2_q.jpg"></a> <br />
<a href="http://geodata.grid.unep.ch/images/carbon_dioxide_emissions.png"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6QRxiot_CTGdYXUdJt3Nc2lnEHaRqoxGEaCtmr7ITfh8EuTLEAHXSDOo5D3JV2l55dgJTBFpTbkjptsu5-i7z-up_eroEal8GWxalQjn14EuBE_ncyCqe9MD3pePK-Sw5rysKEOxCsIDM/s400/carbon_dioxide_emissions.jpg"></a> <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/news/datablog/2011/jan/31/world-carbon-dioxide-emissions-country-data-co2"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiOmEoEBaocnmqEhX2hHBpjw4t9T3kTG84EG1P0j2MVYHpQuVlV7kJXncFE71aAc2sVcjw7P1xIJtA958DWHFibBKVbDz16X_HcJpkPpycXQN0-CHbfyq9g82AaknPFxNK3veVhGKXlGs/s400/7448402296_7bb15e4a0f_q.jpg"></a> <a href="http://www.psmag.com/science-environment/tracking-climate-change-24435/"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSWo5dCDQJcNYqnswK8PujzBwAAMDuXLmkKvY0D8IEJ-6qH8K0Yn0fSCN77ypCkXJ3NDiR6V2IfmEMNjDwiEBVTyIQiQekPXlwacpvoErzQBUlnOseTmSHEIDAShmh0qBFFUZ30_rd1QI/s400/7448392650_cc21313669_q.jpg"></a><br />
<a href="http://www.grida.no/graphicslib/detail/a-planet-in-ecological-debt_ead9"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEmB0YJj2DZDFvOaB0NBdAFbAEPkipVZnSS5gIiYWCPeoVF44UoX8AynAj9MHiZUsRtFyGXYlAHAwYmnquVczGwyLYVlwQthsisN8yBoliuEtxZuGfR0K8HtC9auhjMr4nUoBM_Sak4z4/s400/7445852852_3e4e5a4b6a_q.jpg"></a> <a href="http://www.newint.org/features/2012/04/01/climate-change-adaptation-projects-map-world-countries/"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipA3np9006-5y6fOx7Hh8gnBruT4IkXCX1HcZ1r1abq5GqcQueuaWTS8Efyv11JHy8CWQhyBdREeBq1cLJLafDcxX0CEPC5zDwjgOcq-vbmqdhiC8AZvtDBCz6HRDGjuAWUHxuxPiiDiU/s400/7445868116_601ec3c73b_q.jpg"></a> <a href="http://web.worldbank.org/WBSITE/EXTERNAL/TOPICS/EXTSDNET/0,,contentMDK:23221288~pagePK:64885161~piPK:64884432~theSitePK:5929282,00.html"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3UM0AWzKor0bAZ0Qd2LNloL7dl2XWAFhiJa7B4nSNQoZJK9H8YL9yALaJ3zdEOMnRh_JqRaRnUdH3ksyAkoiRrsKgKf1H1xRwXiNWegOIDUlqJPyO0vkrI-BAyLhO9lMn386wUSDtiAM/s400/7448403148_9d56121011_q.jpg"></a><br />
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It sounds very nice and noble to say that you're doing something for the environment, but what's the ultimate purpose? In the end, almost all arguments for protecting the environment take on a very anthropocentric worldview; it's really all about securing our future, stretching our resources so as to ensure our survival as a civilisation, at least until we've figured out new technologies that will create new resources for us to exploit, or until we've found a way to finally colonise space and settle on other worlds. Even arguments appealing to the intrinsic benefits of nature are based on human perceptions of value and notions of what is good (for us). We talk about living sustainably, knowing all too well that the very basis of our civilisation is still fixated on extracting resources from the Earth to maintain current models of economic growth and development.<br />
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We now lead lives driven by technology and consumption, our reliance on the Earth obscured by a <a href="http://youtu.be/gLBE5QAYXp8">human-made system of countless intermediate steps</a> that transform raw materials into the finished products that we've just purchased, and ultimately fated to be thrown out and disposed of. We forget where our food comes from. We forget about the way water, oxygen, and a host of nutrients and other ingredients essential for life are continually recycled. We forget about the minerals that need to be mined, the metal ores that need to be dug up and smelted, the fuels that need to be extracted from deep within the crust and refined. Safely ensconced within our grand monuments to human ingenuity and innovation that usually shield us from the worst of the elements, we forget that nothing much has changed after all: everything we use and consume still ultimately comes from the Earth. Unaware and oblivious to our continued reliance and dependence on the planet's finite resources, we fail to realise how our lifestyles and habits can have serious impacts on landscapes all across the globe, whether it's the sea off Patagonia, the Arctic ice caps, or the Borneo rainforests.<br />
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In many ways, we have lost sight of a basic fundamental fact. Despite our success in technological advances and what we perceive as a rise to dominance over the planet, we are still reliant on the Earth and its myriad ecological processes for our survival. From the countless resources we extract, to the food we consume, the oxygen we breathe, and the water we drink, we cannot escape the fact that we cannot completely sever our ties with the natural world.<br />
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When we talk about doing our part to "save" the "environment", just what is it that we're trying to protect? We can talk and debate all day long about fossil fuels, renewable energy, carbon credits, and banning plastic bags, but still fail to grasp one of the key motivations at the very core of the original environmental movement.<br />
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As Paul Kingsnorth writes in <a href="http://www.orionmagazine.org/index.php/articles/article/6599/">Confessions of a Recovering Environmentalist</a>:<br />
<blockquote><i>I became an "environmentalist" because of a strong emotional reaction to wild places and the other-than-human world: to beech trees and hedgerows and pounding waterfalls, to songbirds and sunsets, to the flying fish in the Java Sea and the canopy of the rainforest at dusk when the gibbons come to the waterside to feed. From that reaction came a feeling, which became a series of thoughts: that such things are precious for their own sake, that they are food for the human soul, and that they need people to speak for them to, and defend them from, other people, because they cannot speak our language and we have forgotten how to speak theirs. And because we are killing them to feed ourselves and we know it and we care about it, sometimes, but we do it anyway because we are hungry, or we have persuaded ourselves that we are.<br />
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But these are not, I think, very common views today. Today's environmentalism is as much a victim of the contemporary cult of utility as every other aspect of our lives, from science to education. We are not environmentalists now because we have an emotional reaction to the wild world. Most of us wouldn't even know where to find it. We are environmentalists now in order to promote something called "sustainability." What does this curious, plastic word mean? It does not mean defending the nonhuman world from the ever-expanding empire of Homo sapiens sapiens, though some of its adherents like to pretend it does, even to themselves. It means sustaining human civilization at the comfort level that the world's rich people—us—feel is their right, without destroying the "natural capital" or the "resource base" that is needed to do so.<br />
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It is, in other words, an entirely human-centered piece of politicking, disguised as concern for "the planet." In a very short time—just over a decade—this worldview has become all-pervasive. It is voiced by the president of the USA and the president of Anglo-Dutch Shell and many people in between. The success of environmentalism has been total—at the price of its soul.</i></blockquote>Our lifestyles have created a situation in which people are disconnected from the rest of the natural world, unaware that their survival rests upon the health and resilience of these systems and relationships. We can go through the motions, talking about recycling paper and reducing energy consumption, without truly appreciating why. <br />
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And the rot starts early too; if children are not being overwhelmed with schoolwork, they are being kept indoors because of parents concerned about the possible risks and dangers from being outside. It's clearly visible, even in Singapore: many older Singaporeans, especially those who grew up in the <i>kampungs</i>, feel nostalgic about their childhood pastimes. If children weren't occupied with tending to small vegetable plots or fruit orchards, or raising poultry and livestock, many spent their time catching fishes and tadpoles in the drains, chasing butterflies and dragonflies through the fields and bushes, climbing trees to pick fruits, and so on. How often do you see children engaged in such activities these days?<br />
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It is a problem that many people have fretted about for years, if not decades. These days, the malady even has an 'official' name: <a href="http://www.sfgate.com/outdoors/article/Children-detach-from-natural-world-as-they-2495482.php">nature deficit disorder</a>. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibc3zFM7aUGnbd2iFrqdm8ylPGslBD7RDFi8eStbHVvPjBdHARWh53mN0ZTxlhkExIQKgnFap06dr6qOTPYuVWvYzIx8ibL7GK54kHsgw6dLWj3oF5eiCiqJJh0NbTmGwYxHuIhRbMMrkT/s1600/Serapong.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibc3zFM7aUGnbd2iFrqdm8ylPGslBD7RDFi8eStbHVvPjBdHARWh53mN0ZTxlhkExIQKgnFap06dr6qOTPYuVWvYzIx8ibL7GK54kHsgw6dLWj3oF5eiCiqJJh0NbTmGwYxHuIhRbMMrkT/s500/Serapong.jpg" /></a><br />
Coral reef, Sentosa;<br />
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I've always been an advocate for spending time outside, experiencing nature in some form. Some may call it 'communing with nature', while I like to call it 'nature therapy', but it's perhaps the simplest way to combat nature deficit disorder, and to ultimately tackle the culture of consumerism and resource exploitation that sits at the heart of our environmental problems. It doesn't have to mean hiking through jungles or climbing mountains; many people simply don't realise that Singapore is situated within a hotspot for biodiversity, and that you can find a great deal of species during a visit to <a href="http://uforest.blogspot.sg/2012/07/punggol-park-oasis-for-urban-nature.html">your typical neighbourhood town park</a>.<br />
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It's about rediscovering our links to the rest of the natural world, and reawakening the knowledge that humans are just a single species out of millions, whose survival depends on the integrity of the relationships shared with a multitude of other species. When you really look beyond the differences that separate us from the other living things, you soon realise that we are fundamentally similar. We're all carbon-based lifeforms, made up of the same molecules but in different configurations. We all share a common ancestry, with every living species representing a tiny twig of the massive tree of life, all in pursuit of one ultimate goal: to have one's genes passed down to the next generation.<br />
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And this whole spectacle of life, from the often brutal, violent struggles between predator and prey, to the intricate symbiotic partnerships formed when different species collaborate instead of compete, from the epic migrations of creatures across continents and oceans to the sudden burst of colours as flowers bloom in a desert after the rain, everything has taken place over the last 3.5 billion years on a single stage.<br />
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When you reflect on the fact that the Earth has been around for 4.5 billion years, and realise that everything ever accomplished or achieved by humans took place in the span of less than a hundred thousand years, you can't help but feel humbled. Indeed, all our epic tales of conquest and discovery, our crises and disasters and triumphs, all of this barely registers when compared against the vast enormity of time that the Earth has spent orbiting the Sun. And in all that time, a myriad of processes have shaped and moulded the landscapes, consequently driving the evolution of every species that has ever lived on this world. <br />
<blockquote><i>There is grandeur in this view of life, with its several powers, having been originally breathed into a few forms or into one; and that, whilst this planet has gone cycling on according to the fixed law of gravity, from so simple a beginning endless forms most beautiful and most wonderful have been, and are being, evolved.<br />
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- Charles Darwin, On the Origin of Species (1859)</i></blockquote><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD2nIcmiZoLyrHTN3CsxA7uChyqDlkawXAUeYQ805yuynVd6hbVQePOUnQIvowVmx_AwZpXRz-kHY9V1RgQ5TBTOgyumUa5Ak-ZS4JV5T2PbXYmNmxuwy0-U-1QbNdbp5jMZ0dtyv6E9kX/s1600/SgBuloh.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD2nIcmiZoLyrHTN3CsxA7uChyqDlkawXAUeYQ805yuynVd6hbVQePOUnQIvowVmx_AwZpXRz-kHY9V1RgQ5TBTOgyumUa5Ak-ZS4JV5T2PbXYmNmxuwy0-U-1QbNdbp5jMZ0dtyv6E9kX/s500/SgBuloh.jpg" /></a><br />
Sungei Buloh;<br />
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Consider that the Earth is a very small planet in a rather otherwise unremarkable solar system. Only then can you truly begin to entertain the idea that maybe we're not that special after all. Sure, we've managed to change and alter much of the Earth's environments, and exert great power and influence over the survival and evolution of so many other species, but to this day, we're still stranded on a tiny little speck in the cosmos.<br />
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But it's hardly a reason to feel insignificant. Instead, with the knowledge that we are but mere transient inhabitants on this planet, the product of millions of years of evolution that have governed the lives of every other species, and subject to the same laws of nature that have shaped the rest of the universe, I feel a sense of connection, one that transcends all man-made boundaries. We're not defined by notions of race, or religion, or nationality, or gender; rather, all living things that have ever existed on this planet, including every single human being, are linked in an unbroken thread of kinship that stretches all the way back through the eons, forming a grand narrative of evolution, ecology, and extinction, or what paleontologist Scott Sampson has referred to as the <a href="http://www.scottsampson.net/index.php?page=education">Great Story</a>.<br />
<blockquote><i>Arguably Darwin's greatest contribution was revealing the Great Story, offering up an astounding, evidence-based origin myth that encompasses not only all human cultures, but all life on Earth. More than 30 years ago, biologist E. O. Wilson stated that, "the evolutionary epic is probably the best myth we will ever have." He went on to add that this same story, "retold as poetry, is as intrinsically ennobling as any religious epic." In the intervening decades, and for the first time, fields like cosmology, geology, paleontology, and archaeology have greatly augmented this myth, generating for the first time a scientific story of the universe, life, humanity, and mind. We now recognize the universe as a single, unified event kicked off by the Big Bang about 14 billion years ago. Yet the Great Story—variously dubbed the "Epic of Evolution," the "New Story," and the "Universe Story," among others—is virtually absent from all stages of our education system. Consequently, 150 years after Darwin's Origin, this evolutionary epic still has minimal influence on worldviews (other than through the erroneous notion of inexorable progress).</i><br />
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<i>The Great Story, expanded beyond biology to encompass cosmos and culture, deserves to reside at the very core of the education curriculum. Indigenous peoples had their origin myths, and we must embrace our own 21st Century myth, incomplete yet the most accurate glimpse of our origins we've ever had. This astounding story deserves to be told and retold, with appropriate increases in the level of the discussion, from elementary school though high school and on into the postgraduate years. Sustainability will require that people live in relationship with nature, that they feel compassion and empathy for the places they live. Yet meaning, purpose, and belonging have less to do with where we are at any given moment than where we've been and where we're going. As stated by John Haught, "Darwin has gifted us with an account of life whose depth, beauty and pathos—when seen in the context of the larger cosmic Epic of Evolution — exposes us afresh to the raw reality of the sacred and to a resoundingly meaningful universe."</i></blockquote><iframe width="500" height="281" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/HwSKkKrUzUk?rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br />
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There is something spiritually overwhelming (some might even say religious) when it comes to contemplating this primal connection that we all share with the rest of the universe. How does one even begin to grasp the revelation that humanity is so inextricably linked to phenomena that seem so distant, and seemingly insignificant compared to everything else? It's a sense of wonder, of amazement and awe, of the realisation that there is still so much more to learn and discover. It's sobering to entertain the thought that we are not at the centre of the universe, while at the same time, it empowers us with a purpose, to explore and experiment and try to find out as much as we can, with all the tools and skills that we have developed in order to unravel the mysteries. And instead of an arrogant sense of entitlement and dominion over the Earth and all its other inhabitants, perhaps we will begin to see the world in a different light, not as something to be extracted for resources, but rather, a library full of wisdom and lessons, provided we don't run riot, ripping up the pages, smashing the shelves, and setting books on fire. When progress and development are gauged not by profits and stock markets, but by a shared thirst for intellectual upgrading and knowledge, perhaps we might then see a pressing need to avoid further corrupting the database and wrecking more information before we can even acknowledge its existence, let alone decipher it.<br />
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We are characters in this great epic tale, set on this grand stage called Earth, featuring a diverse cast that spans 4.5 billion years. For now, our role is ambiguous: villain? Villain-turned-hero? The choice isn't governed by any scriptwriter or director. There's no <i>deus ex machina</i>, no reset button to start all over again, no time machine to undo the mistakes.<br />
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Like it or not, <i>Homo sapiens</i> is a species that has become a force of nature unto itself, with the power to either nurture and heal, or ruin and obliterate. We exist in a world of marvel and splendour, and it is up to us to decide what sort of legacy we wish to leave behind for our descendants. Even in the wake of any global ecological catastrophe, and the collapse of the ecosystems that sustain us, it is likely that humans will somehow survive, and adapt, as we always have. Even if we wiped ourselves out (and a significant chunk of biodiversity along with us), life will find a way, and continue. But what sort of world will we leave behind? What would our descendants think of us, the civilisation that knew the problems, yet couldn't get its act together and solve them?<br />
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I'm fully aware of the fact that as a person living in a developed country like Singapore, my ecological footprint is already massive to begin with. And as much as I try to reduce my impact with simple lifestyle choices, nobody is perfect. The decisions I make every day in terms of the clothes I wear, the food I eat, the products I purchase, the mode of transportation I use to get around, all have larger ramifications on resources harvested from all over the planet. I wish more people realised that there was more to life in Singapore than just chasing wealth, yet at the same time, I acknowledge that it is precisely such economic development that grants me the comfort to contemplate such matters, instead of occupying my time with fighting for survival.<br />
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But just because I'm also guilty of contributing to environmental destruction doesn't mean that I'm not going to try to do something. I might not be able to do much as an individual, but at the very least, I can share the wonders of Singapore's remaining wild places, and let people realise what we are losing. Which is why I've been a very passionate and vocal advocate for biodiversity, for protecting our green spaces and natural heritage, and nurturing a deeper appreciation for our place as just another species that is reliant on the integrity of the intricate web which connects all living things. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjTXAfim_18_FJxh0NVt5o6FJB99A-r0EQWAKsnUB0IjKCVqBywFOWmQMD76pPIe1sEdbzC0gN88wgpaXE1Ogx9HuWL9jb7TmaCbGr9TqZrubsn3HpxdzZgdKSDFHp35Je8sYoqdlbK1Sz/s1600/Cyrene.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjTXAfim_18_FJxh0NVt5o6FJB99A-r0EQWAKsnUB0IjKCVqBywFOWmQMD76pPIe1sEdbzC0gN88wgpaXE1Ogx9HuWL9jb7TmaCbGr9TqZrubsn3HpxdzZgdKSDFHp35Je8sYoqdlbK1Sz/s500/Cyrene.jpg" /></a><br />
Cyrene Reef;<br />
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So, at the end of this long, rambling post, what's the takeaway?<br />
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My perspectives on caring for the environment have largely been ecocentric, trying to raise awareness of the fact that there's a side of Singapore that not many of us are aware of. Although we have undergone much change over the last few centuries, and in the process destroyed most of our original wild spaces, we still retain little pockets of biodiversity that may continue to persist and flourish far into the future, and maybe even expand, provided we allow them to. Of course, human needs will invariably take precedence, but just as how we often trot out the need to balance development with conservation, so I believe that it is possible to achieve a better balance between the needs of the ecosystem with the needs of humans (which often turn out to be wants, not needs). Some may choose to calculate the benefits and costs compared to simply converting a seemingly useless space in the name of "progress", but you can know the price of everything and the value of nothing.<br />
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Go out. Explore Singapore's remaining wild places. Open your eyes, and observe. Listen carefully, above the din of human voices and traffic, for the sounds of nature. Read and learn more about the countless other non-human lives all around us, in your neighbourhood, in this country, on this planet. Weep for what has been lost. Celebrate what remains, or what has returned from the brink. Share your experiences and excitement with others, so that they may someday understand and realise what they have missed all along, and join you. And speak up for those whose voices we are incapable of understanding - the forests, the reefs, the plants and animals whose value we overlook so easily. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVzCCA-BJT51_FhuRO2snVV8V9KPuG0nQiO-He4Ad0VEAg_3Hl1Z01Iv6ers7CMF2kRTg6oT1jZTnbTiR_gB2v-wBTn_QkD4JNoRj4eS2dHm6ZoMkS-_yfFOBjHCImp9GzD2ZYigH8vxNs/s1600/CkJawa.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVzCCA-BJT51_FhuRO2snVV8V9KPuG0nQiO-He4Ad0VEAg_3Hl1Z01Iv6ers7CMF2kRTg6oT1jZTnbTiR_gB2v-wBTn_QkD4JNoRj4eS2dHm6ZoMkS-_yfFOBjHCImp9GzD2ZYigH8vxNs/s500/CkJawa.jpg" /></a><br />
Chek Jawa;<br />
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No other species has had such great power to threaten the survival of so many other species, and yet, it is this same species that possesses the power to secure a future for virtually all the other species.<br />
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<b>Postscript:</b> <i>This post was written sometime back, and sat in my Drafts, unfinished, for nearly a year. I thought it was worth publishing some of my thoughts about what it meant to care for the environment, and decided that it was a fitting way to conclude my series of posts on <a href="http://blog.omy.sg/sba-plus/">SBA Plus</a>, since the voting period for the Singapore Blog Awards has come to an end.</i><br />
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(Cross-posted to <a href="http://blog.omy.sg/sba-plus/2013/06/24/ecological/">SBA Plus</a>)Ivanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11637204084596462318noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7625711962780385617.post-59521253998086343182013-06-24T00:00:00.000+08:002013-06-18T05:34:54.958+08:00Vote for me in the Singapore Blog Awards 2013!<a href="https://apps.facebook.com/panasonic_sg_vote/"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnR6A2EI82P0X2aFqW86_SicOsmUABkNox5VejD78R1mn5o6tv9OsmBCl2jeVfxHVQY4ramdQ4ZeugIajJdKbO2CE6xDiTyv0pPyWcVsqswZx2oB-Eay5ejGnJ4MxltAE4DTC58I7ylEzc/s500/panasonic-voting-eco%5B1%5D.jpg" /></a><br />
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In case you missed <a href="http://lazy-lizard-tales.blogspot.sg/2013/05/im-finalist-in-singapore-blog-awards.html">my previous announcement</a>, The Lazy Lizard's Tales is a finalist in this year's <a href="http://sgblogawards.omy.sg/2013/">Singapore Blog Awards</a>. I'm one of ten bloggers competing in the <a href="http://sgblogawards.omy.sg/2013/category/?cat=ecochallenge">Panasonic Best Eco-Challenge Blog</a> category, and really need all your support. Here's how to vote:<br />
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<a name='more'></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihV11tCPp8qGAGZ7kxasaE_ODiMpOxmAQPl6vBPmUvqRECPs7tm_8Xu-UOG2SUuqE3PtQ5aWRvcglm6DLq6Yykl61_4rRx5Td0Q3Z1Fr1y64uOqtdupVb0s6GTlJ06PdKMPhiqh3UJYx_r/s1600/PanasonicVoting1.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihV11tCPp8qGAGZ7kxasaE_ODiMpOxmAQPl6vBPmUvqRECPs7tm_8Xu-UOG2SUuqE3PtQ5aWRvcglm6DLq6Yykl61_4rRx5Td0Q3Z1Fr1y64uOqtdupVb0s6GTlJ06PdKMPhiqh3UJYx_r/s500/PanasonicVoting1.jpg" /></a><br />
<b>1.</b>If you're voting for the first time, 'Like' <a href="https://www.facebook.com/sgpanasonic">Panasonic Singapore's Facebook page</a>.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJMkEmx8MdPDOLLsqKEN8Kp2GAuNWV18QYvI9DHr7jo6SKoM6y9SaSwOx_5lxqCjIV55icmgzqIfHQkpWoYcBb3jXOFsa9wdxTBaGI3pf5dqFy2Ljw_NnQfNFHoeDWhfXVrhfEqvQrV1mH/s1600/PanasonicVoting2.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJMkEmx8MdPDOLLsqKEN8Kp2GAuNWV18QYvI9DHr7jo6SKoM6y9SaSwOx_5lxqCjIV55icmgzqIfHQkpWoYcBb3jXOFsa9wdxTBaGI3pf5dqFy2Ljw_NnQfNFHoeDWhfXVrhfEqvQrV1mH/s500/PanasonicVoting2.jpg" /></a><br />
<b>2.</b> After you have 'Liked' the page, click on the tab that says '<a href="https://www.facebook.com/sgpanasonic/app_265300293614127">Vote & Win</a>'. Alternatively, you can also follow <a href="https://apps.facebook.com/panasonic_sg_vote/">this link</a>.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCb_FnyoA4KVBjXomf6yoGYM5gdJViejB7-ZzEK-8nY5cd43_NF7W4i3UP9XSxk6FDaUerJuTkMvyzz1HzZCsulhrb0pbzffBkrQ2yAu-e5QRgt98kzSwAHQn1MAmua0ciWeIZuQEq8gkM/s1600/PanasonicVoting3.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCb_FnyoA4KVBjXomf6yoGYM5gdJViejB7-ZzEK-8nY5cd43_NF7W4i3UP9XSxk6FDaUerJuTkMvyzz1HzZCsulhrb0pbzffBkrQ2yAu-e5QRgt98kzSwAHQn1MAmua0ciWeIZuQEq8gkM/s500/PanasonicVoting3.jpg" /></a><br />
<b>3.</b> Select the button that says 'Vote Best Eco-Challenge'. It will show you the list of finalists for the category.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSyhxXPKDGQSdO3DwVUF3sOX0u3Gfhoji91nijYfs28FY36DUhh0JusbzTO5xRE5DBEZA4I6WyYGJIAqQQhYALKzZ67o6tr26HEbHlksZNC4tiKqPwJoGlMCMBTT1JcG4i6A7qTrSBYfZ9/s1600/PanasonicVoting4.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSyhxXPKDGQSdO3DwVUF3sOX0u3Gfhoji91nijYfs28FY36DUhh0JusbzTO5xRE5DBEZA4I6WyYGJIAqQQhYALKzZ67o6tr26HEbHlksZNC4tiKqPwJoGlMCMBTT1JcG4i6A7qTrSBYfZ9/s500/PanasonicVoting4.jpg" /></a><br />
<b>4.</b> In terms of the number of votes cast, I'm currently in <strike>4th</strike> <strike>5th</strike> <strike>4th</strike> <strike>5th</strike> <strike>4th</strike> <strike>3rd</strike> 2nd place. Hopefully that will improve in the <strike>coming weeks</strike>. (<b>16th June 2013:</b> Final week of voting!) Look out for the wild boar!<br />
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<b>5.</b> Click on the heart to cast your vote. Since you're reading this on my blog, I'm going to assume that you're casting a vote for me. ;)<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeG0iT1Ab1xhaAdW8tj-6gqrzHQRkZmXEA4avuv0tnecDziH-nBiAVhbt4PEE__uOjtH8OsXkLiB5g6ZVyI-IplJUwLOUghTW9nf4BzHAxMUgPKfUVqEwaVY3C8dJhBoeW87dREdhnlq_9/s1600/PanasonicVoting5.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeG0iT1Ab1xhaAdW8tj-6gqrzHQRkZmXEA4avuv0tnecDziH-nBiAVhbt4PEE__uOjtH8OsXkLiB5g6ZVyI-IplJUwLOUghTW9nf4BzHAxMUgPKfUVqEwaVY3C8dJhBoeW87dREdhnlq_9/s500/PanasonicVoting5.jpg" /></a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguTW35N5aW7zGvQuqbL9S6wSUZmduPWs45V2RsF8iajST0Sjxl4LvpFqjCSMBgqQWMw_fAvHSeuu00mQFVWPIejVwmrI3_MTV7W5e5DfL96dhbCWEw7nbFn1BiGGB4PYgBSnCwnIIE967V/s1600/PanasonicVoting6.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguTW35N5aW7zGvQuqbL9S6wSUZmduPWs45V2RsF8iajST0Sjxl4LvpFqjCSMBgqQWMw_fAvHSeuu00mQFVWPIejVwmrI3_MTV7W5e5DfL96dhbCWEw7nbFn1BiGGB4PYgBSnCwnIIE967V/s500/PanasonicVoting6.jpg" /></a><br />
<b>6.</b> Once you have cast your vote, you will get a couple of dialogue boxes that will request your permission to post on your Facebook Wall. You can choose to share with your own friends that you've been voting in the Singapore Blog Awards Special Categories, or just select 'Skip' and 'Cancel'.<br />
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<b>7.</b> And there you have it! Your vote has been registered. Don't forget to check back the next day to vote again. You are entitled to one vote per category every day, so do remember to vote daily!<br />
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Voting in the Singapore Blog Awards takes place from 27th May to 23rd June. And you might be selected as one of the lucky voters to win a JBL Charge Stereo Speaker worth $249, or a JBL Flip Stereo Speaker worth $195!<br />
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Many of the posts written by fellow Panasonic Best Eco-Challenge blog finalists are being shared on the <a href="http://blog.omy.sg/sba-plus/">Singapore Blog Awards site</a>, under <a href="http://blog.omy.sg/sba-plus/category/2013-panasonic-best-eco-challenge-blog/">our own category</a>. And you can go <a href="http://blog.omy.sg/sba-plus/author/eco1309/">here to read the posts</a> that I've mirrored there.Ivanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11637204084596462318noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7625711962780385617.post-90802048384539746882013-06-23T21:00:00.000+08:002013-06-24T04:13:59.122+08:00Flashback: wildlife news in 1960s Singapore<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/hai_ren/7378402596/" title="WhaleSharkClifford by Hai_Ren, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5232/7378402596_c505c31790.jpg" width="500" height="322" alt="WhaleSharkClifford"></a><br />
A 6 metre long whale shark (<i>Rhincodon typus</i>), shot by police after it was trapped at a <i>kelong</i> near Pulau Sebarok in 1964. This is the only record of this species in our waters;<br />
<a href="http://newspapers.nl.sg/Digitised/Article/straitstimes19640607-1.2.52.aspx">The Straits Times, 7 June 1964</a><br />
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This year's theme for the <a href="http://sgblogawards.omy.sg/2013/">Singapore Blog Awards</a> is <a href="http://blog.omy.sg/sgblogawards/archives/1747">"60s Fever"</a>, and I thought it would be nice to take a look back at what it was like for Singapore's biodiversity in the 1960s.<br />
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<a href="http://www.ura.gov.sg/dc/mp58/mp58map_index.htm"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUctLs-FjslbplijWp_fQ77GoPqTl3tLYeUSUqOWMymNxVWoEGva8zDdkIWThtbjJfKywLWmjzWd1tkfh7htjJl_qh61q669Mi7tXVum4wxHEshBZWUNcqzFJx9qByQc8NEGKOrLj_tQJh/s500/dcdmp58index%5B1%5D.jpg" /></a><br />
Singapore's Master Plan from 1958. Some of the Southern Islands are not included in this map.<br />
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<a href="http://www.ura.gov.sg/MP2008/"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr6c5T5PRn1m3GXRljeqEAs1XJHHFxud2xc3Khj_Zr_2oRid1WtqcJBoH68RxhK7eT4s_37_2x-8LRXWp9ZA5Pk2K_ni9nFYJjRGAl7reDw4wynkLDhMao9tpt2bQ8sC0mnaTDfwZtwk9J/s500/Singapore2008.jpg" /></a><br />
Singapore, according to the Urban Redevelopment Authority's (URA) <a href="http://www.ura.gov.sg/MP2008/">Master Plan 2008</a>. You can see how much our coastline has changed since 1958.<br />
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<a name='more'></a>It's difficult to characterise the 1960s as being better or worse for our wildlife as a whole. On the upside, there was less urban development. Forest patches were still connected to one another in a mosaic of agricultural land, plantations, secondary scrub, and other rural landscapes. And this was a time before extensive land reclamation changed our coastline and affected the clarity of our waters. The seas were extremely rich in marine life, and numerous communities along our shores depended on such bounty for both livelihoods and recreation.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/kskong/8195400269/" title="_00K1676ca1 by K S Kong, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8067/8195400269_4ec9efb933.jpg" width="334" height="500" alt="_00K1676ca1"></a><br />
Species now very rare or even <a href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/news/2004/020401-1.htm">extinct in Singapore</a>, like the cream-coloured giant squirrel (<i>Ratufa affinis</i>), were still found in many areas. This photo was taken in the Panti Forest in Johor;<br />
(Photo by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/kskong/">K S Kong</a>)<br />
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On the flipside, protecting wildlife and habitat conservation were not high priorities among the people, both before and immediately after we became an independent nation. Many of the articles I've found are reports of wildlife being dealt with through lethal means, when today we place emphasis on live capture and relocation, and promote education and changing human attitudes as a better strategy to resolve human-wildlife conflict. And strange as it may seem, some species that we now find in Singapore today were absent during the 1960s, having first vanished during the initial wave of deforestation during the 19th century and early 20th century. It is only in recent years that some of these formerly extinct animals have been rediscovered or returned to their former haunts, possibly due to a combination of extensive planting of urban greenery and the creation of parks and other green spaces, as well as increased habitat loss in southern Johor.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/lonesomecrow/2316877630/" title="Oriental Pied Hornbill, Anthracoceros albirostris by kampang, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3270/2316877630_6e55ba9aa7.jpg" width="340" height="500" alt="Oriental Pied Hornbill, Anthracoceros albirostris"></a><br />
The Oriental pied hornbill (<i>Anthracoceros albirostris</i>) died out here in the 19th century, but <a href="http://mygreenspace.nparks.gov.sg/hornbill-happenings/">made a comeback</a> during the 1990s;<br />
(Photo by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/lonesomecrow/">kampang</a>)<br />
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Here are ten articles that provide us with a glimpse of <a href="http://newspapers.nl.sg/Digitised/Article/straitstimes19650626-1.2.87.aspx">Singapore's wildlife</a> during the 1960s...<br />
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<b><h1>Giant sawfish caught off Pasir Panjang</h1><a href="http://newspapers.nl.sg/Digitised/Article/straitstimes19650415-1.2.123.aspx">The Straits Times, 15th April 1965</a></b><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/hai_ren/9115910702/" title="The Straits Times 15 April 1965 by Hai_Ren, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2810/9115910702_ae079e2680.jpg" width="500" height="496" alt="The Straits Times 15 April 1965"></a><br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/hai_ren/9113683835/" title="The Straits Times 15 April 1965 by Hai_Ren, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5493/9113683835_b0dd041338_o.jpg" width="190" height="364" alt="The Straits Times 15 April 1965"></a><br />
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I haven't heard of any recent records of sawfishes in Singapore waters, but as this article shows, they used to be found locally. In 1960, another massive sawfish <a href="http://newspapers.nl.sg/Digitised/Article/straitstimes19600607-1.2.38.aspx">was caught</a>, and was described as a monster that had been "terrorising fishermen and picnickers."<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/zoodiver/5860048949/" title="Green Sawfish by Zoodiver, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3222/5860048949_9464877fb4.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Green Sawfish"></a><br />
Green sawfish (<i>Pristis zjisron</i>), Underwater Adventures Aquarium in Minnesota, United States of America;<br />
(Photo by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/zoodiver/">Zoodiver</a>)<br />
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Today, all species of sawfish are listed as <a href="http://www.iucn.org/news_homepage/news_by_date/?11138%2FSecuring-the-future-for-sawfishes">Critically Endangered</a>, and all international trade <a href="http://www.cites.org/eng/cop/14/prop/E14-P17.pdf">has been banned since 2007</a>. Live trade for public aquaria was still allowed for one species of sawfish, but that too came to an end this year, after it was agreed that the largetooth or freshwater sawfish (<i>Pristis microdon</i>) should <a href="http://www.cites4sharks.org/sawfish-and-mantas-follow-sharks-on-cites-agenda-receive-overwhelming-support/">receive the same amount of legal protection against trade</a> as the rest of its relatives.<br />
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<a href="http://singaporewaters.nss.org.sg/images/sawfish65640.jpg" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdp2ehnv5lZYTLyHj33rx_CHCeGDoIgazB2kehgP-Y-ANZFvF1oHHi-PdJ0TmbbtKZwQ1pCGmKfWvKe2o7EC8dpolXmT2YeZ2SuoNTbvwXP4ulLxUZG2MjyLYwzL9coaoeFkZCaJoxIwZ8/s500/sawfish65640%5B1%5D.jpg" /></a><br />
Sawfish caught off the West Coast, 1965;<br />
(Photo from <a href="http://singaporewaters.nss.org.sg/Index.htm">Singapore Waters - Unveiling Our Seas</a>)<br />
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It's sobering to think about the marine giants that were once abundant here, but which have since vanished from the seas around Singapore. Uncontrolled fishing of species that are slow to mature and reproduce certainly played a role, but it's also likely that habitat destruction was an important factor behind the disappearance of sawfish and other species. Our coastal waters still support a diverse range of marine life, but for now, these large predators are still absent.<br />
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<b><h1>Human remains found in shark caught off Pasir Panjang</h1><a href="http://newspapers.nl.sg/Digitised/Article/straitstimes19670711-1.2.35.aspx">The Straits Times, 11th July 1967</a></b><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/hai_ren/9065102183/" title="The Straits Times 11 July 1967 by Hai_Ren, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5495/9065102183_9eb7f57ec5_o.jpg" width="197" height="886" alt="The Straits Times 11 July 1967"></a><br />
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It seems as if Pasir Panjang has plenty of <a href="http://newspapers.nl.sg/Digitised/Article/straitstimes19670703-1.2.85.aspx">literal big fish stories</a>. <a href="http://newspapers.nl.sg/Digitised/Article/straitstimes19601012-1.2.77.aspx">Sharks were once very common</a> in Singapore waters, and could be found <a href="http://newspapers.nl.sg/Digitised/Article/freepress19600518-1.2.82.aspx">patrolling coastal areas</a>. In one incident, a large shark that was caught at Siglap <a href="http://newspapers.nl.sg/Digitised/Article/straitstimes19611101-1.2.79.aspx">was simply dumped at sea</a> instead of sold in the market, due to its supposed worthlessness. <br />
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We do still have <a href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/vertebrates/fish/selachii/selachii.htm">sharks on our reefs</a>, but besides <a href="http://www.asiaone.com/News/Latest%2BNews/Singapore/Story/A1Story20121015-377761.html">rare sightings</a>, the large species seem to have all but disappeared. <br />
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The shark that had been found with human remains in its stomach was a tiger shark (<i>Galeocerdo cuvier</i>), and its jaws used to be on display in the Public Gallery of the Raffles Museum of Biodiversity Research (RMBR).<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/hai_ren/4573277000/" title="P1430413 by Hai_Ren, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4065/4573277000_a247e67fbf.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="P1430413"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/echeng/962553479/" title="echeng070726_125486.jpg by echeng, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm2.staticflickr.com/1079/962553479_ce7e77bc0e.jpg" width="500" height="332" alt="echeng070726_125486.jpg"></a><br />
Tiger shark, Bahamas;<br />
(Photo by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/echeng/">echeng</a>)<br />
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After Singapore became an independent state, <a href="http://newspapers.nl.sg/Digitised/Article/straitstimes19680330-1.2.86.6.aspx">there were concerns</a> that coastal development and reclamation were <a href="http://newspapers.nl.sg/Digitised/Article/straitstimes19680404-1.2.77.aspx">destroying our reefs and other marine habitats</a>. <br />
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<a href="http://singaporewaters.nss.org.sg/" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijPmuucqaQd1VMsvF7YuJjTBZMhhxnhitzn5890AyIeg2f8UmUoMUvFIdUUOtWIHAjU-IxGL08zYZnwrYcSTK-iXWE9FR4_jhDnhcBCFYM20ScR5d21CHMWfdo1mpAWZR5lfmAivDqMLu-/s500/sgpwtrs%5B1%5D.jpg" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://singaporewaters.nss.org.sg/Index.htm"><i>Singapore Waters - Unveiling Our Seas</i></a>, a book published in 2003 by the Marine Conservation Group of the Nature Society (Singapore), shares many more photos and accounts of life by the sea during the 1960s, and the marine life that was once commonly found in these waters.<br />
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<b><h1>Singapore Botanic Gardens has a problem with monkeys</h1><a href="http://newspapers.nl.sg/Digitised/Article/freepress19611229-1.2.16.aspx">The Singapore Free Press, 29th December 1961</a></b><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/hai_ren/9067297054/" title="The Singapore Free Press 29 December 1961 by Hai_Ren, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2844/9067297054_9f1fb3cf0f_o.jpg" width="200" height="856" alt="The Singapore Free Press 29 December 1961"></a><br />
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Long-tailed macaques (<i>Macaca fascicularis</i>) are no longer found in the Singapore Botanic Gardens, save for the occasional wandering loner, but in the 1960s, the resident troop was <a href="http://newspapers.nl.sg/Digitised/Article/straitstimes19600520-1.2.52.aspx">accused of wreaking havoc</a>. I'm sure much of it was due to overpopulation as a result of <a href="http://newspapers.nl.sg/Digitised/Article/freepress19610722-1.2.72.1.aspx">feeding by people</a>. <a href="http://newspapers.nl.sg/Digitised/Article/freepress19610713-1.2.3.aspx">This led to</a> lots of <a href="http://newspapers.nl.sg/Digitised/Article/straitstimes19690123-1.2.31.aspx">conflict between humans and macaques</a>, although ultimately, <a href="http://newspapers.nl.sg/Digitised/Article/straitstimes19710225-1.2.3.aspx">the monkeys lost</a>.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/64684201@N00/4635244154/"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3398/4635244154_405a849427.jpg"></a><br />
Long-tailed macaques, Upper Peirce;<br />
(Photo by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/64684201@N00/">NatureInYourBackyard</a>)<br />
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There are also reports of monkeys causing trouble in places where they're no longer found today, such as in <a href="http://newspapers.nl.sg/Digitised/Article/freepress19610508-1.2.49.aspx">Fort Canning</a> and <a href="http://newspapers.nl.sg/Digitised/Article/straitstimes19600430-1.2.84.aspx">Sembawang</a>, although some of the culprits <a href="http://newspapers.nl.sg/Digitised/Article/straitstimes19640719-1.2.124.aspx">were actually pets</a> that <a href="http://newspapers.nl.sg/Digitised/Article/freepress19600815-1.2.84.aspx">escaped from captivity</a>.<br />
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Speaking of captive primates...<br />
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<b><h1>Woman boards bus with pet gibbon, refuses to alight</h1><a href="http://newspapers.nl.sg/Digitised/Article/straitstimes19620831-1.2.34.aspx">The Straits Times, 31 August 1962</a></b><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/hai_ren/9065032573/" title="The Straits Times 31 August 1962 by Hai_Ren, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3750/9065032573_25d7716b5f_o.jpg" width="190" height="862" alt="The Straits Times 31 August 1962"></a><br />
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Singapore was an important location for wildlife trade in the region, and many people had exotic pets. In 1963, a female proboscis monkey from Sabah <a href="http://newspapers.nl.sg/Digitised/Article/straitstimes19630731-1.2.75.aspx">escaped from captivity</a> at Alexandra Barracks, although there is no news as to whether she was recaptured.<br />
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<b><h1>Leopard cubs for sale in Rochor Road pet shop</h1><a href="http://newspapers.nl.sg/Digitised/Article/freepress19600704-1.2.76.aspx">The Singapore Free Press, 4 July 1960</a></b><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/hai_ren/9064874425/" title="The Singapore Free Press 4 July 1960 by Hai_Ren, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2884/9064874425_75cb62e4fb_o.jpg" width="397" height="1091" alt="The Singapore Free Press 4 July 1960"></a><br />
Seriously.<br />
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The 1960s were a time when Singapore was beginning to <a href="http://newspapers.nl.sg/Digitised/Article/straitstimes19670714-1.2.24.aspx">expand into the ornamental fish industry</a>, with the breeding of aquarium fish for export being seen as a <a href="http://newspapers.nl.sg/Digitised/Article/straitstimes19690428-1.2.37.aspx">profitable business</a>. Then-Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew <a href="http://newspapers.nl.sg/Digitised/Article/straitstimes19611216-1.2.30.aspx">had an aquarium worth $560 outside his office</a>, to "put guests in a nice frame of mind" before meeting him.<br />
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It was also a time when the <a href="http://www.nhb.gov.sg/NHBPortal/content/conn/ucmnhb/path/Contribution%20Folders/NHBPortal/Contents/Publications/beMuse/pdf/Apr2008_Remembering_Van_Kleef_Aquarium.pdf">Van Kleef Aquarium</a> (opened in 1955) was an <a href="http://newspapers.nl.sg/Digitised/Article/freepress19610614-1.2.94.aspx">extremely popular</a> and well-renowned attraction, and when plans were still being made for the <a href="http://newspapers.nl.sg/Digitised/Article/straitstimes19690710-1.2.43.aspx
">Singapore Zoo</a> and <a href="http://newspapers.nl.sg/Digitised/Article/straitstimes19680710-1.2.20.aspx">Jurong Bird Park</a>.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ofey/358207146/" title="Van Kleef Aquarium by ofey, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm1.staticflickr.com/129/358207146_a3a29969d2.jpg" width="500" height="331" alt="Van Kleef Aquarium"></a><br />
Undated postcard featuring the Van Kleef Aquarium;<br />
(Photo from <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ofey/">ofey</a>)<br />
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<b><h1>Hunters kill three large pythons in Mandai</h1><a href="http://newspapers.nl.sg/Digitised/Article/straitstimes19600513-1.2.4.aspx">The Straits Times, 13 May 1960</a></b><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/hai_ren/9057465402/" title="The Straits Times 13 May 1960 1 by Hai_Ren, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7287/9057465402_5d9e828ef7.jpg" width="500" height="46" alt="The Straits Times 13 May 1960 1"></a><br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/hai_ren/9057399510/" title="The Straits Times 13 May 1960 3 by Hai_Ren, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3831/9057399510_ba9c0bff29.jpg" width="500" height="270" alt="The Straits Times 13 May 1960 3"></a><br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/hai_ren/9057457620/" title="The Straits Times 13 May 1960 2 by Hai_Ren, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2837/9057457620_89a1d7e8d1_o.jpg" width="183" height="461" alt="The Straits Times 13 May 1960 2"></a><br />
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Even today, reticulated pythons (<i>Broghammerus reticulatus</i>) continue to thrive in Singapore, although it seems like the irrational fear that people often have of snakes also continues to exist. There are many articles from the 1960s of pythons being reported in <a href="http://newspapers.nl.sg/Digitised/Article/straitstimes19620408-1.2.51.3.aspx">all sorts of places</a>, causing <a href="http://newspapers.nl.sg/Digitised/Article/freepress19600528-1.2.93.aspx">panic among residents</a>. <a href="http://newspapers.nl.sg/Digitised/Article/straitstimes19690228-1.2.61.aspx">Most</a> were <a href="http://newspapers.nl.sg/Digitised/Article/freepress19600901-1.2.6.aspx">killed</a>, others <a href="http://newspapers.nl.sg/Digitised/Article/straitstimes19600222-1.2.91.aspx">sold</a>, while a few were <a href="http://newspapers.nl.sg/Digitised/Article/freepress19600301-1.2.85.aspx">brought into captivity</a>. <a href="http://newspapers.nl.sg/Digitised/Article/straitstimes19650221-1.2.39.1.7.aspx">An editorial from 1965</a> about local snakes even noted that the king cobra (<i>Ophiophagus hannah</i>) was "fairly common", when today, not many can claim to have <a href="http://rmbr.nus.edu.sg/nis/bulletin2011/2011nis143-156.pdf">seen this snake in the wild</a>.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/song-devan/4150223443/" title="Reticulated python (Python reticulatus) by Anne Devan-Song, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2589/4150223443_9e9402607b.jpg" width="500" height="499" alt="Reticulated python (Python reticulatus) "></a><br />
Juvenile reticulated python, Queenstown;<br />
(Photo by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/song-devan/">Anne Devan-Song</a>)<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/avianphotography/6281983625/" title="King Cobra by myrontay, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6114/6281983625_0e90a99393.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="King Cobra"></a><br />
King cobra, Sungei Buloh;<br />
(Photo by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/avianphotography/">myrontay</a>)<br />
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It's also worth noting that during the 1960s, hunting was still a popular hobby, and <a href="http://newspapers.nl.sg/Digitised/Article/freepress19600212-1.2.71.aspx">many people owned rifles and shotguns</a>. Some <a href="http://newspapers.nl.sg/Digitised/Article/freepress19600304-1.2.40.aspx">travelled over to Johor</a> in search of game, while others pursued <a href="http://newspapers.nl.sg/Digitised/Article/straitstimes19610922-1.2.104.1.aspx">flying foxes</a>, civets, <a href="http://newspapers.nl.sg/Digitised/Article/freepress19600203-1.2.42.aspx">birds</a>, <a href="http://newspapers.nl.sg/Digitised/Article/straitstimes19600317-1.2.116.aspx">crocodiles</a>, and pythons locally.<br />
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One of the favourite targets of Singapore's hunters in the 1960s, the Malayan flying fox (<i>Pteropus vampyrus</i>) is one of the world's largest bats, and is sadly now no longer resident in Singapore. It's likely that hunting at roosting sites not only killed large numbers of flying foxes, but also drove the survivors to seek sanctuary elsewhere. Today, these large fruit-eating bats are only rare visitors to Singapore, flying over from Peninsular Malaysia (<a href="http://thestar.com.my/lifestyle/story.asp?file=/2012/2/14/lifefocus/10555368&sec=lifefocus">where they are still hunted</a>) or Indonesia to look for fruiting trees. <br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/willsymons/5490943511/" title="flying fox and his spread by Will Symons, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5020/5490943511_0c53edb322.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="flying fox and his spread"></a><br />
Malayan flying fox, Singapore Zoo;<br />
(Photo by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/willsymons/">Will Symons</a>)<br />
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<b><h1>Man swims with python in Singapore River</h1><a href="http://newspapers.nl.sg/Digitised/Article/straitstimes19680623-1.2.16.57.aspx">The Straits Times, 23 June 1968</a></b><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/hai_ren/9057847972/" title="The Straits Times 23 June 1968 by Hai_Ren, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5328/9057847972_7c495c02bb_o.jpg" width="185" height="808" alt="The Straits Times 23 June 1968"></a><br />
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I'm particularly amused by this person's luck in encountering pythons while swimming. But seriously, even though the Singapore River <a href="http://otterman.wordpress.com/2012/09/23/the-cleaning-up-of-singapore-river-and-kallang-basin-1977-1987/">has been cleaned up</a> (another way in which the environment is actually better now compared to the 1960s), I still wouldn't swim in there. I certainly don't think that the waters off Boat Quay in the 1960s were a very pleasant place for a dip.<br />
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<b><h1>Villagers call off hunt for giant python</h1><a href="http://newspapers.nl.sg/Digitised/Article/straitstimes19620324-1.2.4.aspx">The Straits Times, 24 March 1962</a></b><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/hai_ren/9057566382/" title="The Straits Times 24 March 1962 by Hai_Ren, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5486/9057566382_6f1d6fd6dd_o.jpg" width="188" height="458" alt="The Straits Times 24 March 1962"></a><br />
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Another big snake story, and one that's far larger than any of <a href="http://www.giantconstrictingsnakes.com/Reticulatus.html">the longest reticulated pythons ever measured</a>! For what it's worth, giant pythons <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2004/jan/05/animalwelfare.indonesia">always shrink whenever a tape measure turns up</a>. <br />
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Pulau Ayer Merlimau was eventually joined with other neighbouring islands to create Jurong Island.<br />
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<a href="http://www.chemicals-technology.com/projects/celanese/celanese1.html" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuvL9KxLFVRm-6579TVNr5mebVT9eCahDCV_mMEhuVU9-10Pccx5H7oxYGUlM-aJO5jyRQD2nigb0N7J64SrbUusDC6PkEMxZhqN3j9zcsWFFUtBDVItgRP0KAm1MEo_NSIvmv_snV2WzG/s500/pic1%5B1%5D.jpg" /></a><br />
(Map from <a href="http://www.chemicals-technology.com/projects/celanese/">chemicals-technology.com</a>)<br />
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<b><h1>Large crocodile frightens people in Punggol</h1><a href="http://newspapers.nl.sg/Digitised/Article/straitstimes19600318-1.2.154.aspx">The Straits Times, 18 March 1960</a></b><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/hai_ren/9057940600/" title="The Straits Times 18 March 1960 2 by Hai_Ren, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3702/9057940600_6a746f0aa7_o.jpg" width="379" height="987" alt="The Straits Times 18 March 1960 2"></a><br />
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Another large reptile that <a href="http://newspapers.nl.sg/Digitised/Article/straitstimes19600326-1.2.37.aspx">generated much fear</a> in Singapore during the 1960s was the estuarine crocodile (<i>Crocodylus porosus</i>). Although considered rare, even locally critically endangered today, it appears that back then, crocodiles <a href="http://newspapers.nl.sg/Digitised/Article/freepress19600629-1.2.113.aspx">were quite widespread</a> and seen quite often in coastal areas. Some of these <a href="http://newspapers.nl.sg/Digitised/Article/freepress19600817-1.2.132.aspx">may have escaped</a> from <a href="http://newspapers.nl.sg/Digitised/Article/freepress19600927-1.2.57.aspx">crocodile farms</a>; Singapore was <a href="http://newspapers.nl.sg/Digitised/Article/straitstimes19610704-1.2.111.4.aspx">a major importer and re-exporter of crocodile skins</a>.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/mendistan/4774182888/" title="Estuarine crocodile (Crocodylus porosus) by Mendis, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4078/4774182888_3d5f701a1b.jpg" width="500" height="364" alt="Estuarine crocodile (Crocodylus porosus)"></a><br />
Estuarine crocodile, Sungei Buloh;<br />
(Photo by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/mendistan/">Mendis</a>)<br />
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<b><h1>Civets kill more than 700 chickens over three months</h1><a href="http://newspapers.nl.sg/Digitised/Article/freepress19600815-1.2.90.aspx">The Singapore Free Press, 15 August 1960</a></b><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/hai_ren/9067125354/" title="The Singapore Free Press 15 August 1960 by Hai_Ren, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2878/9067125354_7ded169101_o.jpg" width="210" height="494" alt="The Singapore Free Press 15 August 1960"></a><br />
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The common palm civet</a> or <i>musang</i> (<i>Paradoxurus hermaphroditus</i>) is one of several native mammals that are relatively tolerant of human activity. It's not surprising that during the 1960s, civets were often found near villages, where they made a living by feeding on rats, and raiding fruit orchards and chicken coops, although 700 does seem like a lot of chickens. Is it possible that not all the chickens were taken by civets? And how did the people know that there were 30 civets? Maybe the especially industrious civet at Serangoon Gardens that was said to have <a href="http://newspapers.nl.sg/Digitised/Article/freepress19600617-1.2.76.aspx">snatched 300 fowl over two months</a> that same year was also at work in Yio Chu Kang!<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/kwokwai76/8061783890/" title="Common Palm Civets in Siglap Estate by kwokwai76, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8450/8061783890_14bb9792fb.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Common Palm Civets in Siglap Estate"></a><br />
Common palm civets, Siglap;<br />
(Photo by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/kwokwai76/">kwokwai76</a>)<br />
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Based on these news articles, and many more that I've looked up, the 1960s would have been a very interesting time for wildlife enthusiasts and naturalists in Singapore! Although it does seem that some accounts might be the result of exaggeration or hyperbole, and need to be taken with a lot of salt.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBUDb3nwSTd0NZDKcNq25Dr7xKgSCpPKn0Y2Sl6geuWnFsnRzqmgkb58XqZKNS7qiwya84313cbTQo24iVW2JDj4SqjRipdrxXf7PbtiRlAO9mrVhQbEVRx4h3m4yRX9Ju1cQ-fduQ1gXn/s1600/NaturalHistoryofSingapore.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBUDb3nwSTd0NZDKcNq25Dr7xKgSCpPKn0Y2Sl6geuWnFsnRzqmgkb58XqZKNS7qiwya84313cbTQo24iVW2JDj4SqjRipdrxXf7PbtiRlAO9mrVhQbEVRx4h3m4yRX9Ju1cQ-fduQ1gXn/s500/NaturalHistoryofSingapore.jpg" /></a><br />
<br />
D.S. Johnson's <i><a href="http://catalogue.nlb.gov.sg/cgi-bin/spydus.exe/FULL/EXPNOS/BIBENQ/1535111/3030748,2">An Introduction to the Natural History of Singapore</a></i> was first published in 1964, and gives an excellent overview of Singapore's biodiversity, as known during the 1960s. A <a href="http://catalogue.nlb.gov.sg/cgi-bin/spydus.exe/FULL/EXPNOS/BIBENQ/1535124/1237851,2">revised edition</a>, published in 1992, may still be found in public libraries.<br />
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There are lots of other interesting articles about wildlife in and around Singapore that can be found in the <a href="http://newspapers.nl.sg/">online news archives</a>, and I'll share more of them another time.<br />
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(Cross-posted to <a href="http://blog.omy.sg/sba-plus/2013/06/23/flashback-wildlife-news-in-1960s-singapore/">SBA Plus</a>)Ivanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11637204084596462318noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7625711962780385617.post-45228888614928641082013-06-23T14:00:00.000+08:002013-06-23T14:00:02.687+08:00Singapore got wildlife, meh?<iframe width="500" height="281" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/7lQ0_fJ_Mv0?rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br />
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It's a question that anyone involved in nature outreach in Singapore is bound to encounter someday. Yes, despite this country being a small island that has undergone lots of development, lots of wildlife still survives or even thrives in Singapore! If you've ever pondered this question yourself, here's a video that was first screened at last year's <a href="http://festivalofbiodiversitysingapore.wordpress.com/2012/05/24/sneak-preview-of-singapore-got-wildlife-meh/">Festival of Biodiversity</a>.<br />
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<a name='more'></a>Drawing on footage recorded by more than 30 people, this compilation by David Tan, Eunice Soh, and Jocelyne Sze presents a tiny slice of Singapore's native biodiversity.<br />
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Ria has a video that serves as a sampler of our marine life, called Singapore Surprise:<br />
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<iframe width="500" height="375" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/ZApUgc0_8Z8?rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br />
<br />
While the Marine Conservation Group of the Nature Society (Singapore) looks at our nation's relationship with the sea, from the 19th century to the present day, while showcasing various marine habitats and the biodiversity that can be found:<br />
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<iframe width="500" height="375" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/I6AGjgg2fQY?rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br />
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Andy <a href="http://sgbeachbum.blogspot.sg/">shares lots of videos</a> that he takes of the wildlife that he encounters. Here's <a href="http://sgbeachbum.blogspot.sg/2013/06/eagleantics-marina-bay-june-2013.html">his latest upload</a>:<br />
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<iframe src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/68536884?byline=0&portrait=0&color=4bd620" width="500" height="281" frameborder="0" webkitAllowFullScreen mozallowfullscreen allowFullScreen></iframe><br />
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Want to find out more about wildlife in Singapore, and what you can do to help conserve and protect our natural heritage? Come for the <b><a href="http://www.nparks.gov.sg/festivalofbiodiversity/">Festival of Biodiversity</a></b>, 13th-14th July at VivoCity!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7060rTLJalbakkLh27hBgm6tqq7_DTPLhsnVZFck9VpFOL9-MCTymkb8j_QD-HLuFp3IeKBacA5zK6QNcgEACAx9rfHZU4hpQmqiHFAFavVSo2hvEhP47naiN5mJ4jt6UmLye18ktwUO9/s1600/Poster+-JPEG.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7060rTLJalbakkLh27hBgm6tqq7_DTPLhsnVZFck9VpFOL9-MCTymkb8j_QD-HLuFp3IeKBacA5zK6QNcgEACAx9rfHZU4hpQmqiHFAFavVSo2hvEhP47naiN5mJ4jt6UmLye18ktwUO9/s700/Poster+-JPEG.jpg" /></a><br />
<br />
(Cross-posted to <a href="http://blog.omy.sg/sba-plus/2013/06/23/singapore-got-wildlife-meh/">SBA Plus</a>. It's the final day of voting, do support me in the <a href="http://sgblogawards.omy.sg/2013/category/?cat=ecochallenge&seq=9">Singapore Blog Awards</a>!)Ivanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11637204084596462318noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7625711962780385617.post-10220616182974895592013-06-22T12:00:00.000+08:002013-06-22T12:00:05.550+08:00Chained to Our Roots (22nd-23rd June 2013): an appeal to protect Singapore's own rainforest<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sivasothi/9094268005/" title="Chained to Our Roots - 1 by sivasothi, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5539/9094268005_d773d0ddbb.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Chained to Our Roots - 1"></a><br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sivasothi/9094269937/" title="Chained to our Roots - 2 by sivasothi, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5350/9094269937_26ae50a59a.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Chained to our Roots - 2"></a><br />
<br />
Teresa Teo-Guttensohn, a Singaporean eco-artist and Dr. Vilma D'Rozario, Celine Low, and Andrew Tay, together with their group of nature-loving friends, will be part of an eco-performance where they will be chained to a tree for 24 hours, to appeal for the Cross Island Mass Rapid Transit Line to be re-routed such that it will not run through our precious rainforest at the Central Catchment Nature Reserve.<br />
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<b>When:</b> 3 pm Saturday, 22nd June to 3 pm Sunday, 23rd June 2013<br />
<b>Where:</b> Speakers' Corner, Hong Lim Park<br />
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<a name='more'></a><blockquote><i>"We have very little rainforest left in Singapore. Yet this rainforest holds some of the world’s most diverse and special tropical wildlife. This is our very own. Let's keep this gift we have.<br />
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Please join us as we chain ourselves to a tree at Hong Lim Park this Saturday 22nd June to make our appeal to save MacRitchie Forest. Details of our appeal is in the attached invitation below. Come at 3pm and picnic with like-minded friends. Chain yourself to our tree, too, if you wish! And don’t leave before you sign our petition."</i></blockquote><br />
<a href="http://lazy-lizard-tales.blogspot.sg/2013/06/the-cross-island-line-why-does-it-have.html">Go here to read my previous post</a> as to why the Cross Island Line running through the Central Catchment Nature Reserve will be a disaster for the rainforest, even if it's built underground.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/hai_ren/8526026708/" title="P1350598 by Hai_Ren, on Flickr"><img src="http://l7.yimg.com/te/8227/8526026708_ecdfa64d74.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="P1350598"></a><br />
<br />
Siva <a href="http://habitatnews.nus.edu.sg/index.php?entry=/events/20130621-chained_to_our_roots.txt">shares more</a>:<br />
<blockquote><i>In January this year, LTA announced proposed new MRT lines to be built by 2030. To our considerable shock, scrutiny of the proposed 50 km Cross Island Line (CRL) revealed it would cut through the Central Catchment Nature Reserve. No mention was provided of the potential problems of sedimentation, hydrological variation, edge effect and fragmentation.<br />
<br />
The announcement was a complete surprise to all of us, and gave no indication to Singaporeans of the value of the protected nature reserve it was cutting through. It would seem we need to look no further than our nature reserves, to contend with forest loss.<br />
<br />
Since then, LTA has initiated a conversation with naturalists in Singapore. But while the CRL remains a proposal to cut through the central catchment, individuals and groups realise they have to stand up to address this proposal to promote the realisation of the cost of this action.<br />
<br />
Teresa has decided a letter will be an inadequate gesture to communicate the seriousness of this appeal. So she has organised an eco-picnic to be held, where everyone is invited to attend and picnic with like-minded friends, and witness the eco-art performance at 3.30pm.</i></blockquote><br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sivasothi/8444411908/" title="Proposed CRL MRT line through CCNR [Tony O'Dempsey] by sivasothi, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8354/8444411908_fb1db2b83e.jpg" width="500" height="312" alt="Proposed CRL MRT line through CCNR [Tony O'Dempsey]"></a><br />
(Map by <a href="http://habitatnews.nus.edu.sg/index.php?entry=/news/20130204-CRL_Map.txt">Tony O'Dempsey</a>)<br />
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Do note that due to the terms and conditions of approval for activities carried out at Speakers' Corner, only Singapore Citizens and Singapore Permanent Residents are allowed to attend this event. Still, if you are concerned about the future of our forests and wish to make your views heard, you can sign this online petition:<br />
<br />
<b><a href="https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1huPW-Qzb7FXSX9fu8RqsSdZVYAcPK9N50NsvfkZcpY8/viewform">Save Singapore's Forest Reserves; Our Natural Heritage</a></b><br />
<br />
(Cross-posted to <a href="http://blog.omy.sg/sba-plus/2013/06/22/chained-to-our-roots-22nd-23rd-june-2013-an-appeal-to-protect-singapores-own-rainforest/">SBA Plus</a>. Do support me in the <a href="http://sgblogawards.omy.sg/2013/category/?cat=ecochallenge&seq=9">Singapore Blog Awards</a>!)Ivanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11637204084596462318noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7625711962780385617.post-40324963694143760532013-06-22T10:00:00.000+08:002013-06-22T14:29:07.019+08:00Festival of Biodiversity 2013: 13th & 14th July @ VivoCity!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7060rTLJalbakkLh27hBgm6tqq7_DTPLhsnVZFck9VpFOL9-MCTymkb8j_QD-HLuFp3IeKBacA5zK6QNcgEACAx9rfHZU4hpQmqiHFAFavVSo2hvEhP47naiN5mJ4jt6UmLye18ktwUO9/s1600/Poster+-JPEG.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7060rTLJalbakkLh27hBgm6tqq7_DTPLhsnVZFck9VpFOL9-MCTymkb8j_QD-HLuFp3IeKBacA5zK6QNcgEACAx9rfHZU4hpQmqiHFAFavVSo2hvEhP47naiN5mJ4jt6UmLye18ktwUO9/s700/Poster+-JPEG.jpg" /></a><br />
Mark your calendars, for the <b><a href="http://www.nparks.gov.sg/festivalofbiodiversity/">Festival of Biodiversity</a></b> is back!<br />
<br />
After the success of last year's inaugural Festival, we're hoping to reach out to even more people, highlight the wonderful wildlife and important green spaces that we still have here in Singapore, and encourage people to play a more active role in protecting and conserving our natural heritage.<br />
<br />
<b>When:</b> 13th-14th July 2013 (Saturday and Sunday), 10am-10pm<br />
<b>Where:</b> VivoCity, Level 1 - Central Court B and West Boulevard<br />
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<blockquote><i>Do you know that Singapore is home to more than 400 species of marine fishes? Do you know that Singapore is also home to 250 species of hard corals, which is almost one third of the diversity found in the world? Do you know that species such as the horseshoe crab and the banded leaf monkey can be found in Singapore? Join us at the festival to explore and learn more about Singapore's rich biodiversity!<br />
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Join us in the many exciting activities we have in store for you at the festival, and find out how you can play a part in conserving our biodiversity. By participating in the festival, you can gain a deeper understanding and appreciation of Singapore's rich biodiversity, its benefits, and relevance to us in Singapore.</i></blockquote>If you missed last year's Festival, here are some highlights:<br />
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<a name='more'></a><a href="http://festivalofbiodiversitysingapore.wordpress.com/" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyogyPhdbIFKO4uUZ6yvjZRHijHnwj78yI0SsXpfEZ_PcKv0iYvMNuo5BTZxWgQu2Qy2MgSbQ04GdQHZnYArZeJvZZuHH3ErnMtW-LzTU3BDz5fpg9odP8lpkj-R67MRQ1fd6a9DPLCswa/s500/wordpress-920-x360%5B1%5D.jpg" /></a><br />
<br />
Jocelyne shared lots of updates on the official blog for <b><a href="http://festivalofbiodiversitysingapore.wordpress.com/">Festival of Biodiversity 2012</a></b>. Here she is speaking to Minister of State for National Development Tan Chuan-Jin, who <a href="http://app.mnd.gov.sg/Newsroom/NewsPage.aspx?ID=3578&category=Speech&year=2012&RA1=&RA2=&RA3=">spoke at the launch of the Festival</a>.<br />
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<a href="https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=362980227095015" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo5k_mmSL-BOXfVQXaogkzhjooJiW6r50XvYMMZ0tavbHw_sV73k2LyF19JORlMg3nmIC6zEU29pZ4L41E2c_KffyBYiiNL8acXEhg66m5F-QZZ6g0jPZu7iYDPKBiq6aQJ_wlxE8laHRJ/s500/306264_362980227095015_1416825991_n%5B1%5D.jpg" /></a><br />
(Photo by Rene)<br />
<ul><li><a href="http://festivalofbiodiversitysingapore.wordpress.com/2012/05/26/great-start-to-the-festival-of-biodiversity/">Great start to the Festival of Biodiversity!</a></li>
<li><a href="http://festivalofbiodiversitysingapore.wordpress.com/2012/05/28/final-day-of-the-festival/">Final day of the Festival!</a></li>
</ul><br />
Ria was a part of the <b><a href="http://wildshores.blogspot.sg/2012/05/26-27-may-celebrate-singapores-marine.html">Singapore Marine Biodiversity Exhibition</a></b>, and you can read her posts about the preparations and the actual event.<br />
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<a href="https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=362988970427474" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg30h2kS3o4Y2f7DS4rzko52fzTbZJZo9yeRnXWGVFd_-u-kbAMIIjlbnwLp0CC03r6NzFxOXymt1Zje8ML5rKj-J793LVwSIK8r66583MDmhyXH4fi9LuRcfRoeT3oHRXf8dTCQjQEpwzZ/s500/554811_362988970427474_829933975_n%5B1%5D.jpg" /></a><br />
(Photo by Ria)<br />
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Preparations:<br />
<ul><li><a href="http://wildshores.blogspot.sg/2012/05/awesome-marine-colouring-sheet-get-it.html">Awesome marine colouring sheet - get it at the Festival of Biodiversity</a></li>
<li><a href="http://wildshores.blogspot.sg/2012/05/seashore-csi-at-marine-exhibition.html">Seashore CSI at the Marine Exhibition, Festival of Biodiversity</a></li>
<li><a href="http://wildshores.blogspot.sg/2012/05/meet-wild-marine-volunteers-of.html">Meet the marine volunteers of Singapore!</a></li>
</ul>Event:<br />
<ul><li><a href="http://wildshores.blogspot.sg/2012/05/volunteers-at-festival-of-biodiversity.html">Volunteers at the Festival of Biodiversity</a></li>
<li><a href="http://wildshores.blogspot.sg/2012/05/fabulous-marine-exhibition-at-festival.html">Fabulous Marine Exhibition at the Festival of Biodiversity</a></li>
</ul><br />
Here's Ley Kun from the <b><a href="http://nakedhermitcrabs.blogspot.sg/">Naked Hermit Crabs</a></b>, teaching children about marine life found on our shores.<br />
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<a href="https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=362975510428820" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj17O8Lmh0a3EzkaHAyroxKY07V1CT0gt-HvWzFz9mlx3XpBBw5jegSp3RgqGYNJmzkN_k4x_bBc1f0R-seAuQn4MTyqCwguMM7h8jqnXtvA3YIM2OEfC8OQ2SWB1c37z53ZJqx_Dpk-chp/s500/538934_362975510428820_266827033_n%5B1%5D.jpg" /></a><br />
(Photo by Rene)<br />
<ul><li><a href="http://nakedhermitcrabs.blogspot.sg/2012/05/crabs-at-festival-of-biodiversity-26-27.html">The Crabs at the Festival of Biodiversity (26-27 May)</a></li>
</ul><br />
Sankar was one of many <b><a href="http://teamseagrass.blogspot.sg/">TeamSeagrass</a></b> volunteers who talked about the importance of searasses and other marine ecosystems.<br />
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<a href="https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10150836934310825" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUnJTHiVNLTGNh-R57IiZ1o2v4art-LbX8o_l_652tU6vG5r9WsTBljH10sXCz-tvyQLZiwi0VUzT4j6I9A5I_QzPx0AsHloEqjCcCBMnXDGYFC76nYMHF_HNsaTXQ4_hOTLrQgvXLAcix/s500/550845_10150836934310825_857967094_n%5B1%5D.jpg" /></a><br />
(Photo by Jeremy Ng)<br />
<ul><li><a href="http://teamseagrass.blogspot.sg/2012/05/teamseagrass-at-festival-of.html">TeamSeagrass at the Festival of Biodiversity (26-27 May 2012)</a></li>
</ul><br />
The specimens at the <b><a href="http://megamarinesurvey.blogspot.sg/">Mega Marine Survey</a></b> booth also attracted lots of people.<br />
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<a href="https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=362975767095461" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEMJI1Or5nDV-zKnO76J6MJpcLf9iTvKzR27AHQ96Q8bD7-06dWGwUPkWsm1JcNASGUpHP7gtHJkPIueT3IQJL7Ot-iQksfglyYYC5m94NtZLT9aaMKyRQICjE-nRrXq339RqUohGj4nQr/s500/577023_362975767095461_1862410748_n%5B1%5D.jpg" /></a><br />
(Photo by Rene)<br />
<ul><li><a href="http://megamarinesurvey.blogspot.sg/2012/05/mega-marine-survey-at-festival-of.html">Mega Marine Survey at the Festival of Biodiversity (26-27 May)</a></li>
</ul><br />
Rick showed lots of people why mangroves are such special plants.<br />
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<a href="https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10150856998788003" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7gskupmGWpf04iqWpVAhiFpSN7YAcAItV6aggxyh2jHU0DrFW5QTV88MsgkSi3dHi3TxVQPhgvKKIyjO9YQJZzVF-1vyxseSmgA9uG7BtmOtqhWh88BSvoq4-UPF2czWaQm1DIr4GehEg/s500/292119_10150856998788003_479140926_n%5B1%5D.jpg" /></a><br />
(Photo by Eugene Ang)<br />
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Sabrina was an intern with NParks who helped out with creation of the information panels for the Singapore Marine Biodiversiy Exhibition. This year, she's back and working on the Festival once again. Hurray!<br />
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<a href="https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=362975033762201" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0myaWOHa7zaem4Tu4uGhdL6grGJ8mwUwgpyiqKoUtD3hnWD91UfQS48mjwddNdzrUlpICdIfJ2OjxtRY-G-bWVp4CXrAhDZDBzhowomL7WYuhXYbVHc1-kwQMEZWixIfCqItX7ewrXBFH/s500/532844_362975033762201_845969069_n%5B1%5D.jpg" /></a><br />
(Photo by Rene)<br />
<br />
One of the accidental highlights of last year's Festival was the little plush marine animals that we made for volunteers and other participants!<br />
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<a href="https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=363001873759517" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDD07DLrD6C929_8aUaKboHNVA_mNLiW8ly8z28mB9IpuHNJsYby-kpTsoduO8bQsjYinvocI8UwPeeanTRBD46ZB-0y1niPGcKx0YfL6J7nEoiLsO9RSwpvXcI-bLWigSRWIFP21EW9jr/s500/575122_363001873759517_175431462_n%5B1%5D.jpg" /></a><br />
(Photo by Rene)<br />
<br />
Ria made a huge batch, and she wrote more about them in a post just before the Festival. Rene also took plenty of photos of the mascots, and the people wearing them over that weekend.<br />
<ul><li><a href="http://wildshores.blogspot.sg/2012/05/meet-ms-soctopus-and-friends-at.html">Meet Ms Soctopus and friends at the Festival of Biodiversity!</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.363001750426196.82666.133291903397183">The Mascots at the Festival of Biodiversity</a></li>
</ul><br />
Yen-ling provided a suitable substrate for all sorts of marine life to colonise and settle.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=363004687092569" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUHvpNMlZS77PP4THAjWD2H53CQotWZ7oMw6OQhEcV-kKEJE6rEWGwYFsy5g_SuEXAKeVucv1X581br1BFjOb_xcHrEINi35_-afuSchOmpM0I_8O348WEXXbHvUeFkh_hWX2_7wqJkpw8/s500/428378_363004687092569_656308336_n%5B1%5D.jpg" /></a><br />
(Photo by Rene)<br />
<br />
And here I am with my stonefish mascot.<br />
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<a href="https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=363007103758994" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiud5qLzlJBp49EiZtNEiwKvPuPqQ8fw85hNB73xckP1-zI7j-KWWxLePwNWZntS60UqkSSamLczxrbfMYXn2F6pN7wBztCmI110-ItCHxR7DjTEdZbWBBAiLjS7_tZSE01Di0URhxcIMac/s500/540039_363007103758994_1632318077_n%5B1%5D.jpg" /></a><br />
(Photo by Rene)<br />
<br />
Debby from <b><a href="http://www.pulauhantu.org/">The Hantu Bloggers</a></b> helped out at the Singapore Marine Biodiversity Exhibition, and shared her thoughts.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10150805249546179" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE1ZvekFU1Bt_moB3jtCAHd1faig-zqOjYiS1GM7WXjhwhy7poc9-LB-M4YHcfZSDhWHvRouniwqf9CKWUPW_XmufVBrms81wBWEOkc-VNIHUtBvJHyZo6PzCMZlvOoSXFGjyHh2nRwKQ8/s500/586735436%5B1%5D.jpg" /></a><br />
<ul><li><a href="http://www.pulauhantu.org/singapore-got-wildlife-meh-abuden/">Singapore got wildlife meh? ABUDEN?!</a></li>
</ul><br />
Pei Yan got to speak to President Tony Tan, our very important Guest of Honour, and wrote about her experience in her own blog.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=362983493761355" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8trqVDNnSaWEMq8ruTf-cXibG2xgJUO8TinPni7LRDQEO_XYolRJ4m2bE1O1YhkX8UT1qrL5uUpFlMsRADVOOESPO7Tsf7sqUDSCXa3abHdxyHzO8HueZPP5gLiKSAJTgeOzaW-x8TxPb/s500/547263_362983493761355_1775237078_n%5B1%5D.jpg" /></a><br />
<ul><li><a href="http://peiyansama.blogspot.sg/2012/05/exciting-happenings-at-festival-of.html">Exciting happenings at the Festival of Biodiversity 2012</a></li>
</ul><br />
The <b><a href="http://toddycats.wordpress.com/">Raffles Museum Toddycats!</a></b> drew the crowds with our wide variety of specimens, and talked about all sorts of interesting animals that could be found living in Singapore.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10150838858936260" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDPBLDLXXKIXZYcIWIZg8EaNT4mkttsMz-mHTkN6w_9wLHYEPbPM2OhsFuYfWTa7BD1YOWoDKbvsgMj-IaNaNR4okFj6vbVV11-PiqAL-mQqTvqM73nLwZArMUz-YGlOudpKHL-X1zS6YH/s500/525822_10150838858936260_589074693_n%5B1%5D.jpg" /></a><br />
(Photo by Tze Kwan)<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10150833204185868" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRK144MIOM-CcstX9OKwviIoKLpI5Zhf2YYDJvurvr-6w6d6qYsm_O0n7KKNz9eFrM3lDA0S4HjIrnZPNIU3dK0v1OfpLxA2itksZtgNcp-2iDK_Ab7x0jrVZFuVoMPslafJu3KS9xJe5C/s500/527681_10150833204185868_1606089705_n%5B1%5D.jpg" /></a><br />
(Photo by Weiting)<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=362977200428651" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9LCoYnNa4g27IZnn6ldXjJFKzWx8EmwViG8mPwhnwtsrsD_8oayF4Aa5d3LQczWNNYDf1rgjZ_WlL6fcrO3HQ3dX1-PQ2-19EAB0a9bVOwF2XrVEkB1zPVoXMnIb2qhg9eE8Y10h-FEAE/s500/578060_362977200428651_372325026_n%5B1%5D.jpg" /></a><br />
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=362977357095302" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsLWZvfMLE8_AW5HDEwj0PZhF_0EF58sKKvfFl7x9CNAv0yuUgIckiP06FWcMvezzMNzxu6JaUYk5_8adUZjXble6Rwq6TXEmvbD41bFDgG00Wi0UVJVMxTNnXoUaIRpOj1U5spmEaxXL9/s500/534187_362977357095302_465486904_n%5B1%5D.jpg" /></a><br />
(Photos by Rene)<br />
<ul><li><a href="http://toddycats.wordpress.com/2012/06/06/fob-sbg-may2012/">See, feel & experience biodiversity at Festival of Biodiversity</a></li>
<li><a href="http://toddycats.wordpress.com/2012/05/24/see-feel-experience-biodiversity-fob/">Toddycats in the festive mood of biodiversity 2012!</a></li>
</ul><br />
Fellow Toddycats Tze Kwan and Weiting also had the chance to interact with our Guest of Honour.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=419004388121087" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3HwvkYnh69lx8EjywRAnsIAL3VStA3fEUgn3N5a66No2yxMoQO3cr_72Scy7NPbVdoJZyNIqb49mhPEOLSLklj1TaFQgJDdmDmDwSjCiCqzb_lBVvtRKa8qPZV4UFi6OocFLM20a7zoun/s500/318074_419004388121087_1470756516_n%5B1%5D.jpg" /></a><br />
(Photo from President Tony Tan's <a href="https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=419004388121087">Facebook page</a>)<br />
<br />
Andy recorded and uploaded videos of some of the talks held during the Festival.<br />
<ul><li><a href="http://sgbeachbum.blogspot.sg/2012/06/festival-of-biodiversity-singapore-26.html">Festival of Biodiversity - Singapore 26 May 2012</a></li>
</ul><br />
<b><a href="http://www.butterflycircle.com/">ButteflyCircle</a></b> was one of many other nature interest groups that also participated in the Festival, and used the occasion to launch a book.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.butterflycircle.blogspot.sg/2012/06/butterflycircle-at-festival-of.html" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMqmVQHsUWjneUSv-grvVgsugFbHWeE9suVL9-nJx402NvdwT4d9BUx4cFIBMw_uq4uIMNdeWjfNvzCnVrS_wB6i1Xf-H2PeEMshJKt9pS8u6CSgKK42eCGccIv3SaYd6XxKWZEu2fEdj6/s500/BCFestivalofBiodiversity2012-CJ%5B1%5D.jpg" /></a><br />
<a href="http://www.butterflycircle.blogspot.sg/2012/06/butterflycircle-at-festival-of.html" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYqJxFkg0nhKh0IQjvOSVSWQ8ATwiX_-NZH0ljfD8c9txVbhLBT3vspPFZCEU1tDFgeOt_BMq0CHpL9J7OqxvugEZMulE6Yct-uZE8NJgPvfzGeKKxtrpk6DsmGz4-bZA5rPm3giHixGu1/s500/DSC_1812EDITED%5B1%5D.jpg" /></a><br />
(Photos from ButterflyCircle)<br />
<ul><li><a href="http://www.butterflycircle.blogspot.sg/2012/06/butterflycircle-at-festival-of.html">ButterflyCircle at the Festival of Biodiversity</a></li>
</ul><br />
The <b><a href="http://npss.org.sg/main/index.php">Nature Photographic Society, Singapore</a></b> also had a booth, and gave a talk about macro photography.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10150892237273956" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4OsVPhXGTS3a5JvNAPhhluoFMCm5jfzBSwcORl4nUUiIkEJD8g4IC97VyZaBlMWEMnRhwHvk4Qn9SOm9anEPpfb7Tv5YPsWUQ11YFcvXTPAp6OeIbtfG1dYPulGMX_PU394A6LEdKgKFV/s500/IMG_0850.jpg" /></a><br />
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10150892237828956" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEs2l0ArMVu7xfr5nh9RUU-OHT7ayiFmvmO23qR2FOIEVZrB8eiNgGrbVa3bEMLSnt_d4K2kOuwll0_4HjOlKhZx1McuI0HkD0Na9s2btQZyoZpa1yVI4HpB4ZTkjYUhFhixOUZqAabPfE/s500/IMG_0874.jpg" /></a><br />
(Photos from Nature Photographic Society, Singapore)<br />
<ul><li><a href="http://npss.org.sg/main/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=98:2012-fob&catid=40:events&Itemid=54">NParks Festival of Biodiversity, May 26th & 27th 2012</a></li>
</ul><br />
And finally, here's <a href="http://storify.com/cubismwonder/festival-of-biodiversity-singapore">the Storify</a> that Gladys and I compiled of all the tweets that were posted about the Festival.<br />
<br />
We've got lots of fun and exciting activities planned for this year's Festival of Biodiversity, so stay tuned for updates!<br />
<br />
(Cross-posted to <a href="http://blog.omy.sg/sba-plus/2013/06/22/festival-of-biodiversity-2013-13th-14th-july-vivocity/">SBA Plus</a>. Do support me in the <a href="http://sgblogawards.omy.sg/2013/category/?cat=ecochallenge&seq=9">Singapore Blog Awards</a>!)Ivanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11637204084596462318noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7625711962780385617.post-19411171243400312122013-06-19T16:00:00.000+08:002016-02-11T17:40:14.448+08:00The Cross-Island Line: why does it have to go through a Nature Reserve?<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coolinsights/4695432056/" title="HSBC Treetop Walk by coolinsights, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4067/4695432056_f74e975cdd.jpg" width="500" height="282" alt="HSBC Treetop Walk"></a><br />
(Photo by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coolinsights/">coolinsights</a>)<br />
<br />
Over the years, Singapore has lost more than 99.5% of its original forest cover. Whatever little that remains is now concentrated in a few key areas, and preserves much of our surviving native rainforest biodiversity. The Central Nature Reserves, encompassing the forests of Bukit Timah and those surrounding the reservoirs in the Central Catchment Area, form the final refuge of many plant and animal species that have since vanished elsewhere on the island. As Nature Reserves, they receive the highest level of protection that any green space in Singapore can have. <br />
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And yet, as many of us in the nature community found out earlier this year, even being gazetted as a Nature Reserve does not grant immunity from urbanisation and development.<br />
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<a name='more'></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/habitatnews/8403472885/" title="LTA: Rail Network Expansions, announced 17 Jan 2013 by habitatnews, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8216/8403472885_4b698ae3f0.jpg" width="500" height="379" alt="LTA: Rail Network Expansions, announced 17 Jan 2013"></a><br />
<br />
In January, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) <a href="http://app.lta.gov.sg/apps/news/page.aspx?c=2&id=38dc4ca3-5e70-4bf8-97bc-87f78e6303e7">announced the future expansion of Singapore's rail network</a>, with the creation of two new lines, the <a href="http://www.lta.gov.sg/content/ltaweb/en/public-transport/projects/cross-island-line.html/">Cross Island Line</a> and <a href="http://www.lta.gov.sg/content/ltaweb/en/public-transport/projects/jurong-region-line.html">Jurong Region Line</a>, by 2030. <br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/habitatnews/8404568934/" title="LTA Cross Island Line by habitatnews, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8498/8404568934_ca0cf9c2e4.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="LTA Cross Island Line"></a><br />
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It all sounded very nice, until people realised that according to the maps provided, the Cross Island Line would cut through the southern portion of the Central Catchment Nature Reserve, between Upper and Lower Peirce and MacRitchie Reservoirs.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/habitatnews/8403488675/" title="CRL, BTNR and CCNR by habitatnews, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8377/8403488675_1daff80afd.jpg" width="457" height="500" alt="CRL, BTNR and CCNR"></a><br />
<br />
Many people were perturbed about what was seen as a threat to one of our last remaining areas of forest, and a Nature Reserve at that. The <a href="http://www.nss.org.sg/">Nature Society (Singapore)</a> <a href="http://wildsingaporenews.blogspot.sg/2013/02/nature-group-concerned-about-impact-of.html">expressed its concerns</a> about the route of the Cross Island Line back in February, and <a href="http://wildsingaporenews.blogspot.sg/2013/05/route-of-mrt-line-concern-nature-society.html">again in May</a>. Nominated Member of Parliament <a href="http://www.parliament.gov.sg/mp/faizah-jamal-0">Faizah Jamal</a> mentioned it in her <a href="https://www.facebook.com/faizah.jamal/posts/492479964131852">parliamentary speech opposing the White Paper on Population</a>. This issue was highlighted <a href="http://habitatnews.nus.edu.sg/index.php?entry=/news/20130122-crl.txt">on Habitatnews</a>. And <a href="http://wildsingaporenews.blogspot.sg/2013/05/rethink-route-of-cross-island-mrt-line.html">members of the public</a> wrote in to the press to <a href="http://wildsingaporenews.blogspot.sg/2013/05/a-transportation-plan-that-crosses-line.html">express their disapproval</a>.<br />
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To their credit, LTA has stated that the <a href="http://wildsingaporenews.blogspot.sg/2013/05/cross-island-line-lta-will-minimise.html">detailed alignment of the Cross Island Line has not been decided</a>, and that an independent Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) will be commissioned to assess how the surrounding habitats will be affected by the Cross Island Line. Also, various stakeholders, including nature and environmental groups, will be engaged and consulted to ensure that their views and concerns are accommodated as part of the Environmental Impact Assessment study. Earlier this month, some of these groups <a href="http://wildsingaporenews.blogspot.sg/2013/06/lta-meets-nature-groups-over-cross.html">met up with LTA and offered to conduct a study</a> on how different alignments of the line would impact flora and fauna in the Nature Reserve.<br />
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<h1><b>Primary vs. Secondary forest</b></h1><br />
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10151604691679404" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb5JIQi1r7QCyuUutZqPUESZjwk1kAHNdWggBAvF9ffreFUjRcRfnoiE-DxqvxD5gnnxDqqFO7bhDPtnjCjyRjcuv8Dp_f76wAvIh_mf3MYC0zggAvBIu7pocfh-6ah-PiItxJPItAdM_Y/s500/425340_10151604691679404_2047195246_n%5B1%5D.jpg" /></a><br />
(Photo by Nick Baker)<br />
<br />
Before I continue, it's important to define some basic terminology.<br />
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<b>Primary forest<b></b></b> refers to forests that have not been cleared in recent history. This forest is usually distinguished by the tall trees known as dipterocarps, many of which grow high above the canopy. This habitat is now extremely rare in Singapore, being found in parts of Bukit Timah Nature Reserve (BTNR), with small patches in the Central Catchment Nature Reserve (CCNR). Less than 0.5% of the original forest that covered much of Singapore when Raffles landed here still remains.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/hai_ren/8542123603/" title="IMG_4013 by Hai_Ren, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8529/8542123603_45da4407f0.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="IMG_4013"></a><br />
Beneath the canopy: primary forest in Bukit Timah Nature Reserve;<br />
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<a href="https://flic.kr/p/coMnhJ"><img src="https://c2.staticflickr.com/8/7131/7477739014_4898d1f01d.jpg"></a><br />
<a href="http://florasingapura.com/Shorea_curtisii.php">Seraya</a> (<i>Shorea curtisii</i>) typically grows in hilly areas between 300-800 metres elsewhere in the region, but here it occurs at lower altitudes. This is the most abundant dipterocarp in the forests of Bukit Timah, with a small patch at MacRitchie, a relict from the Pleistocene, when sea levels were lower and the area was a hill;<br />
Singapore Red Data Book 2008 Status: VULNERABLE<br />
(Photo by <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/junglediary/">Jungle Diary</a>)<br />
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<b>Secondary forest</b> refers to forests that have regrown after the original vegetation was cleared. This can occur naturally, for instance, when areas of primary forest are opened up due to massive treefalls or landslides, or form as the result of human activity, such as when land is cleared for agriculture, then subsequently abandoned. Secondary forests themselves fall into two main subtypes:<br />
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Tall (or mature) secondary forest is the main type of forest found in the Central Catchment Nature Reserve. The species of trees growing in this habitat are typically quite different from those that grow in primary forest. Given enough time, and left untouched, tall secondary forest will eventually make the transition into primary forest.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/hai_ren/3379782163/" title="P1180835 by Hai_Ren, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3637/3379782163_311c1d5b33.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="P1180835"></a><br />
Tall secondary forest, MacRitchie;<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/siyangteo/7982705435/"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8304/7982705435_e165270f0a.jpg"></a><br />
<a href="http://florasingapura.com/Rhodamnia-cinerea.php">Silverback</a> (<i>Rhodamnia cinerea</i>) is a tree species commonly found in our secondary forests, and is an indicator of past disturbance;<br />
(Photo by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/siyangteo/">Siyang</a>)<br />
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Low secondary forest (or <i>belukar</i>) consists of smaller trees and shrubs, and represents the first stage in forest regeneration. Here you will find plants and animals that are able to tolerate some level of disturbance, including those that live in urban parks and gardens, while those species more dependent on primary or tall secondary forest will be absent or rare.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/hai_ren/3792182185/" title="P1240470 by Hai_Ren, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3438/3792182185_b09a2eb6b2.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="P1240470"></a><br />
Low secondary forest, Sentosa;<br />
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Because of past agricultural activities that resulted in soil degradation and loss of nutrients, some of these patches of low secondary forests feature plants that are able to survive such harsh conditions, as well as naturalised crops that were once cultivated here. This is the forest type that we find in many other parts of Singapore, such as along the Southern Ridges, in the military training grounds of the Western Catchment, and on Pulau Ubin and Tekong. <br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/siyangteo/2930866371/"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3014/2930866371_736d7e2efe.jpg"></a><br />
One of the characteristic plants found in young secondary growth in such degraded areas is <a href="http://florasingapura.com/Dillenia_suffruticosa.php"><i>simpoh air</i></a> (<i>Dillenia suffruticosa</i>). Many national servicemen would be familiar with this plant, as it is abundant in military training areas;<br />
(Photo by Siyang)<br />
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<h1><b>What is a Nature Reserve?</b></h1><br />
Singapore has many green spaces, but<b> only four areas are gazetted as Nature Reserves</b>: Bukit Timah, Central Catchment, Labrador, and Sungei Buloh. The Central Catchment Nature Reserve is the largest, and retains the most significant continuous patch of rainforest here. <br />
<br />
<a href="http://uforest.blogspot.sg/2012/06/where-is-central-catchment-nature.html" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbd0uRX1KUb7Ef-VckqvPCspZ53M1Uu4ztFbjFbFqKbOa1Oi7osxqoH9Ualgn1HR1Q3Ghy_6kCMfo4hwkPA8soack-LM_WWOcqHMKWjE_iL7imnndgz0DLkx7K2gY-xC0eQliNHgU2w5c8/s640/Central_Catchment_Nature_Reserve_2012.jpg" /></a><br />
(Map by <a href="http://uforest.blogspot.sg/2012/06/where-is-central-catchment-nature.html">Siyang</a>)<br />
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Nature Reserves are protected under the <a href="http://www.nparks.gov.sg/cms/docs/about-us/PARKS%20AND%20TREES%20ACT.pdf">Parks and Trees Act</a>, and you can <a href="http://statutes.agc.gov.sg/aol/search/display/view.w3p;ident=f5ed9e90-f3b8-4156-aed9-6476623602bf;page=0;query=DocId%3Ac6871e24-cb16-417e-8dd5-81bdd6c1ff3c%20Depth%3A0%20ValidTime%3A19%2F06%2F2013%20TransactionTime%3A19%2F06%2F2013%20Status%3Ainforce;rec=0">read the details</a> regarding what can or cannot be done in Nature Reserves. Here are some bits worth noting.<br />
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<blockquote><i>7.—(3) National parks and nature reserves are set aside for all or any of the following purposes:<br />
<br />
(a) the propagation, protection and conservation of the trees, plants, animals and other organisms of Singapore, whether indigenous or otherwise;<br />
(b) the study, research and preservation of objects and places of aesthetic, historical or scientific interest;<br />
(c) the study, research and dissemination of knowledge in botany, horticulture, biotechnology, or natural and local history; and<br />
(d) recreational and educational use by the public.<br />
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8.—(1) No person shall, except with the approval of the Commissioner granted under section 12 and in accordance with the terms and conditions of such approval, carry out any of the following activities within any national park or nature reserve:<br />
<br />
(a) cut, collect or displace any tree or plant or any part thereof;<br />
(b) affix, set up or erect any sign, shrine, altar, religious object, shelter, structure or building;<br />
(c) clear, break up, dig or cultivate any land;<br />
(d) use or occupy any building, vehicle, boat or other property of the Board; or<br />
(e) wilfully drop or deposit any dirt, sand, earth, gravel, clay, loam, manure, refuse, sawdust, shavings, stone, straw or any other matter or thing from outside the national park or nature reserve.<br />
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(2) No person shall carry out any activity within any national park or nature reserve which he knows or ought reasonably to know causes or may cause alteration, damage or destruction to any property, tree or plant within the national park or nature reserve.</i></blockquote><br />
<h1><b>What's at stake here?</b></h1><br />
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10151572812719404" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2u5pQmRhFOKOl1kj33lkiFtQffH69Eq4VdE7aOy1fvSffpbd4EVwE-AD-rFbpIxC2bXtSF1ThlvA69jU_cnWTL5Y4OCfmdKQ9WkiKei_RjeBkfru9MCcNXZ5fEtIFxrorNRxhtaGO6XU_/s640/481864_10151572812719404_1323627412_n%5B1%5D.jpg" /></a><br />
(Photo by Nick Baker)<br />
<br />
The Cross Island Line will cut through an area of Central Catchment Nature Reserve which comprises tall secondary forest as well as small patches of primary forest.<br />
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Many of our threatened and endangered native mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibians live in these forests. Not to mention a staggering diversity of insects, arachnids, molluscs, and other invertebrates that rely on mature forests for survival. Any form of large-scale disturbance is likely to have adverse impacts on the species in the affected areas.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/38396164@N00/3102194503/" title="Banded Leaf Monkey by hiker1974, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3030/3102194503_001e4fb6f5_z.jpg" width="457" height="640" alt="Banded Leaf Monkey"></a><br />
<a href="http://ecologyasia.com/verts/mammals/banded-leaf-monkey.htm">Banded leaf monkey</a> (<i>Presbytis femoralis</i>);<br />
Singapore Red Data Book 2008 Status: CRITICALLY ENDANGERED<br />
(Photo by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/38396164@N00/">hiker1974</a>)<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/schmike84/8731369102/" title="Sunda Pangolin (Manis javanica) by Edwin Tan (Schmike), on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7357/8731369102_260f7cda80.jpg" width="500" height="335" alt="Sunda Pangolin (Manis javanica)"></a><br />
<a href="http://www.wildsingapore.per.sg/fauna/facts/pangolin_sunda.htm">Sunda pangolin</a> (<i>Manis javanica</i>);<br />
Singapore Red Data Book 2008 Status: CRITICALLY ENDANGERED<br />
(Photo by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/schmike84/">Edwin Tan (Schmike)</a>)<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/budak/3637271466/" title="IMG_1197 by budak, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2475/3637271466_a1daf77a23.jpg" width="500" height="335" alt="IMG_1197"></a><br />
<a href="http://www.ecologyasia.com/verts/mammals/lesser_mousedeer.htm">Lesser mousedeer</a> (<i>Tragulus kanchil</i>);<br />
Singapore Red Data Book 2008 Status: CRITICALLY ENDANGERED<br />
(Photo by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/budak/">Marcus</a>)<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/38396164@N00/2904403025/" title="Flying Lemur by hiker1974, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3002/2904403025_d69a5f6bc2.jpg" width="357" height="500" alt="Flying Lemur"></a><br />
<a href="http://www.wildsingapore.per.sg/fauna/facts/colugo.htm">Sunda colugo</a> (<i>Galeopterus variegatus</i>);<br />
(Photo by hiker1974)<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/53435640@N05/6969481183/" title="Red-crowned Barbet by See Toh Yew Wai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7039/6969481183_c1c2299cbb.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Red-crowned Barbet"></a><br />
<a href="http://rmbr.nus.edu.sg/nis/bulletin2009/2009nis69-76.pdf">Red-crowned barbet</a> (<i>Megalaima rafflesii</i>);<br />
(Photo by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/53435640@N05/">See Toh Yew Wai</a>)<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/13947025@N04/6932329776/" title="Greater Green Leafbird Male (Chloropsis sonnerati) by Chong Lip Mun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7046/6932329776_05018e3bc8.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="Greater Green Leafbird Male (Chloropsis sonnerati)"></a><br />
<a href="http://singaporebirds.blogspot.sg/2012/07/leafbirds.html">Greater green leafbird</a> (<i>Chloropsis sonnerati</i>);<br />
Singapore Red Data Book 2008 Status: CRITICALLY ENDANGERED<br />
(Photo by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/13947025@N04/">Chong Lip Mun</a>)<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/henrykoh/2867335882/" title="DSC07444 by HenryKoh, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2327/2867335882_71b7bccf55.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="DSC07444"></a><br />
<a href="http://www.butterflycircle.com/checklist%20V2/CI/index.php/start-page/startpage/showbutterfly/53">Common tree nymph</a> (<i>Idea stolli logani</i>);<br />
(Photo by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/henrykoh/">HenryKoh</a>)<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/nickadel/8575242360/" title="Trilobite Beetle larva (Duliticola hoseini) - DSC_9340 by nickybay, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8522/8575242360_54cea91252.jpg" width="500" height="334" alt="Trilobite Beetle larva (Duliticola hoseini) - DSC_9340"></a><br />
<a href="http://rmbr.nus.edu.sg/nis/bulletin2008/2008nis195-200.pdf">Trilobite beetle</a> larva (<i>Duliticola hoseini</i>);<br />
Singapore Red Data Book 2008 Status: ENDANGERED<br />
(Photo by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/nickadel/">Nicky</a>)<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/nickadel/8731142773/" title="Spiny Back Orb Weaver (Macracantha arcuata) - DSC_3295 by nickybay, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7292/8731142773_0f2c1b8247.jpg" width="500" height="334" alt="Spiny Back Orb Weaver (Macracantha arcuata) - DSC_3295"></a><br />
<a href="http://habitatnews.nus.edu.sg/guidebooks/spiders/text/Gasteracantha_arcuata.htm">Curved spiny spider</a> (<i>Macracantha arcuata<i></i></i>);<br />
Singapore Red Data Book 2008 Status: VULNERABLE<br />
(Photo by Nicky)<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/37823682@N04/8371561259/"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8220/8371561259_89cac8c7cf.jpg"></a><br />
<a href="http://www.nparks.gov.sg/cms/docs/redbook/Eoperipatus%20sumatranus.pdf">Velvet worm</a> (<i>Eoperipatus sumatranus</i>);<br />
Singapore Red Data Book 2008 Status: ENDANGERED<br />
(Photo by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/37823682@N04/">James</a>)<br />
<br />
According to the map, any work for the Cross Island Line will effectively bisect the Central Catchment Nature Reserve. Our remaining forests are already isolated to some degree, and further fragmentation is likely to exacerbate edge effects. Some of these possible consequences include drying out and loss of humidity, and increased susceptibility to establishment of invasive species. For many forest-adapted species, fleeing into nearby areas of low secondary forests or suburban gardens, which do not possess the right environmental conditions for them to survive, will not be an option.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/budak/3643712267/" title="IMG_1095 by budak, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2480/3643712267_1f31f08dd6_z.jpg?zz=1" width="427" height="640" alt="IMG_1095"></a><br />
<a href="http://www.ecologyasia.com/verts/lizards/black-bearded_gliding_lizard.htm">Black-bearded flying dragon</a> (<i>Draco melanopogon</i>);<br />
Singapore Red Data Book 2008 Status: VULNERABLE<br />
(Photo by Marcus)<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/song-devan/8280846454/" title="Ahaetulla mycterizans by Anne Devan-Song, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8346/8280846454_d4b11f0c31.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="Ahaetulla mycterizans"></a><br />
<a href="http://ecologyasia.com/verts/snakes/big-eye-green_whip-snake.htm">Big-eye green whip snake</a> (<i>Ahaetulla mycterizans</i>);<br />
Singapore Red Data Book 2008 Status: CRITICALLY ENDANGERED<br />
(Photo by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/song-devan/">Anne Devan-Song</a>)<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tiomanese/8005678902/"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8305/8005678902_53924fb14d.jpg"></a><br />
<a href="http://www.ecologyasia.com/verts/turtles/spiny_terrapin.htm">Spiny hill turtle</a> (<i>Heosemys spinosa</i>);<br />
Singapore Red Data Book 2008 Status: VULNERABLE<br />
(Photo by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tiomanese/">Tiomanese</a>)<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/nickadel/8050666315/" title="Spotted Tree Frog (Nyctixalus pictus) - DSC_6300 by nickybay, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8036/8050666315_59dc738526.jpg" width="500" height="334" alt="Spotted Tree Frog (Nyctixalus pictus) - DSC_6300"></a><br />
<a href="http://www.ecologyasia.com/verts/amphibians/spotted_tree_frog.htm">Spotted tree frog</a> (<i>Nyctixalus pictus</i>);<br />
Singapore Red Data Book 2008 Status: VULNERABLE<br />
(Photo by Nicky)<br />
<br />
The proposed alignment of the Cross Island Line will also affect an area with many forest streams, <a href="http://habitatnews.nus.edu.sg/pub/naturewatch/text/a092a.htm">home to native freshwater fishes</a> and other aquatic life, such as amphibians, crustaceans, and dragonflies. <br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/hai_ren/8526026708/" title="P1350598 by Hai_Ren, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8227/8526026708_ecdfa64d74.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="P1350598"></a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://ecologyasia.com/verts/fishes/spanner-barb.htm" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPhi3pAjwGsNegbU3cFzmctzPZzSaTdopFdtlFK7QGeDDWfP-6AWzzlj-lg0WoFZL8WPR_ewa-Xw-IUaw6R3qK1FKOYCkZcPc_o0Y7EfYy6yR-Q9H3vaBWhKVg1iaqBq-EQhTmXiJIl-rn/s150/spanner-barb_1149a%5B1%5D.jpg" /></a> <a href="http://ecologyasia.com/verts/fishes/two-spot-rasbora.htm" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD7CEmn064bzf6YdQRycBZ-mNlcq_23SpLYHcx1_YmZ4l0btY7ZjvS9sGJKnJbXl5uj05mwd8B9QATA9QhcQcQN5Ozm4xN4N2KBflC1I5QHgdagPbc7VUD_h_BAS08SVU_2DZDICyvO8vX/s150/two-spot-rasbora_0010%5B1%5D.jpg" /></a> <a href="http://ecologyasia.com/verts/fishes/harlequin-rasbora.htm" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeaVMdsQA-iFMriqks-Hpafe1BjVY2ZzLXRyUxnQ5g9DFw67Bm6rHc0IfN9bCajEFLx1Ud_R4Ws67TGlL-hpJUR3Kvck_gFq1MPQK_LQhWIzWfk0LccrOzLP4LZaTIGmpW_nsE6VlJ54aN/s150/harlequin-rasbora_0094%5B1%5D.jpg" /></a><br />
<a href="http://ecologyasia.com/verts/fishes/spotted_eel-loach.htm" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj68-AuA6gGxSnoYIjnHDya6tbM29xQZh5p6dkZensH8v_j5IVZGXLb7lJAg18RcrWmO7J0TVpdVC7KhyDkuP0ICXBqnut64BaO719DrGafE8lpBEHNg6tXm4IcZjkuRf5H40D1k4DlYUkv/s150/spotted-eel-loach_0032a%5B1%5D.jpg" /></a> <a href="http://ecologyasia.com/verts/fishes/forest-halfbeak.htm" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0v9zfq-x5X5Bm-IbS6Z7JS2uYt8AmRZy0ege7Tk0hM_q39gQtGkohI-6sCwge6QBDmatQGrdt_3_nWFuhBmei_bLXNJ621x-9LMG6nYQyrqzTZdu6xAydSZ_pTXY6EciHZ6u-kSoRpfKV/s150/forest-halfbeak_9909a%5B1%5D.jpg" /></a> <a href="http://ecologyasia.com/verts/fishes/malayan-leaf-fish.htm" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeqUl_h0Jvsr620wEBhT1JiVI98Lt6HU-A3HK0Xz3XfLiaFuA0N-IgB7Gd2_X5Hz0IplkkSlh_4yeIdiYwHfpJ-zKwA6JAqC8LLP523ncNHMSXLgbuaiHQrnon1_GbSmfnrF5L8BKlNTNn/s150/malayan-leaf-fish_0024a%5B1%5D.jpg" /></a><br />
<a href="http://ecologyasia.com/verts/fishes/forest-betta.htm" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCZnJKFGdDmExncHZQjncRJNOn3JEc1mOh9x6zBpVhy6vUEXdHMbiFeypxmkR5i6oBRzPqXFUP5skoceROGYCdQtf5vtvGNnTQm5SGf0ST8aO3oJKEZH3VJ_HLVf0f9r6Uqu4kQOGljZBN/s150/forest-betta_7747%5B1%5D.jpg" /></a> <a href="http://ecologyasia.com/verts/fishes/malayan-pikehead.htm" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxDzqSqIBvKj2AmDkTCc9AUnwGZovCdiwSV2hQkBQLqiNfmxPPjNbOIRu41v833QPVe5Sqhrj0BPBHGg0Ozf1i47Qx-9XugNq231t23o1tanyNqh3MJMpcnB1Scu4XJFvxKfkcipLc4vGE/s150/malayan-pikehead_9573%5B1%5D.jpg" /></a> <a href="http://ecologyasia.com/verts/fishes/black-snakehead.htm" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU5TmeFswMeFZXAwTglLIrWBhD1ItmOHCFbT-sz53cVv8rytnIsHhGu2JxPKYK2yxahR2W3gWiJ1mjodRJOlogAq40N345W1b1ldsB2yaGja0FT6DqANi2uoPRv0LqtKJOV_FGkgFZd-8m/s150/black-snakehead_3353a%5B1%5D.jpg" /></a><br />
A selection of native freshwater fishes found in forest streams of the Central Catchment Nature Reserve.<br />
<b>Top row (L-R):</b> <a href="http://ecologyasia.com/verts/fishes/spanner-barb.htm">Spanner barb</a> (<i>Systomus lateristriga</i>); <a href="http://ecologyasia.com/verts/fishes/two-spot-rasbora.htm">Two-spot rasbora</a> (<i>Rasbora elegans</i>); <a href="http://ecologyasia.com/verts/fishes/harlequin-rasbora.htm">Harlequin rasbora</a> (<i>Trigonostigma heteromorpha</i>);<br />
<b>Middle row (L-R):</b> <a href="http://ecologyasia.com/verts/fishes/spotted_eel-loach.htm">Spotted eel-loach</a> (<i>Pangio muraeniformis</i>); <a href="http://ecologyasia.com/verts/fishes/forest-halfbeak.htm">Forest halfbeak</a> (<i>Hemirhamphodon pogonognathus</i>), <a href="http://ecologyasia.com/verts/fishes/malayan-leaf-fish.htm">Malayan leaf fish</a> (<i>Nandus nebulosus</i>);<br />
<b>Bottom row (L-R):</b> <a href="http://ecologyasia.com/verts/fishes/forest-betta.htm">Forest betta</a> (<i>Betta pugnax</i>); <a href="http://ecologyasia.com/verts/fishes/malayan-pikehead.htm">Malayan pikehead</a> (<i>Luciocephalus pulcher</i>); <a href="http://ecologyasia.com/verts/fishes/black-snakehead.htm">Black snakehead</a> (<i>Channa melasoma</i>);<br />
Singapore Red Data Book 2008 Status: ENDANGERED (harlequin rasbora, spotted eel-loach)<br />
CRITICALLY ENDANGERED (Malayan leaf fish, Malayan pikehead, black snakehead)<br />
(Photos by Nick Baker)<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/kwokwai76/2923881707/" title="Rhino Frog in stream by kwokwai76, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3203/2923881707_09d5abb025.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Rhino Frog in stream"></a><br />
<a href="http://ecologyasia.com/verts/amphibians/rhinoceros_frog.htm">Rhinoceros frog</a> (<i>Limnonectes plicatellus</i>);<br />
Singapore Red Data Book 2008 Status: ENDANGERED<br />
(Photo by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/kwokwai76/">kwokwai76</a>)<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/38396164@N00/4063823379/" title="Blue-eared Kingfisher by hiker1974, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2748/4063823379_bc91a9bf43.jpg" width="500" height="357" alt="Blue-eared Kingfisher"></a><br />
<a href="http://rmbr.nus.edu.sg/dna/organisms/details/382">Blue-eared kingfisher</a> (<i>Alcedo meninting</i>);<br />
Singapore Red Data Book 2008 Status: CRITICALLY ENDANGERED<br />
(Photo by hiker1974)<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tiomanese/3079375073/"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3026/3079375073_2cd19ffb5f.jpg"></a><br />
<a href="http://rmbr.nus.edu.sg/rbz/biblio/39/39rbz265-277.pdf">Temasek shrimp</a> (<i>Caridina temasek</i>), found only in a small stream in the Central Catchment Area;<br />
Singapore Red Data Book 2008 Status: ENDANGERED<br />
(Photo by Tiomanese)<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/anthonyquek/4670651789/" title="8379 - Macrogomphus quadratus (Forktail) by sayhitoant, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4001/4670651789_e68c761fc5.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="8379 - Macrogomphus quadratus (Forktail)"></a><br />
<a href="http://rmbr.nus.edu.sg/dna/organisms/details/732">Forktail dragonfly</a> (<i>Macrogomphus guttatus</i>);<br />
(Photo by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/anthonyquek/">sayhitoant</a>)<br />
<br />
Many of these species are not found anywhere else in Singapore, having disappeared as a result of deforestation that buried and choked waterways, conversion of natural streams into concrete drains, and competition and predation from non-native aquatic animals introduced by humans, such as red-eared sliders (<i>Trachemys scripta elegans</i>) from the United States of America, guppies (<i>Poecilia reticulata</i>) from South America, and tilapia (<i>Oreochromis</i> spp.) from Africa.<br />
<br />
For the endemic <a href="https://florafaunaweb.nparks.gov.sg/Special-Pages/animal-detail.aspx?id=398">Johnson's freshwater crab</a> (<i>Irmengardia johnsoni</i>), found only in Singapore (and nowhere else in the world!), these streams in the Central Catchment Nature Reserve represent critical habitat.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5VvswOmHjV2jGB1AxPSu_c0qsQp8XX0gW6WBFI5ynvRjTbeqeKKqy4amItcSPZZZ4okRQKOGJVM7e4Xn7bJagKNbVIg_hQkiizylpnp63CnjT3TDowmnTrMy4dU1k-ifHZawZCxHvOfEO/s1600/6384705621_a1429e2c51_o%5B1%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5VvswOmHjV2jGB1AxPSu_c0qsQp8XX0gW6WBFI5ynvRjTbeqeKKqy4amItcSPZZZ4okRQKOGJVM7e4Xn7bJagKNbVIg_hQkiizylpnp63CnjT3TDowmnTrMy4dU1k-ifHZawZCxHvOfEO/s500/6384705621_a1429e2c51_o%5B1%5D.jpg" /></a><br />
Singapore Red Data Book 2008 Status: ENDANGERED<br />
(Photo by Choy Heng Wah)<br />
<br />
The Straits Times recently did a feature article on <a href="http://wildsingaporenews.blogspot.sg/2013/06/central-catchment-nature-reserve-green.html">some of the biodiversity found in these forests</a>.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://rafflesmuseum.wordpress.com/2013/06/02/green-gems/" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTb0Stcwc0tv6UC7tQRb2IvgVlxSBWShWiG14WJ8K5sG8thzQb3ciz00xG1bdxpT4h2c9Yl4Sghyd7rULTmFHo03HKEMI_vMqj7kKwjCeP2KGJ3I-qzT2M5J_H6AOM7VBr13M5bkmN5L56/s500/st_2_june_2013%5B1%5D.jpg" /></a><br />
<br />
<h1><b>What are the possible impacts?</b></h1><br />
Based on first impressions after looking at the map of the Cross Island Line, Siva <a href="http://habitatnews.nus.edu.sg/index.php?entry=/news/20130122-crl.txt">came up with a list of questions</a>:<br />
<br />
<ul><i>
<li>What sort of forest is in the area? Is it former plantations, old secondary or primary forests? What sort of animal life uses these areas?</li>
<li>Which specific parts would have to be cleared for construction and for maintenance?</li>
<li>What impact does the construction of an underground MRT line have above ground?</li>
<li>Will underground drilling affect the hydrology of the surrounding area?</li>
<li>How will underground aquifers be affected and will headwaters of our delicate freshwater stream ecosystems be affected?</li>
<li>Will the effects underground tunnelling be expressed downstream in any way?</li>
<li>After construction, what impact would be forest be subjected to for tunnel maintenance?</li>
<li>What have we learnt about impact to geography, hydrology and geology from the construction of other MRT lines?</li>
</i></ul><br />
Even though it's been suggested that the Cross Island Line will run beneath the Nature Reserve, the forest will still be severely affected in such a scenario. Before construction work on the line begins, soil investigation works and feasibility studies need to be carried out. <a href="http://wildsingaporenews.blogspot.sg/2013/05/studies-for-cross-island-line-to-start.html">According to this article</a>, soil investigation requires boring holes into the ground that are 70 metres deep, <b><i>at intervals of 15 to 20 metres along the expected train line</i></b> (emphasis mine).<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10151545852429404" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikHC92S6U5YDOTZh1CuhWl3b5yMpGO_lzCE30D2IE0DP620zxxfOMbCZsJmC9jqK04_tSK5yvXxrXrmLQsbvy6uTTjk8dA_5nsY3gdoIMmM5C5urbp8NjtI1khXBAyq9taOodET7CkgFk5/s500/294804_10151545852429404_102390875_n%5B1%5D.jpg" /></a><br />
Route of the Cross Island Line across the Central Catchment Nature Reserve and proposed bore hole interval;<br />
(Photo from Nature Society (Singapore))<br />
<br />
I don't know the exact details regarding such a procedure, but I'm worried about the possible impacts on a sensitive area of forest. Will there be trampling by the engineers and equipment? Does this mean that some areas of forest will have to be cleared so that access roads can be built, or cables and pipes laid to supply water and electricity? While the drilling is taking place, what are the risks that this might affect the water table, or result in pollution of the soil and forest streams? With soil being exposed, will this lead to erosion and surface runoff that contaminates the forest streams or even the reservoirs?<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10151571565519404" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJAopX4fqgR-Z3-eixqyGB38DzYPsTcA0lUjX6qIWRkPSs4szQ2D4bMGzoKPRF1JcFUzSUqICzcrIhvNI-FRyTjIqX8C5lhGVmzP4q9X_fHoGyO0QAhSScrcL9rC8pCA-aBI1Kb_3R08hP/s500/935276_10151571565519404_1309374407_n%5B1%5D.jpg" /></a><br />
Forest stream;<br />
(Photo from Nature Society (Singapore))<br />
<br />
It seems like the soil investigation works alone may have a considerable impact on the forest, even before the line is built.<br />
<br />
If work on the line goes ahead, and tunnelling works commence beneath the forest, I wonder how all the manpower and machinery for such a project is going to be brought in. Once again, will there be a need to construct access roads? Will tunnelling be done as a single unbroken stretch, or will there be passageways to the surface along the way? Once the line has been built, will there be a need to erect infrastructure for power, service and maintenance lines, ventilation and emergency shafts, and more?<br />
<br />
For decades, nature lovers in Singapore had the impression that while the future of many green spaces was uncertain, Nature Reserves were all but immune to such threats. Getting Labrador and Sungei Buloh gazetted as Nature Reserves in 2002 was considered a major victory for conservation, and I'm sure many of us feel that while the loss of places like Bukit Brown is tragic in some ways, in terms of biodiversity, such areas simply pale in comparison to what is found in the Central Nature Reserves.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10151600508994404" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgznKSBEfGV0sVnlXChyQtmggkJEHTrSu_3rIHFHT0GF159E79rB1s6bfRQtmjxnW2qVRZ2ZwY6adZZ6avru9mqjKAYIiqi0HJV24HNvleLbRu58gU-3vVVw7Yy2HwyC33oxD6nWE-UdwrA/s500/1514_10151600508994404_1722178548_n%5B1%5D.jpg" /></a><br />
(Photo by Nature Society (Singapore))<br />
<br />
But if these forests can supposedly be sacrificed in the name of building an MRT line, what sort of message does this send? Have we been overstating the importance of these areas' status as Nature Reserves? Are they really protected from development, as we've been led to believe? I personally think that it sets a very dangerous precedent; if Nature Reserves are supposedly inviolate, but portions can still be sacrificed in the name of the greater good, does that imply that future development projects can simply carve out more parcels of Nature Reserve in the name of economics and expediency?<br />
<br />
Does this mean that we've truly reached the point where we are in such desperate need of land that areas of Nature Reserve can be de-gazetted or excised if needed for other purposes?<br />
<br />
I don't think this is a case in which all possible alternatives have been considered and rejected, since nothing seems to have been confirmed yet. But it is worrying that LTA hasn't come forward to say something along the lines of, "Okay, sorry for the false alarm, we're not actually digging through the forest, we just drew a line and decided that we'll figure out the details later." It means that even after all the studies, if it is deemed that the environmental costs are worth any perceived benefits, then they will still go ahead and build the line within the Nature Reserve. LTA has <a href="http://wildsingaporenews.blogspot.sg/2013/05/cross-island-line-lta-will-minimise.html">previously stated</a> that:<br />
<br />
<blockquote><i>In particular, we assure the public that some of the scenarios that have been raised, such as the need or intention to clear large tracts of forest in the nature reserves, or the possibility of there being major construction works within the nature reserves, are not being contemplated.</i></blockquote><br />
My point of view is that we shouldn't even be contemplating carrying out any sort of construction work for an MRT line (or any other development project, for that matter) within the Nature Reserve boundaries.<br />
<br />
Some people might think that it's okay if you dig up the trees and plant them elsewhere, say in a garden. After all, trees are transplanted all the time. But such an idea fails to take into account the fact that only trees below a certain size can be safely removed and transported, not to mention that a forest is more than just a bunch of trees - it's the sum of countless interactions between abiotic and biotic factors, where soil, sunlight, air, rain, groundwater, plants, animals, fungi, and bacteria influence and are influenced by one another. You can relocate every single tree, yet still obliterate everything else that made these trees part of a forest. <br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/hai_ren/7808742978/" title="P1320599 by Hai_Ren, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8304/7808742978_8a2e72475c.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="P1320599"></a><br />
Despite having biodiversity value, parkland habitats like this one in Bidadari simply cannot replace primary and tall secondary forests;<br />
<br />
I'm encouraged that LTA has been listening to the nature groups with the expertise in carrying out the studies, and is delaying all works, including its own Environmental Impact Assessment, until the results are published. All the same, I still think that having the Cross Island run through/beneath the forest is a bad idea, simply because there is just so much potential for the habitats it contains to be severely affected if work proceeds. Even if we receive all the assurances that work will be done in a sensitive manner to minimise impacts on the natural environment, will it really be more worthwhile than simply rerouting the line around the Nature Reserve and avoiding this whole mess?<br />
<br />
We sometimes seem eager to make amends and restore some of the damage wrought by past development, such as the <a href="http://www.nparks.gov.sg/cms/index.php?option=com_news&task=view&id=264&Itemid=50">Eco-Link</a>, which attempts to reconnect two forests that had been separated since 1986, when the Bukit Timah Expressway was completed, effectively cutting Bukit Timah off from the Central Catchment Area. <br />
<br />
In the case of the Cross Island Line, doesn't it simply make much more sense to just not build the MRT line within the Nature Reserve, rather than take the risks and build it, then spend more money to rehabilitate and reverse any damage done to the forests in an attempt to mollify and placate the people? I'm hopeful that it's possible to reroute the Cross Island Line around the Nature Reserve, while still taking into account that any construction work close to the forest has to be carried out with utmost care and sensitivity.<br />
<br />
Our forests are already facing assaults on several fronts, and I don't think they deserve yet another threat like this.<br />
<br />
I'd like to end this post with some quotes by others on this debacle:<br />
<br />
<blockquote><i>"Millions are being spent on the Eco-Link as a mitigation solution to forest fragmentation, now there is a proposal to seriously fragment the southern MacRitchie forest from the rest of the Nature Reserve through soil investigation. This does not compute."</i><br />
<br />
[...]<br />
<br />
<i>"Our position is very simple. Nature Reserves are for the conservation of native flora and fauna and they are not for the purpose of infrastructure. We want the line to go around the nature reserves to the south. At an average speed of 30 km an hour, that would represent an extra four minutes of travel time. We don't think that's too much to ask to save our natural heritage." <br />
<br />
- Tony O'Dempsey</i></blockquote><br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/emonmitra/2839335855/" title="Enchanted Forest by Emon, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3171/2839335855_32d203f408.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Enchanted Forest"></a><br />
(Photo by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/emonmitra/">Emon</a>)<br />
<br />
<blockquote><i>"We need to think twice before even entertaining the notion of digging a railway tunnel underneath an area that has already been gazetted a Nature Reserve and that plays host to an astounding variety of organisms, some of which we haven't even discovered yet. The plants and animals that live here are all part of our natural heritage - as much important to our national identity as our sociocultural traditions are as well - and this is why we are responsible for their protection and conservation."<br />
<br />
- David Tan</i></blockquote><br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/gooji/6813143646/" title="Jungle Walk #1 by Guo Qi, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7197/6813143646_9b31653812.jpg" width="500" height="332" alt="Jungle Walk #1"></a><br />
(Photo by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/gooji/">Guo Qi</a>)<br />
<br />
<blockquote><i>"<a href="http://app.mewr.gov.sg/data/ImgCont/1299/Chapter02-SingaporeWay.pdf">Sustainable Development - "The Singapore Way"</a> proudly states, "We pursue growth and a good environment together, not one at the expense of the other. We need economic growth to provide good jobs for our people and to give us the means to build a liveable city. Yet we do not pursue this growth at all costs. We also put in place stringent environmental regulations in a process to plan and manage land use to guide our development."<br />
<br />
One of its key principles is to 'retain Singapore's natural heritage by safeguarding Nature Reserves and Nature Areas'.<br />
<br />
All well and good. The Land Transport Authority, in response to public concerns about the Central Catchment Nature Reserve, reassuringly said that "all efforts will be taken to minimise impact to the environment". <br />
<br />
I am not an engineer. <br />
But it seems to me that the work requires moving in lots of men and heavy equipment (to the LTA, that's 'minimal' impact). <br />
Vegetation will have to be cleared ('minimal' impact). <br />
Noise and dust will be generated ('minimal' impact). <br />
Streams of clear running water may be lost forever ('minimal' impact). <br />
Animals and plant life will be disturbed ( 'minimal' impact). And of course, the public will have no access when work is being done ('minimal period' only for sure).<br />
<br />
How does all that square with the 'safeguarding Nature Reserves and Nature Areas' principle?"<br />
<br />
- Michael Goh</i></blockquote><br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coolinsights/4694803473/" title="HSBC Treetop Walk by coolinsights, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4035/4694803473_2e44a919c3.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="HSBC Treetop Walk"></a><br />
(Photo by coolinsights)<br />
<br />
<blockquote><i>"Each time I go away and return to Singapore, I long for our nature reserves. I feel a proud sense of stewardship. I am not a botanist or zoologist, but I marvel at what exists on such a tiny island. I see people withdraw from the crowds in the urban areas and visibly relax in an environment that alleviates stress. I take foreign visitors to these places. I always emphasize this to them: what we lack in size, we more than make up for in the sheer diversity of species that our natural environment, the primeval and old secondary growth forests support.<br />
<br />
The Cross Island Line and other urban development plans are worrying because they send the message that we need not care about stewardship and responsibility. It also sends the message that these spaces which enable us to slow down, to feel some sense of humility before the wonders of the natural world, are dispensable."<br />
<br />
- Vinita Ramani Mohan</i></blockquote><br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/23307377@N06/4878477999/" title="Bukit Timah-MacRitchie Trek 20100610 by Ronald_Yip, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4074/4878477999_046be20e62.jpg" width="500" height="332" alt="Bukit Timah-MacRitchie Trek 20100610"></a><br />
(Photo by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/23307377@N06/">Ronald Yip</a>)<br />
<br />
<blockquote><i>"At stake is a national treasure trove of biodiversity - a verdant stretch of primary, secondary and young forest that supports many native plants and trees, and is home to insects, animals, birds and fishes.<br />
<br />
Water from natural sources there drains into the surrounding reservoirs. The vast catchment forest also acts as a green lung in the central part of our island, providing clean air and counteracting the greenhouse effect.<br />
<br />
Even if the rail system runs underground, much construction work will have to be done on the surface, such as providing access to transportation and building site offices.<br />
<br />
Large tracts of forest would have to be cleared. This means erosion, pollution, noise and a whole host of other ill effects.<br />
<br />
One wonders how an Environmental Impact Assessment can have anything positive to say about such a venture.<br />
<br />
That such a proposal came to pass throws into question the claims by the Government of its commitment to protect the environment. It seems that even a gazetted Nature Reserve is no longer protected.<br />
<br />
There should not be soft or easy options, and certainly not explanations such as "this is the most direct and shortest route across"."<br />
<br />
- Chia Yong Soong</i></blockquote><br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/nuancednb/2348333166/" title="CRW_9702 by Timo Saikkonen, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2058/2348333166_73998fea28.jpg" width="500" height="332" alt="CRW_9702"></a><br />
(Photo by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/nuancednb/">Timo Saikkonen</a>)<br />
<br />
<blockquote><i>"I especially note with concern the potential disappearance of natural spaces with regards the 50 km Cross Island Line (CRL). This line begins in Changi and moves westwards through Loyang, Pasir Ris, Hougang. Ang Mo Kio, Sin Ming and through the Central Catchment Nature Reserve to Bukit Timah, Clementi, West Coast and Jurong Industrial Estate. The fact that it goes through the Central Catchment Nature Reserve , and I emphasise the term 'Nature Reserve' , is a serious concern.<br />
<br />
This reserve encloses four large reservoirs – MacRitchie in the south, Upper Peirce and Lower Peirce in the central, west and east, and Upper Seletar in the north. In these areas are the oldest patches and some of the least affected forests, the green lungs of Singapore.<br />
<br />
In these areas also are some rare and endemic species, found not only nowhere else in Singapore but nowhere else in the world. Not for nothing are they given a 'nature reserve' status. And yet the CRL proposes to cut through these precious forests. Perhaps because they do not seemingly contribute to GDP growth?<br />
<br />
When we were fighting to save Bukit Brown last year, we were told then that we are making too much fuss because it is not as if Bukit Brown is a forest to begin with, and it's not that bad because it is not as if it affects the Nature Reserve.<br />
<br />
So a very pertinent and more fundamental question now is, how did the government agencies involved justify the encroachment on the Central Catchment Nature Reserve now, on what is supposed to be areas that are inviolate? Or is nothing inviolate anymore?"<br />
<br />
- Faizah Jamal</i></blockquote><br />
<b>Further Reading:</b><br />
<br />
<ul><li><a href="http://habitatnews.nus.edu.sg/index.php?entry=/news/20130122-crl.txt">LTA's proposed Cross Island Line (CRL) cuts through the Central Catchment Forest Reserve</a></li>
<li><a href="http://kwekings.wordpress.com/2013/06/02/the-cross-island-line-debacle-to-be-updated/">The Cross-Island Line debacle</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.besgroup.org/2013/05/24/saving-macritchie-forest-a-youngsters-view/">Saving MacRitchie Forest: A Youngster's View</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.besgroup.org/2013/05/31/save-macritchie-forest-1-introduction/">Save MacRitchie Forest: 1. Introduction</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.besgroup.org/2013/06/01/save-macritchie-forest-2-flying-lemur/">Save MacRitchie Forest: 2. Flying Lemur</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.besgroup.org/2013/06/05/save-macritchie-forest-3-mammals/">Save MacRitchie Forest: 3. Mammals</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.besgroup.org/2013/06/09/save-save-macritchie-forest-4-fragile-frogs-tender-tadpoles/">Save MacRitchie Forest: 4. Fragile Frogs & Tender Tadpoles</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.besgroup.org/2013/06/15/save-macritchie-forest-5-refuge-for-reptiles/">Save MacRitchie Forest: 5. Refuge for Reptiles</a></li>
</ul><br />
(Cross-posted to <a href="http://blog.omy.sg/sba-plus/2013/06/19/the-cross-island-line-why-does-it-have-to-go-through-a-nature-reserve/">SBA Plus</a>. Do support me in the <a href="http://sgblogawards.omy.sg/2013/category/?cat=ecochallenge&seq=9">Singapore Blog Awards</a>!)Ivanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11637204084596462318noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7625711962780385617.post-86942256746468233852013-06-18T22:06:00.000+08:002013-10-27T05:41:38.178+08:00The marvels of nature macro photography: a workshop by Nicky Bay<b>WARNING:</b> Do not continue reading this post if you are entomophobic or arachnophobic. If you do not know what these terms mean, carry on. You'll find out if you actually are.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/nickadel/9015971965/" title="Macro Photography Workshop Poster by nickybay, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3759/9015971965_bd2c0c6880_z.jpg" width="453" height="640" alt="Macro Photography Workshop Poster"></a><br />
<br />
My friend <a href="http://sgmacro.blogspot.sg/">Nicky Bay</a> is holding a couple of workshops on macro photography, and I thought it would be great to help publicise these workshops. More details <a href="http://sgmacro.blogspot.sg/2013/06/nature-macro-photography-workshop.html">are provided in his blog post</a>.<br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a>When it comes to nature photography, birds hog all the limelight. Even when photographers head out in pursuit of invertebrates, it's the bright and flashy dragonflies and butterflies that attract the most attention. Yet there is an entire world that we usually overlook. We may care about the plight of the giant panda and Siberian tiger and bald eagle, but we often forget all about the realm that exists beneath our feet.<br />
<br />
Nicky is one of several talented local photographers who focus (literally) on the little things - insects, spiders, and other invertebrates, and was recently featured in an article in The Straits Times about <a href="http://wildsingaporenews.blogspot.sg/2013/06/shutterbugs-on-prowl.html">the rise of nature photography in Singapore</a>.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://wildsingaporenews.blogspot.sg/2013/06/shutterbugs-on-prowl.html" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWBLJDt_gbKvC4Bp2NsgG7xSu0U43L2UWIU_UGSR0bNeCSZzF46ajIgG4ojQxqJsMUXZpQkBzmu7QvaD_JcfWCdvteQomuBrMGRbxL2x4gmTbaS-uFQoD93N6Dxcl4tTe_S9G7BOptrrA0/s500/shutterbugs%5B1%5D.JPG" /></a><br />
<br />
<blockquote><i>"Shooting even tinier animals such as insects and spiders is backbreaking work for the macro shooters, who may have to contort their bodies to get close to their subjects. But it was all worth it for game studio manager Nicky Bay, 35, whose photo of a ladybird-mimicking spider last year stirred up such interest that it was published on several websites overseas, including that of the Telegraph newspaper in England."</i></blockquote><br />
Indeed, the Telegraph <a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/earthpicturegalleries/9373146/Insects-and-spiders-that-have-mastered-the-art-of-disguise.html">featured several of Nicky's amazing macro shots</a> of insects and spiders, including this photo of a spider which <a href="http://sgmacro.blogspot.com/2011/06/beauty-of-ladybird-mimicry.html">appears to mimic ladybird beetles</a>. And he's gotten a boost in online cred after his images were used to illustrate <a href="http://www.cracked.com/quick-fixes/6-terrifying-spiders-that-will-haunt-your-dreams/">a Cracked article</a>.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/nickadel/5818782705/" title="Ladybird Mimic Spider (Paraplectana sp.) - DSC_8843 by nickybay, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3254/5818782705_8680f609c3.jpg" width="500" height="334" alt="Ladybird Mimic Spider (Paraplectana sp.) - DSC_8843"></a><br />
Green Corridor, near Sunset Way;<br />
<br />
Invertebrates form the vast majority of animal diversity on Earth. <br />
<br />
<a href="http://deepseanews.com/2011/11/octopi-wall-street/" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVLm0hhAEmsTYFSMxTsCFPCPKEkNUrojDM85cmpinqtNg8KWqrLBg2qU4BIozWqVP1THLq4mJ19FWAeox0qrn1X8pL5TRkfbBF-RpsE9TW8vDFEWQTnALy3QyMbxo2pUbvWZT1i_DHkqBT/s500/OctopiFinalHandDrawnSM%5B1%5D.jpg" /></a><br />
<br />
Yet because we don't see the majority of them as cute and cuddly, we either ignore them completely, or fear and revile them.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://deepseanews.com/2011/10/we-are-the-99/" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi223yr5WDtpwyT5YZhurgHbjxgqNo3IP9tilQR-uz-VDgxKC_v-OlMYjoxqQ9krB7c3s0tC-rGRRzs0HseU0mv14PAMb0qNksfXA29G7AyydMOecEB4MCBCdWmL2l0E8LzIPpUrdyf3Krw/s640/Wearethe99%5B1%5D.jpg" /></a><br />
(Marine bias, but you get my drift)<br />
<br />
The <a href="http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/arthropoda/arthropoda.html">arthropods</a> - insects, crustaceans, arachnids, horseshoe crabs, myriapods (centipedes and millipedes), and a bunch of other animals with exoskeletons and jointed legs, dominate most ecosystems, both in the oceans and on land, in terms of diversity of species, numbers, and ecological importance. <br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/nickadel/8731145423/" title="Ladybird (Coccinellidae) - DSC_2990 by nickybay, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7354/8731145423_e056ea3274_q.jpg" width="150" height="150" alt="Ladybird (Coccinellidae) - DSC_2990"></a> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/nickadel/8077001088/" title="Wolf Spider (Lycosidae) - DSC_9270 by nickybay, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8043/8077001088_5e110dd5ef_q.jpg" width="150" height="150" alt="Wolf Spider (Lycosidae) - DSC_9270"></a> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/nickadel/8388800803/" title="Crab (Brachyura) - DSC_5789 by nickybay, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8074/8388800803_45302abece_q.jpg" width="150" height="150" alt="Crab (Brachyura) - DSC_5789"></a><br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/nickadel/8061303275/" title="Centipede (Chilopoda) - DSC_6954 by nickybay, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8316/8061303275_a885a59a06_q.jpg" width="150" height="150" alt="Centipede (Chilopoda) - DSC_6954"></a> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/nickadel/8937062874/" title="Millipede (Diplopoda) - DSC_4748 by nickybay, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3736/8937062874_487ef4f48a_q.jpg" width="150" height="150" alt="Millipede (Diplopoda) - DSC_4748"></a><br />
<br />
Arthropods and other terrestrial invertebrates serve numerous roles in the greater interconnected web of life - as predator, prey, scavenger, parasite, pollinator, and more. They break down nutrients locked up in dung, carrion and decaying plant matter, allowing them to be recycled. Their digging and burrowing turns vast quantities of soil. The multitude of tiny mandibles removes vegetation on a scale that rivals the prodigious appetites of the largest vertebrate herbivores. They create micro-habitats for other species. Some pollinate the plants we rely on as crops, while others hunt or parasitise those that feed on and destroy our crops. And some produce substances that we then extract and harvest, like honey, silk, and cochineal.<br />
<br />
Indeed, as biologist E.O Wilson once wrote, the invertebrates are truly <a href="http://faculty.washington.edu/timbillo/Readings%20and%20documents/SUGGESTED%20READINGS/Wilson_1987_Little_things_that_run.pdf">the little things that run the world</a>, and the rise of macro photography has played an important role in highlighting the amazing diversity of bizarre animals.<br />
<br />
I strongly believe that many species of jumping spiders, with their large eyes and furry bodies, qualify as 'cute'.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/nickadel/8735551272/" title="Heavy Jumper (Hyllus diardi) - DSC_3707 by nickybay, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7290/8735551272_0a2050aace.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="Heavy Jumper (Hyllus diardi) - DSC_3707"></a><br />
Heavy jumper, Pasir Ris;<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/nickadel/8982216034/" title="Jumping Spider (Salticidae) - DSC_5453 by nickybay, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8270/8982216034_efea769d40_m.jpg" width="240" height="160" alt="Jumping Spider (Salticidae) - DSC_5453"></a> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/nickadel/8080409674/" title="Jumping Spider (Salticidae) - DSC_7297 by nickybay, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8048/8080409674_08b18e9d86_m.jpg" width="240" height="161" alt="Jumping Spider (Salticidae) - DSC_7297"></a><br />
Left: Dairy Farm Nature Park;<br />
Right: Rifle Range Road;<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/nickadel/8312674590/" title="Jumping Spider (Salticidae) - DSC_2781 by nickybay, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8072/8312674590_43ef5d6e9f_m.jpg" width="240" height="160" alt="Jumping Spider (Salticidae) - DSC_2781"></a> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/nickadel/8276063815/" title="Jumping Spider (Salticidae) - DSC_1717 by nickybay, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8218/8276063815_76e5a9ef72_m.jpg" width="240" height="160" alt="Jumping Spider (Salticidae) - DSC_1717"></a><br />
Left: Bukit Timah;<br />
Right: Upper Peirce;<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/nickadel/8314400770/" title="Jumping Spider (Thiania sp.) - DSC_7562 by nickybay, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8503/8314400770_7806e917d5_m.jpg" width="240" height="161" alt="Jumping Spider (Thiania sp.) - DSC_7562"></a> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/nickadel/8317380493/" title="Jumping Spider (Salticidae) - DSC_3683 by nickybay, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8222/8317380493_691d673836_m.jpg" width="240" height="160" alt="Jumping Spider (Salticidae) - DSC_3683"></a><br />
Left: Mandai;<br />
Right: Tampines Eco-Green;<br />
<br />
Here are some more examples of Nicky's excellent work.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/nickadel/8144816338/" title="Rhinoceros Beetles (Dynastinae) - DSC_7768 by nickybay, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8196/8144816338_1c80097c92.jpg" width="500" height="334" alt="Rhinoceros Beetles (Dynastinae) - DSC_7768"></a><br />
Rhinoceros beetles, Tampines Eco-Green;<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/nickadel/9032953701/" title="Tortoise Beetle (Cassidinae) - DSC_6059 by nickybay, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3756/9032953701_5b2a72b874.jpg" width="500" height="334" alt="Tortoise Beetle (Cassidinae) - DSC_6059"></a><br />
Tortoise beetle, Pasir Ris;<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/nickadel/8090640179/" title="Lynx Spider (Oxyopidae) - DSC_7365 by nickybay, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8184/8090640179_b5f4df7fc5.jpg" width="500" height="334" alt="Lynx Spider (Oxyopidae) - DSC_7365"></a><br />
Lynx spider, Chestnut Avenue;<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/nickadel/8164064946/" title="Boxer Mantis (Hestiasula sp.) - DSC_6456 by nickybay, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8204/8164064946_27f1bcd982.jpg" width="500" height="334" alt="Boxer Mantis (Hestiasula sp.) - DSC_6456"></a><br />
Boxer mantis, Rifle Range Road;<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/nickadel/8127622365/" title="Katydid? - IMG_5769 by nickybay, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8330/8127622365_68ff12fb80.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="Katydid? - IMG_5769"></a><br />
Katydid, Durian Loop;<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/nickadel/8491353765/" title="Ant (Formicidae) - DSC_6884 by nickybay, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8368/8491353765_5ec9156a58.jpg" width="500" height="334" alt="Ant (Formicidae) - DSC_6884"></a><br />
The amount of detail on this ant's exoskeleton is simply amazing.<br />
Upper Peirce;<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/nickadel/8093968948/" title="Huntsman Spider (Sparassidae) - DSC_5843 by nickybay, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8196/8093968948_76fa4cf8e7.jpg" width="500" height="334" alt="Huntsman Spider (Sparassidae) - DSC_5843"></a><br />
Don't you think this orange, furry huntsman spider looks a lot like an orangutan?<br />
Nangka Trail;<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/nickadel/8130805842/" title="Tarantula (Phlogiellus sp.) - ESC_0002 by nickybay, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8464/8130805842_b4b453c250.jpg" width="334" height="500" alt="Tarantula (Phlogiellus sp.) - ESC_0002"></a><br />
Tarantula, Nangka Trail;<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/nickadel/8556673367/" title="Tarantula (Theraphosidae) - DSC_8252 by nickybay, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8380/8556673367_5530d6a326.jpg" width="500" height="335" alt="Tarantula (Theraphosidae) - DSC_8252"></a><br />
This is a tarantula's foot.<br />
Upper Peirce;<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/nickadel/8076886013/" title="Scorpion (Lychas scutilus?) - DSC_0638 by nickybay, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8332/8076886013_e376725f07.jpg" width="500" height="334" alt="Scorpion (Lychas scutilus?) - DSC_0638"></a><br />
Did you know that scorpions actually glow under ultraviolet light?<br />
Durian Loop;<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/nickadel/8200372050/" title="Bioluminescent Fungi (Mycena illuminans?) - DSC_8533 by nickybay, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8063/8200372050_2c8c515f62.jpg" width="500" height="334" alt="Bioluminescent Fungi (Mycena illuminans?) - DSC_8533"></a><br />
If you visit some of our forests at night, you might stumble upon a small patch of tiny bioluminescent mushrooms.<br />
Venus Drive;<br />
<br />
Part of what makes the arthropods so interesting is that some of them look so strange.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/nickadel/8731143251/" title="Harvestman (Opiliones) - DSC_3188 by nickybay, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7433/8731143251_7f6358c884.jpg" width="500" height="336" alt="Harvestman (Opiliones) - DSC_3188"></a><br />
Harvestman, Bukit Timah;<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/nickadel/8731142773/" title="Spiny Back Orb Weaver (Macracantha arcuata) - DSC_3295 by nickybay, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7292/8731142773_0f2c1b8247.jpg" width="500" height="334" alt="Spiny Back Orb Weaver (Macracantha arcuata) - DSC_3295"></a><br />
Curved spiny spider, Bukit Timah;<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/nickadel/8047410522/" title="Trilobite Beetle (Duliticola sp.) - DSC_7463 by nickybay, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8314/8047410522_78a4765c2e.jpg" width="500" height="334" alt="Trilobite Beetle (Duliticola sp.) - DSC_7463"></a><br />
Trilobite beetle, Dairy Farm Nature Park;<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/nickadel/8678423724/" title="DSC_0871 by nickybay, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8262/8678423724_505146799c.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="DSC_0871"></a><br />
Unidentified beetle, Pulau Ubin;<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/nickadel/8594362635/" title="Plain Nawab butterfly (Polyura hebe plautus) - DSC_5263 by nickybay, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8251/8594362635_5b6c0ba64a.jpg" width="500" height="334" alt="Plain Nawab butterfly (Polyura hebe plautus) - DSC_5263"></a><br />
Caterpillar of blue nawab butterfly, Rifle Range Road;<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/nickadel/8038570317/" title="Stalk-Eyed Fly (Diopsidae) - DSC_8242 by nickybay, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8462/8038570317_81a3e49724.jpg" width="500" height="334" alt="Stalk-Eyed Fly (Diopsidae) - DSC_8242"></a><br />
Stalk-eyed fly, Dairy Farm Nature Park;<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/nickadel/8719341140/" title="Mole Cricket (Gryllotalpidae) - DSC_1264 by nickybay, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7331/8719341140_16f49ca162.jpg" width="500" height="334" alt="Mole Cricket (Gryllotalpidae) - DSC_1264"></a><br />
Mole cricket, Bukit Timah;<br />
<br />
Many arthropods are brilliantly coloured.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/nickadel/8389887768/" title="Eight-Spotted Crab Spider (Platythomisus octomaculatus) - DSC_5863 by nickybay, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8513/8389887768_74f9c98de6.jpg" width="500" height="334" alt="Eight-Spotted Crab Spider (Platythomisus octomaculatus) - DSC_5863"></a><br />
Eight-spotted crab spider, Pasir Ris;<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/nickadel/8296894648/" title="Katydid - DSC_2480 by nickybay, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8497/8296894648_ed6761bb5c_m.jpg" width="240" height="161" alt="Katydid - DSC_2480"></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/nickadel/8157851779/" title="Cuckoo Bee (Thyreus sp.) - IMG_6885 by nickybay, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7138/8157851779_aa7e6c4b51_m.jpg" width="240" height="160" alt="Cuckoo Bee (Thyreus sp.) - IMG_6885"></a><br />
Left: Katydid, Durian Loop;<br />
Right: Cuckoo bee, Zhenghua Park;<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/nickadel/8234962844/" title="Shield-Backed Bug (Scutelleridae) - IMG_7302 by nickybay, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8060/8234962844_fbc39158f3_m.jpg" width="240" height="160" alt="Shield-Backed Bug (Scutelleridae) - IMG_7302"></a> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/nickadel/8050610762/" title="Ground Beetle (Carabidae) - DSC_6422 by nickybay, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8312/8050610762_a808d89f33_m.jpg" width="240" height="160" alt="Ground Beetle (Carabidae) - DSC_6422"></a><br />
Left: Shield bug, Pulau Tekong;<br />
Right: Ground beetle, Venus Drive;<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/nickadel/8311586927/" title="Dragonfly (Anisoptera) - DSC_9733 by nickybay, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8223/8311586927_66b6d3759e_m.jpg" width="240" height="161" alt="Dragonfly (Anisoptera) - DSC_9733"></a> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/nickadel/8077000442/" title="Jumping Spider (Siler sp.) - DSC_9297 by nickybay, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8191/8077000442_3b6f302717_m.jpg" width="240" height="161" alt="Jumping Spider (Siler sp.) - DSC_9297"></a><br />
Left: Grenadier dragonfly, Admiralty Park;<br />
Right: Jumping spider, Durian Loop;<br />
<br />
You have the camouflage experts, masters of deception.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/nickadel/8312676528/" title="Leaf-Mimic Grasshopper (Caelifera) - DSC_2851 by nickybay, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8073/8312676528_4975161553.jpg" width="500" height="334" alt="Leaf-Mimic Grasshopper (Caelifera) - DSC_2851"></a><br />
Grasshopper, Bukit Timah;<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/nickadel/8293348603/" title="Leaf Grasshopper (Systella rafflesii) - DSC_2485 by nickybay, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8493/8293348603_5068d7d69b_m.jpg" width="240" height="160" alt="Leaf Grasshopper (Systella rafflesii) - DSC_2485"></a> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/nickadel/8491353135/" title="Praying Mantis (Mantodea) - DSC_6819 by nickybay, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8518/8491353135_f70e690c53_m.jpg" width="240" height="160" alt="Praying Mantis (Mantodea) - DSC_6819"></a><br />
Left: Grasshopper, Upper Peirce;<br />
Right: Mantis, Upper Peirce;<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/nickadel/8119223250/" title="Stick Insect (Phasmatodea) - DSC_7965 by nickybay, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8054/8119223250_31fe667f94_m.jpg" width="240" height="160" alt="Stick Insect (Phasmatodea) - DSC_7965"></a> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/nickadel/7985729528/" title="Gray's Leaf Insect (Phyllium bioculatum) - DSC_5003 by nickybay, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8318/7985729528_383f5cb068_m.jpg" width="240" height="160" alt="Gray's Leaf Insect (Phyllium bioculatum) - DSC_5003"></a><br />
Left: Stick insect, Bukit Timah;<br />
Right: Leaf insect, Pasir Ris;<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/nickadel/8112947927/" title="Masked Hunter (Reduvius personatus?) - DSC_1580 by nickybay, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8475/8112947927_66a918779f_m.jpg" width="240" height="161" alt="Masked Hunter (Reduvius personatus?) - DSC_1580"></a> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/nickadel/8735552350/" title="Caterpillar - DSC_3411 by nickybay, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7285/8735552350_3c578782a8_m.jpg" width="240" height="160" alt="Caterpillar - DSC_3411"></a><br />
Left: Assassin bug, Dairy Farm Nature Park;<br />
Right: Caterpillar, Pasir Ris;<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/nickadel/8735552618/" title="Two-Tailed Spider (Hersiliidae) - DSC_3393 by nickybay, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7297/8735552618_9ca52ab3c5_m.jpg" width="240" height="160" alt="Two-Tailed Spider (Hersiliidae) - DSC_3393"></a> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/nickadel/8678426726/" title="Tree Stump Orb Weaver (Poltys sp.) - DSC_0499 by nickybay, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8404/8678426726_f2ebf6714e_m.jpg" width="240" height="160" alt="Tree Stump Orb Weaver (Poltys sp.) - DSC_0499"></a><br />
Left: Two-tailed spider, Pasir Ris;<br />
Right: Tree-stump orb weaver, Pulau Ubin;<br />
<br />
There are even spiders that mimic bird droppings to avoid detection by predators!<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/nickadel/8077009729/" title="Frog Mimic or Bird Dung Spider? (Cyrtarachne sp.) - DSC_9203 by nickybay, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8331/8077009729_57a55cb27c.jpg" width="500" height="334" alt="Frog Mimic or Bird Dung Spider? (Cyrtarachne sp.) - DSC_9203"></a><br />
Bird dropping orb weaver, Mandai;<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/nickadel/8080342963/" title="Bird Dung Crab Spider (Phrynarachne sp.) - DSC_7615 by nickybay, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8052/8080342963_4e569a84e6.jpg" width="500" height="334" alt="Bird Dung Crab Spider (Phrynarachne sp.) - DSC_7615"></a><br />
Bird dropping crab spider, Chestnut Avenue;<br />
<br />
The arthropod world has its charismatic predators too: a whole host of carnivores strike at prey with a wide array of weapons.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/nickadel/8574153579/" title="Huntsman Spider (Sparassidae) - DSC_9176 by nickybay, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8373/8574153579_399c4eda05.jpg" width="500" height="343" alt="Huntsman Spider (Sparassidae) - DSC_9176"></a><br />
Huntsman spider;<br />
(Upper Peirce)<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/nickadel/8157853189/" title="Comb-Footed Spider (Thwaitesia sp.?) - IMG_6837 by nickybay, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8484/8157853189_b3ab141970_m.jpg" width="240" height="160" alt="Comb-Footed Spider (Thwaitesia sp.?) - IMG_6837"></a> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/nickadel/8316890351/" title="Lynx Spider (Oxyopidae) - DSC_0170 by nickybay, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8079/8316890351_bc36aaa205_m.jpg" width="240" height="161" alt="Lynx Spider (Oxyopidae) - DSC_0170"></a><br />
Left: Comb-footed spider, Zhenghua Park;<br />
Right: Lynx spider, Admiralty Park;<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/nickadel/8080083055/" title="Crab Spider (Thomisidae) - DSC_8396 by nickybay, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8056/8080083055_a9784ea7ab_m.jpg" width="240" height="161" alt="Crab Spider (Thomisidae) - DSC_8396"></a> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/nickadel/9034094580/" title="Scorpion (Scorpiones) - DSC_5768 by nickybay, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3824/9034094580_eca8b332e6_m.jpg" width="240" height="160" alt="Scorpion (Scorpiones) - DSC_5768"></a> <br />
Left: Crab spider, Admiralty Park;<br />
Right: Scorpion, Venus Drive;<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/nickadel/7995904055/" title="Whip Scorpion (Thelyphonida) - DSC_4189 by nickybay, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8450/7995904055_bd92a893cc_m.jpg" width="240" height="160" alt="Whip Scorpion (Thelyphonida) - DSC_4189"></a> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/nickadel/6474568289/" title="Tailless Whip Scorpion (Amblypygi) - DSC_5822 by nickybay, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7175/6474568289_ec93ec30b8_m.jpg" width="240" height="161" alt="Tailless Whip Scorpion (Amblypygi) - DSC_5822"></a><br />
Left: Vinegaroon, Bukit Timah;<br />
Right: Tailless whip scorpion, Nangka Trail;<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/nickadel/4635403415/" title="Nocturnal Claws, Centipede (Chilopoda) - DSC_8228 by nickybay, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4010/4635403415_c80c8eca04.jpg" width="334" height="500" alt="Nocturnal Claws, Centipede (Chilopoda) - DSC_8228"></a><br />
Centipede, Admiralty Park;<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/nickadel/8006198432/" title="Pachymantis bicingulata - DSC_0674 by nickybay, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8321/8006198432_0a19b98f2d_m.jpg" width="240" height="160" alt="Pachymantis bicingulata - DSC_0674"></a> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/nickadel/8232473884/" title="Robberfly (Asilidae) - DSC_0945 by nickybay, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8482/8232473884_590a45f637_m.jpg" width="240" height="160" alt="Robberfly (Asilidae) - DSC_0945"></a><br />
Left: Mantis, Lower Peirce;<br />
Right: Robberfly, Upper Peirce;<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/nickadel/8313696628/" title="Spider-Wasp (Pompilidae) - DSC_3086 by nickybay, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8221/8313696628_77c38dd53d_m.jpg" width="240" height="160" alt="Spider-Wasp (Pompilidae) - DSC_3086"></a> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/nickadel/8734434195/" title="Red Weaver Ants attacking a Beetle - DSC_3392 by nickybay, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7318/8734434195_28cc90f0c5_m.jpg" width="240" height="160" alt="Red Weaver Ants attacking a Beetle - DSC_3392"></a><br />
Left: Spider wasp, Bukit Batok;<br />
Right: Weaver ants, Pasir Ris;<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/nickadel/8216129073/" title="Tiger Beetle (Cicindelinae) - DSC_4819 by nickybay, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8206/8216129073_3bb995fedd.jpg" width="500" height="334" alt="Tiger Beetle (Cicindelinae) - DSC_4819"></a><br />
Tiger beetle, Jalan Bahar;<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/nickadel/8571179741/" title="Caterpillar infected by parasitoid wasp eggs? - DSC_8814 by nickybay, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8232/8571179741_c656e9d641_m.jpg" width="240" height="160" alt="Caterpillar infected by parasitoid wasp eggs? - DSC_8814"></a> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/nickadel/8276883850/" title="Robberfly (Asilidae) - DSC_1484 by nickybay, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8491/8276883850_a05a02454e_m.jpg" width="240" height="160" alt="Robberfly (Asilidae) - DSC_1484"></a><br />
Left: Caterpillar with cocoons of parasitoid wasp, Zhenghua Park;<br />
Right: Robberfly infected by parasitic cordyceps fungus;<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/nickadel/8081892077/" title="Ant-snatching Assassin Bug (Acanthaspis sp.) - DSC_6787 by nickybay, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8044/8081892077_c3c836029c.jpg" width="500" height="334" alt="Ant-snatching Assassin Bug (Acanthaspis sp.) - DSC_6787"></a><br />
In an especially horrifying twist, this assassin bug feeds on ants, then hides from its predators by covering itself in the bodies of its victims.<br />
Dairy Farm Nature Park;<br />
<br />
To avoid attacks from predators, some of these minibeasts <a href="http://sgmacro.blogspot.sg/2011/04/world-of-ant-mimicry.html">mimic fellow arthropods</a>, relying on the <a href="http://rmbr.nus.edu.sg/nis/bulletin2012/2012nis039-056.pdf">often fearsome reputation</a> or unpalatability of the model to <a href="http://sgmacro.blogspot.sg/2012/07/batesian-mimicry.html">escape unwanted attention</a>.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/nickadel/8735550454/" title="Ant-Mimic Jumping Spider (Myrmarachne sp.) - DSC_3822 by nickybay, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7314/8735550454_7661afccfe.jpg" width="500" height="334" alt="Ant-Mimic Jumping Spider (Myrmarachne sp.) - DSC_3822"></a><br />
Ant-mimic jumping spider, Pasir Ris;<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/nickadel/7999675454/" title="Flightless Tiger Beetle (Tricondyla sp.) - DSC_3086 by nickybay, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8450/7999675454_fb3ec043a6_m.jpg" width="240" height="160" alt="Flightless Tiger Beetle (Tricondyla sp.) - DSC_3086"></a> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/nickadel/8003240755/" title="Tiger Beetle-Mimic Katydid (Condylodera tricondyloides) - DSC_1738 by nickybay, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8034/8003240755_06cac6c019_m.jpg" width="240" height="160" alt="Tiger Beetle-Mimic Katydid (Condylodera tricondyloides) - DSC_1738"></a><br />
Left: A species of tiger beetle, Jalan Bahar;<br />
Right: A species of katydid which mimics this particular species of tiger beetle, Rifle Range Road;<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/nickadel/8043556490/" title="Ant (Formicidae) - DSC_7578 by nickybay, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8171/8043556490_8704ebbb3a_m.jpg" width="240" height="160" alt="Ant (Formicidae) - DSC_7578"></a> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/nickadel/8320331387/" title="Ant-Mimic Jumping Spider (Salticidae) - DSC_3991 by nickybay, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8084/8320331387_dafcbc5577_m.jpg" width="240" height="160" alt="Ant-Mimic Jumping Spider (Salticidae) - DSC_3991"></a><br />
Left: A species of ant, Venus Drive;<br />
Right: A species of jumping spider that mimics this species of ant, Ang Mo Kio;<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/nickadel/8070911505/" title="Ant-mimic Crab Spider (Amyciaea lineatipes) - DSC_2562 by nickybay, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8322/8070911505_664a646728.jpg" width="500" height="334" alt="Ant-mimic Crab Spider (Amyciaea lineatipes) - DSC_2562"></a><br />
The ant-mimic crab spider's disguise is especially insidious; its passing resemblance to weaver ants enables it to get closer to its aggressive prey without raising the alarm.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/nickadel/8070903980/" title="Ant-mimic Crab Spider (Amyciaea lineatipes) - DSC_2552 by nickybay, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8038/8070903980_1ba25446a7.jpg" width="500" height="334" alt="Ant-mimic Crab Spider (Amyciaea lineatipes) - DSC_2552"></a><br />
Tampines Eco-Green;<br />
<br />
The lives of the little creatures may be nasty, brutish, and short, but there is a more tender side, especially during courtship and copulation.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/nickadel/8160871131/" title="Crab Spiders (Thomisidae) - DSC_7430 by nickybay, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8345/8160871131_59cfc2fb59.jpg" width="500" height="334" alt="Crab Spiders (Thomisidae) - DSC_7430"></a><br />
Crab spiders, Kranji;<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/nickadel/7996238463/" title="Huntsman Spiders (Sparassidae) - DSC_3653 by nickybay, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8310/7996238463_f13d56a062_m.jpg" width="240" height="160" alt="Huntsman Spiders (Sparassidae) - DSC_3653"></a> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/nickadel/8279623201/" title="Striated Tylorida Spiders Mating (Tylorida striata) - DSC_2015 by nickybay, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8359/8279623201_f4dd6f2a6e_m.jpg" width="240" height="160" alt="Striated Tylorida Spiders Mating (Tylorida striata) - DSC_2015"></a><br />
Left: Huntsman spiders, Rifle Range Road;<br />
Right: Striated tylorida spiders, Zhenghua Park;<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/nickadel/8090641201/" title="Stick Insects (Phasmatodea) - DSC_7343 by nickybay, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8044/8090641201_996babf7dd_m.jpg" width="240" height="160" alt="Stick Insects (Phasmatodea) - DSC_7343"></a> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/nickadel/8317934374/" title="Tiger Moths (Arctiidae) - DSC_1381 by nickybay, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8218/8317934374_395a980488_m.jpg" width="240" height="161" alt="Tiger Moths (Arctiidae) - DSC_1381"></a><br />
Left: Stick insects, Chestnut Avenue;<br />
Right: Tiger moths, Zhenghua Park;<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/nickadel/8677318611/" title="Weevils (Curculionidae) - DSC_0874 by nickybay, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8125/8677318611_9d12af06d2_m.jpg" width="240" height="160" alt="Weevils (Curculionidae) - DSC_0874"></a> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/nickadel/8313653496/" title="Fungus Beetles - DSC_9467 by nickybay, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8076/8313653496_3a1eeb6848_m.jpg" width="240" height="161" alt="Fungus Beetles - DSC_9467"></a><br />
Left: Weevils, Pulau Ubin;<br />
Right: Fungus beetles, Dairy Farm Nature Park;<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/nickadel/8217294074/" title="Crane Flies (Tipulidae) - DSC_4628 by nickybay, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8339/8217294074_357b5b24e1_m.jpg" width="240" height="161" alt="Crane Flies (Tipulidae) - DSC_4628"></a> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/nickadel/8318002012/" title="Flesh Flies (Sarcophagidae) - DSC_8529 by nickybay, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8084/8318002012_890c493024_m.jpg" width="240" height="161" alt="Flesh Flies (Sarcophagidae) - DSC_8529"></a><br />
Left: Crane flies, Mandai;<br />
Right: Flesh flies, Admiralty Park;<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/nickadel/8006051773/" title="Millipede (Paradoxosomatidae) - DSC_1374 by nickybay, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8296/8006051773_4c804554f8.jpg" width="500" height="334" alt="Millipede (Paradoxosomatidae) - DSC_1374"></a><br />
Millipedes, Venus Drive;<br />
<br />
And when the time comes to raise the next generation, many of these tiny critters prove to be caring and devoted parents.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/nickadel/8316941323/" title="Scorpion (Lychas scutilus) - DSC_8924 by nickybay, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8076/8316941323_8e65c1064a.jpg" width="500" height="363" alt="Scorpion (Lychas scutilus) - DSC_8924"></a><br />
Scorpion carrying young, Admiralty Park;<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/nickadel/9032953133/" title="Spitting Spider (Scytodidae) - DSC_5922 by nickybay, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5460/9032953133_8c0a015f01_m.jpg" width="240" height="160" alt="Spitting Spider (Scytodidae) - DSC_5922"></a> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/nickadel/8275823729/" title="Nursery Web Spider (Sphedanus sp.) - DSC_1474 by nickybay, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8067/8275823729_95cd2fb2cf_m.jpg" width="240" height="160" alt="Nursery Web Spider (Sphedanus sp.) - DSC_1474"></a><br />
Left: Spitting spider carrying egg sac, Pasir Ris;<br />
Right: Nursery web spider carrying egg sac, Upper Peirce;<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/nickadel/8276066913/" title="Wolf Spider (Lycosidae) - DSC_1861 by nickybay, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8201/8276066913_342101833e_m.jpg" width="240" height="160" alt="Wolf Spider (Lycosidae) - DSC_1861"></a> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/nickadel/8138605938/" title="Wide-Jawed Viciria (Viciria praemandibularis) - DSC_8424 by nickybay, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8191/8138605938_3b2e97dd23_m.jpg" width="240" height="161" alt="Wide-Jawed Viciria (Viciria praemandibularis) - DSC_8424"></a><br />
Left: Wolf spider carrying spiderlings, Upper Peirce;<br />
Right: Wide-jawed viciria guarding spiderlings, Admiralty Park;<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/nickadel/9035175250/" title="Ladybird laying eggs (Coccinellidae) - DSC_5804 by nickybay, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7304/9035175250_11b587daf9.jpg" width="500" height="334" alt="Ladybird laying eggs (Coccinellidae) - DSC_5804"></a><br />
Ladybird beetle laying eggs, Pasir Ris;<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/nickadel/8320032947/" title="Shield-Based Bug (Scutelleridae) - DSC_7775 by nickybay, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8217/8320032947_7023e41133_m.jpg" width="240" height="161" alt="Shield-Based Bug (Scutelleridae) - DSC_7775"></a> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/nickadel/8006153234/" title="Forest Cockroach (Blattodea) - DSC_0858 by nickybay, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8436/8006153234_ba69627a65_m.jpg" width="240" height="160" alt="Forest Cockroach (Blattodea) - DSC_0858"></a><br />
Left: Shield bug guarding young, Admiralty Park;<br />
Right: Forest cockroach guarding nymphs, Rifle Range Road;<br />
<br />
There's something beautiful about the process of moulting, where the creature emerges from its old skin, soft and vulnerable, and progresses to its next phase in life.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/nickadel/8127660882/" title="Two-Tailed Spider (Hersilia sp.) moulting - DSC_8289_sequence by nickybay, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8186/8127660882_c011767447.jpg" width="500" height="174" alt="Two-Tailed Spider (Hersilia sp.) moulting - DSC_8289_sequence"></a><br />
Two-tailed spider moulting process, Durian Loop;<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/nickadel/8202119455/" title="Black and Golden Cicada (Huechys fusca) - DSC_9106 by nickybay, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8057/8202119455_56ea4448c0.jpg" width="500" height="334" alt="Black and Golden Cicada (Huechys fusca) - DSC_9106"></a><br />
Adult black and golden cicada emerging, Zhenghua Park;<br />
<br />
And because arthropods are so small, many of them don't require huge swathes of pristine habitat in order to survive. It's true that a number of species are heavily dependent on healthy, intact forests, but you'd be surprised to see what can be found thriving in small patches of scrub, roadside verges, and urban parks and gardens.<br />
<br />
Macro photography shows us that biodiversity is not just about birds, cute and furry mammals, or colourful butterflies. Far from being scary and alien, there's beauty and wonder to be found in even the smallest of creatures going about their lives, unnoticed by most of us. Through the efforts of macro photographers like Nicky, may we gain a greater appreciation for these spineless wonders.<br />
<br />
I thought this image was especially appropriate.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=612966892057659" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg37_tDLTnPUkpomnRUXXn9eYZnHUxyYJnSD32hTPuYBxk1LrNVYw-WdT8SzCr0Y3buYhtXBN1cM0hsq6rFupEvT1XYpgOE-25LoAL1oJNxp6-yXADFFP2VMvDqscPN1_hsx_C3roTsOPm0/s500/1011175_612966892057659_655661812_n%5B1%5D.jpg" /></a><br />
(Image from <a href="https://www.facebook.com/IFeakingLoveScience">I Fucking Love Science</a>, original photo by <a href="http://500px.com/photo/18710121">Federico Piergiacomi</a>)<br />
<br />
<blockquote><i>"We have a responsibility toward the other life-forms of our planet whose continued existence is threatened by the thoughtless behavior of our own human species.... Environmental responsibility – for if there is no God, then, obviously, it is up to us to put things right."<br />
- Jane Goodall</i></blockquote><br />
(All photos by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/nickadel/">Nicky Bay</a> unless otherwise stated)<br />
<br />
<b>UPDATE:</b> Due to the haze, the 22nd June workshop has been postponed to 6th July.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10152027756679899" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHUZtmBju5Lpre2KmnwSXYe5DXEYos_DzTUmUztc6GfUL4A6s5ig9VZRZiBLqb2RFcLMJvXSkTYHrfTyaYyOW16N3bKMCfVMRLvXJh9yCysxpOPbWrE6Ss5dNPoCBrx4sR7hWw86F-I23P/s500/1009732_10152027756679899_378095752_n%5B1%5D.jpg" /></a><br />
(via <a href="https://www.facebook.com/sciencecentresgp">Science Centre Singapore</a>)<br />
<br />
(Cross-posted to <a href="http://blog.omy.sg/sba-plus/2013/06/18/the-marvels-of-nature-macro-photography-a-workshop-by-nicky-bay/">SBA Plus</a>. Do support me in the <a href="http://sgblogawards.omy.sg/2013/category/?cat=ecochallenge&seq=9">Singapore Blog Awards</a>!)Ivanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11637204084596462318noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7625711962780385617.post-34747633582563356562013-06-17T22:20:00.000+08:002013-06-24T04:17:21.336+08:00Fun Learning with Panasonic: Go Eco, Get Crafty<a href="https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=580769845279087" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2RR7ps56gQActJU6DDLu-WFewjYRghrXg0GIqpHmv7kw2o0PjNAfPpzUmgCQC7_5_Miqlk_yICvVoNUIQBKl_ZeayL_qJG39L-ON9SUa3amP97CKtG7fMh9RKAE-mjsvbO5-rmutlrhwQ/s500/1001338_580769845279087_1926988174_n%5B1%5D.jpg" /></a><br />
(Photo from <a href="https://www.facebook.com/sgpanasonic">Panasonic Singapore</a>)<br />
<br />
I have plenty of old t-shirts from different stages of my life, from the P.E. attire that I wore in secondary school and junior college, to those that I received for participating in freshman orientation activities in university. And there are loads of others that I just don't wear anymore, simply because I've outgrown them, or the print has faded.<br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/hai_ren/7760175760/" title="P1320327 by Hai_Ren, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7124/7760175760_68ed6bfa94.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="P1320327"></a><br />
I was going to post a photo of my wardrobe to show just how many old t-shirts I have, but thought that it wasn't worth showing the world the horrible state it's in right now. Nope, better to just hint at it in writing and leave everyone guessing as to how messy it really is. Anyway, here's a pretty flower instead.<br />
<br />
Many of these clothes got a new lease of life by being handed down to others in my extended family. Just like how some of my wardrobe consists of hand-me-downs from my father, my uncles, and my older cousins, so my younger relatives now own what I once wore.<br />
<br />
But then there are plenty of other clothes that I'm unwilling to give away, partly because of sentimental value. Is there a way I can continue to keep them yet free up space in my wardrobe?<br />
<br />
Thanks to Panasonic's Go Eco, Get Crafty workshop, which was held on Saturday at <a href="http://www.citysquaremall.com.sg/">City Square Mall</a>, I learnt two simple ways to convert t-shirts into other useful items. And as a bonus, I finally got a chance to meet the rest of the finalists in the <a href="http://sgblogawards.omy.sg/2013/category/?cat=ecochallenge">Panasonic Best Eco-Challenge Blog</a> category.<br />
<br />
There were quite a few families with young children taking part in this workshop, which is a really encouraging sign. Many important values are best learnt during one's childhood, and it's great to see so many parents taking an active role in getting their children to learn some basics about being environmentally-friendly.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHxxHrLqJ4y2CYkKT49y6OTunRKcqIxk4O1DLrMPgSmTvuYOZt04ispoQjVv_UzlIppDYP97yqRHjv6GG7Eq_oiQcorjsVCqrGaA98tRjhhM8nm3rn9Fwjq8TWRIcA3CZD8yG43OgHokwp/s1600/IMG_8489.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHxxHrLqJ4y2CYkKT49y6OTunRKcqIxk4O1DLrMPgSmTvuYOZt04ispoQjVv_UzlIppDYP97yqRHjv6GG7Eq_oiQcorjsVCqrGaA98tRjhhM8nm3rn9Fwjq8TWRIcA3CZD8yG43OgHokwp/s500/IMG_8489.jpg" /></a><br />
<br />
The host for the event was Evelyn Kuek. With her cheerful and bubbly personality, she entertained kids and adults alike, gave instructions on how to make the items, and generally made the entire event a fun and enjoyable one for everybody.<br />
<br />
<b>Item #1: T-shirt Coaster</b><br />
<br />
The first item that we learnt how to make was a simple coaster, made from strips of cloth cut from old T-shirts.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVtmzwqjtIlBrCwTRRZDmwOY6_0psw0Vb3qakeu64MWW06fkN4fF9OUXdVcNhkSuvednIndegx_TBhGBd3Uj0-tTFpgVbd2PRIuCffCal0zFjl4wVDmkr5OaJHCslfSmwG8uTe1E-Ox6IR/s1600/IMG_8495.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVtmzwqjtIlBrCwTRRZDmwOY6_0psw0Vb3qakeu64MWW06fkN4fF9OUXdVcNhkSuvednIndegx_TBhGBd3Uj0-tTFpgVbd2PRIuCffCal0zFjl4wVDmkr5OaJHCslfSmwG8uTe1E-Ox6IR/s500/IMG_8495.jpg" /></a><br />
<br />
1. Cut the t-shirt(s) into strips.<br />
2. Braid the strips together, knotting them on each end. Tip: Use tape to secure one end for easy braiding.<br />
3. Roll up the braided t-shirt strips, adding a drop of fabric glue occasionally.<br />
<a href="http://knowyourmeme.com/memes/profit"><strike>4. ????<br />
5. PROFIT!!!</strike></a><br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8_M_Lua0O-ZCCA2WZputfofAcTfZY46-2JEIjR7Vk8020xW2-tSM3LwYH24YV3s-AL2uxZ04lqrV_17UI7mgICSw3CMrDh4v-CiO5wPvAiGOWjg2r88uPBl6ia-xUOlrfypLUkKpmR4Mg/s1600/IMG_8501.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8_M_Lua0O-ZCCA2WZputfofAcTfZY46-2JEIjR7Vk8020xW2-tSM3LwYH24YV3s-AL2uxZ04lqrV_17UI7mgICSw3CMrDh4v-CiO5wPvAiGOWjg2r88uPBl6ia-xUOlrfypLUkKpmR4Mg/s500/IMG_8501.jpg" /></a><br />
Some of us bloggers didn't think of trading cloth strips to get multiple colours, so our coasters ended up being monochrome. Mine looks like a very neat pile of scrambled eggs.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEharM9WuhEq_24rf_gQSQFSzk78tjcPFL2ObUSuB4fK6lozfC_OemV620JVZSezTkJyESHYUv-z7JSnU0UAB3vkfDnzBAAgTdxeFlm9a86N0mK_gVzjQzRnYYZ55zuRmpxdmYfR1BF0t3ke/s1600/IMG_8502.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEharM9WuhEq_24rf_gQSQFSzk78tjcPFL2ObUSuB4fK6lozfC_OemV620JVZSezTkJyESHYUv-z7JSnU0UAB3vkfDnzBAAgTdxeFlm9a86N0mK_gVzjQzRnYYZ55zuRmpxdmYfR1BF0t3ke/s500/IMG_8502.jpg" /></a><br />
I was feeling silly, so I stuck on a pair of googly eyes. And partly as a tribute to a hilarious site that I follow, <a href="http://deepseafauna.tumblr.com/">Deep Sea Fauna... with Googly Eyes</a>.<br />
<br />
Some of the coasters made by the children were a lot prettier!<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG2iexbGy4tkpAZI-8hP80K06-EY-rvRFkahVnn2l-Ixk4E0VSNdtFJCiKlqfATN9aRMeTmqbLZyTfkZowY9lEWpPrit-XhZScg9teLWDhyphenhyphenWtu_2PAA1yoNm9iUUSymwvkUbffDf8ZLyxL/s1600/IMG_8517.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG2iexbGy4tkpAZI-8hP80K06-EY-rvRFkahVnn2l-Ixk4E0VSNdtFJCiKlqfATN9aRMeTmqbLZyTfkZowY9lEWpPrit-XhZScg9teLWDhyphenhyphenWtu_2PAA1yoNm9iUUSymwvkUbffDf8ZLyxL/s500/IMG_8517.jpg" /></a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSNyIWnhwPgxmsWqQ8qvjyO5lH7q85jdrYDhwgK6ViHV6wCz0ZbmGw4p1-zXzs2qR1rk16msjP2ejMz9TF8tt80uNwX3CAe8UWbXMcYHS4Bp0DBqvVDLWITW7tzvFyVh7OvHcUoF91aydb/s1600/IMG_8519.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSNyIWnhwPgxmsWqQ8qvjyO5lH7q85jdrYDhwgK6ViHV6wCz0ZbmGw4p1-zXzs2qR1rk16msjP2ejMz9TF8tt80uNwX3CAe8UWbXMcYHS4Bp0DBqvVDLWITW7tzvFyVh7OvHcUoF91aydb/s500/IMG_8519.jpg" /></a><br />
<br />
What if you have a t-shirt with an interesting or eye-catching design that you want to retain? <br />
<br />
<b>Item #2: T-shirt Bag</b><br />
<br />
The second item that we made, a reusable bag made from a t-shirt, provides one solution to this conundrum.<br />
<br />
1. Lay your t-shirt flat. Cut off the neck band, the bottom seam, and the sleeves.<br />
2. Turn the t-shirt inside out. <br />
3. Cut off the bottom hem binding (you will reuse the binding).<br />
4. Take the binding, wrap it around the bottom of the t-shirt and tie it really tight. Do this step at least twice so the bottom is secured.<br />
(If you're good at sewing, you can skip steps 3 and 4 and simply stitch the edges of the bottom hem together)<br />
5. Turn the t-shirt right side out.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2_RPAxCWsvDSKtn2y7Ja7sTnOJn_BPs4bxLN_URqD0ZwJfZDV8uZn8R8S0DJ2uiV6BZoCxA0RJOqpbjBoVv4gQhoK1yM45zMUzkbV-4agf2tKjrQ5cLn6lWOvmagJGTc-eEPxi-u0M3zi/s1600/IMG_9223.JPG" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2_RPAxCWsvDSKtn2y7Ja7sTnOJn_BPs4bxLN_URqD0ZwJfZDV8uZn8R8S0DJ2uiV6BZoCxA0RJOqpbjBoVv4gQhoK1yM45zMUzkbV-4agf2tKjrQ5cLn6lWOvmagJGTc-eEPxi-u0M3zi/s500/IMG_9223.JPG" /></a><br />
<br />
<b>Item #3: Sock Pouch</b><br />
<br />
The third and final item that we made involved turning socks into small pouches.<br />
<br />
1. Cut two notches in the top hem of the sock. Don't cut further than the hem.<br />
2. Slip one end of a shoelace or ribbon into one of the notched openings, and thread it through the opening on the other side. You can use a straw to guide it through.<br />
3. Remove the straw (if it was used) and tie the ends of the shoelace in a double knot.<br />
4. Repeat steps 2 and 3 for the second piece of shoelace, but start on the opposite side.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyMqwsb-wRI7I5JWacWwvkttnMRXSLxKC8xOPivAvzqLZnp3BQJevg66xm-It5M3mJm698m0UO_sBb66Pq9BWJ-z7LIetHeOh7JkUOr0XgAw-Db9CYMPJbeNO5fCwpwHZyw2faqCbf8PX6/s1600/IMG_8521.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyMqwsb-wRI7I5JWacWwvkttnMRXSLxKC8xOPivAvzqLZnp3BQJevg66xm-It5M3mJm698m0UO_sBb66Pq9BWJ-z7LIetHeOh7JkUOr0XgAw-Db9CYMPJbeNO5fCwpwHZyw2faqCbf8PX6/s500/IMG_8521.jpg" /></a><br />
No, I don't wear flowery socks. I just decided to draw random flowers on the sock-turned-pouch once I was done.<br />
<br />
Art & Craft was never my strong subject in school, and I don't think my rushed creations are particularly aesthetically pleasing, but they are certainly useful. Feel free to further decorate and accessorise your own handiwork according to your talents and tastes.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=580769195279152" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOarq7AyHreSQi4BqPT4k_BD7fyhcM3rGJ6F6HhW3-4Nck_KZMr0YdK2JteywTZTedG1ZSMxeDaOz9m2TyxcGMNaOD95l7GeLH4S63K2LaV0JXfcmWpcYqkJrp7fMCQx4f4_AnF67eWZ2v/s500/1000164_580769195279152_1268543622_n%5B1%5D.jpg" /></a><br />
(Photo from Panasonic Singapore)<br />
<br />
While we were hard at work, Evelyn checked on our progress regularly, helping those who had problems following the instructions, and highlighting interesting or creative pieces that other participants were making. She also used this opportunity to talk to the children the basics of the 3Rs. As adults, many of us would have already heard the mantra of reducing, reusing, and recycling many times before, but how many of us really try to live up to these tenets? I know I'm still far from being a shining example of somebody who actively makes a conscious effort to reduce my ecological footprint, but hey, we all have to start somewhere. <br />
<br />
Here are some of the kids with the items they've made:<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikoMZXhTR1McSmP3pDoZDF7DI_pDOhMq184Ckr4211-jHTe06IxVGzr2jNvuUuTs9omxWvTkBZzJ0l-vpJfGaQYAxFWYPPznck8yo4bNFp6mqSdHJ6D1sv8rnWzQMlGSlzpMgCMZG3eC_L/s1600/IMG_8530.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikoMZXhTR1McSmP3pDoZDF7DI_pDOhMq184Ckr4211-jHTe06IxVGzr2jNvuUuTs9omxWvTkBZzJ0l-vpJfGaQYAxFWYPPznck8yo4bNFp6mqSdHJ6D1sv8rnWzQMlGSlzpMgCMZG3eC_L/s500/IMG_8530.jpg" /></a><br />
<br />
And a group photo of all the participants: children, parents, and Panasonic Best Eco-challenge Blog finalists.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=580787428610662" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheK7E036DmS3YryERzZZ0Dl-J1xpfwohqhGuNhQkN-Dxt_8PpPCWAKcy459CgpUcTApBwmWZDlDmFxxzWpxO7y7amOyxPB4QGLeP4UYKl0S3RqI0RuZdWhyBnJbqA4lBcSqWIGJzdjRb2J/s500/1017194_580787428610662_620785630_n%5B1%5D.jpg" /></a><br />
(Photo from Panasonic Singapore)<br />
<br />
This workshop has helped spark some interest in finding out more ways to recycle second-hand items.<br />
<br />
Here's a selection that I found after a quick Google search:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://twistedsifter.com/2012/06/creative-ways-to-repurpose-reuse-and-upcycle-old-things/">50 Creative Ways to Repurpose, Reuse and Upcycle Old Things</a><br />
<a href="http://www.boredpanda.com/creative-reuse-upcycling-repurposing-ideas/">30 Creative Ways to Repurpose & Reuse Old Stuff</a><br />
<a href="http://www.wisebread.com/21-disposable-products-you-can-reuse">21 Disposable Products You Can Reuse</a><br />
<br />
After reading some of these tips, I was like this, but in a good way:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://knowyourmeme.com/memes/my-brain-is-full-of-fk"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHWChTia02OI8wi2X_pTtAiEVpWqEeqCFNAWnOXSgek0jyIjIdL1etO79qeujIdder7_mQZNVbSDhev6aLberW7OBqDoUwuh-JhHWMBtqI8pt7P3u_2YDJoeqx8PSJoNScplNeI6JO-9tx/s300/14288%5B1%5D.jpg" /></a><br />
<br />
Then I was:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://knowyourmeme.com/memes/obama-rage-face-not-bad" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj_unYt8iolOvdB6XaAgbRBd0YNk65nK53gwb5H_QETFLKsbhSDo28O_eGQGhiNLsZWNml1hyphenhyphenTqK7hDReKVq_2h-lbyrJwUj9dG43oPGnUTtpDbV5_dSu87hBWjLHOZLieLI5hWpEZAbtj/s300/Obama.jpg" /></a><br />
<br />
After the event, I took a closer look at the green wall that served as the backdrop of City Square Mall's Fountain Square, where the workshop was conducted.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibenxGqRuge1x0UK0I22ixQtuDel1wglDOxcCWTGUiLOcb3ycGRi2kYrK4Cl7cBix75dlaWbKfqDvOPD7FrzwUKiFtHoYBljRcIkq4W3-SDkqzfZ61zbx7cewfdi___lbHC5yiaCWYJh8q/s1600/IMG_8538.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibenxGqRuge1x0UK0I22ixQtuDel1wglDOxcCWTGUiLOcb3ycGRi2kYrK4Cl7cBix75dlaWbKfqDvOPD7FrzwUKiFtHoYBljRcIkq4W3-SDkqzfZ61zbx7cewfdi___lbHC5yiaCWYJh8q/s500/IMG_8538.jpg" /></a><br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimHuF4GZanDQRycoVD8g_enUKBDCIDvWifzhwrpYLbh-Jpq0E8ypncAvqkw3uXofwQ-JTEiSZlUIKHBLJuXqjm6MaIcYUokdpzL8H8akGuNfhS3-KktZnE6yU4ZBNKmbV2W6rXl9ZBVtdO/s1600/IMG_8540.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimHuF4GZanDQRycoVD8g_enUKBDCIDvWifzhwrpYLbh-Jpq0E8ypncAvqkw3uXofwQ-JTEiSZlUIKHBLJuXqjm6MaIcYUokdpzL8H8akGuNfhS3-KktZnE6yU4ZBNKmbV2W6rXl9ZBVtdO/s500/IMG_8540.jpg" /></a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx-WvqEuVWp1XjTbVlAtrDMWN2Jo-fYXqBUdSQ1pXA_y5Hro4ydpIz-KyAwhTdcKsvnAF9m6ppLkz0oPGJy0rOu_iXwIsQ1fSyDn5n1wwjYaa5w8AD41x4CbvoyyotmFbEsDHtrhAfo3Ty/s1600/IMG_8543.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx-WvqEuVWp1XjTbVlAtrDMWN2Jo-fYXqBUdSQ1pXA_y5Hro4ydpIz-KyAwhTdcKsvnAF9m6ppLkz0oPGJy0rOu_iXwIsQ1fSyDn5n1wwjYaa5w8AD41x4CbvoyyotmFbEsDHtrhAfo3Ty/s500/IMG_8543.jpg" /></a><br />
It would be interesting to see if this green wall could incorporate plants that can help enhance urban biodiversity, such as flowering climbers that attract nectar-feeding insects and birds.<br />
<br />
During the workshop, Evelyn had mentioned that the ferns and climbers on this green wall do not require watering, as the roof above is angled such that rainwater would flow off and irrigate the wall, with funnels and drains forming part of a rainwater harvesting system to collect water for non-potable use.<br />
<br />
More green features that can be found in the City Green area are listed <a href="http://www.citysquaremall.com.sg/citygreen.php">on its website</a>, which also showcases how <a href="http://www.citysquaremall.com.sg/greenbuildingfeatures.php">the building itself</a> is designed to cut down on unnecessary wastage of energy and water. I may have been a little hasty in dismissing the ability of a shopping mall to genuinely commit towards reducing the amount of resources consumed, and helping to promote more environmentally-friendly lifestyles.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.greenbusinesstimes.com/2011/11/08/how-a-shopping-mall-in-singapore-goes-green/">Green Business Times</a> and <a href="http://www.eco-business.com/news/green-building-experts-shop-for-ideas-at-singapores-first-eco-mall/">Eco-Business</a> also have further details on how the mall has sought to be known as the leading eco-friendly family mall.<br />
<br />
I don't usually write about waste reduction and recycling, since my focus is more on biodiversity and nature conservation. But of course, these are merely two aspects of the same issue. After all, our lifestyles have a significant impact on the natural environment; because we consume so much, we devote energy towards resource extraction, with the manufacturing process leading to waste products that may or may not be disposed of in a responsible manner. All that energy is likely to have been derived from fossil fuels, and there is increasing pressure to harvest the untapped potential locked away beneath some of the planet's remaining wilderness areas. And even if our trash and waste doesn't inadvertently end up in the ocean, it all still has to go somewhere.<br />
<br />
<iframe width="500" height="375" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/dz3tPxUFGbY?rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br />
<br />
As I shared that afternoon, <a href="http://app2.nea.gov.sg/energy-waste/waste-management/semakau-landfill">Semakau Landfill</a> will <a href="http://app.mewr.gov.sg/web/contents/contents.aspx?contid=1538">run out of space someday</a>, and there's only so much more that we can expand before nearby marine habitats are affected.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/wildsingapore/6324547882/" title="Semakau Landfill from replanted mangroves on Pulau Semakau by wildsingapore, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6234/6324547882_9301d9840d.jpg" width="500" height="368" alt="Semakau Landfill from replanted mangroves on Pulau Semakau"></a><br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/wildsingapore/421871057/" title="Living reefs of Pulau Semakau by wildsingapore, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm1.staticflickr.com/179/421871057_7cbd737034.jpg" width="500" height="369" alt="Living reefs of Pulau Semakau"></a><br />
Mangroves and coral reefs of Pulau Semakau;<br />
(Photo by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/wildsingapore/">Ria</a>)<br />
<br />
It's wonderful to see how individuals and corporations alike are beginning to understand that there has to be a better way to do things, and I'm heartened to see how Panasonic, the event organiser and sponsor for this category in the Singapore Blog Awards, <a href="http://panasonic.net/eco/">places a lot of emphasis</a> on being eco-friendly. I'm typically skeptical and cynical with regards to many attempts at corporate social responsibility (CSR), but at the same time, I like to be optimistic and believe that business entities do have the ability to make a powerful impact.<br />
<br />
Kudos to OMY and Panasonic Singapore for organising this workshop, City Square Mall for hosting us, and all the other participants for a fun afternoon.<br />
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Now, let's see what else I can make out of all my other old t-shirts...<br />
<br />
<b>Postscript:</b> The other finalists in the Panasonic Best Eco-challenge Blog category have also written about the workshop, and here are their entries:<br />
<br />
<ul><li><b>Deenise Glitz:</b> <a href="http://deeniseglitz.blogspot.sg/2013/06/panasonics-eco-crafts-workshop-how-to.html">Panasonic's Eco Crafts Workshop - How to Recyle Your Old Cotton Shirt and Socks</a></li>
<li><b>I Am Yuki Ng:</b> <a href="http://iamyuking.blogspot.sg/2013/06/panasonic-eco-chanllege-event-lets-get.html">Panasonic Eco Challenge ~ LET'S GET CRAFTY 生态绿化环保原来可以这么玩!</a></li>
<li><b>Kat Juju:</b> <a href="http://www.katjuju.com/2013/06/panasonic-go-eco-get-crafty-event.html">Panasonic Go Eco, Get Crafty Event</a></li>
<li><b>Renzze:</b> <a href="http://www.renzze.com/index.php/2013/06/18/get-eco-get-crafty/">Get Eco, Get Crafty</a></li>
<li><b>LoveLivfe:</b> <a href="http://lovelivfe.com/2013/06/16/panasonic-eco-crafts-workshop/">Panasonic Eco Crafts Workshop!</a></li>
<li><b>Merlion Wayfarer Goes Green:</b> <a href="http://merlionwayfarergoesgreen.blogspot.sg/2013/06/go-eco-get-crafty-with-old-tees-socks.html">"Go Eco, Get Crafty" With Old Tees & Socks</a>, <a href="http://merlionwayfarergoesgreen.blogspot.sg/2013/06/go-eco-get-crafty-t-shirt-coaster.html">"Go Eco, Get Crafty" - T-Shirt Coaster</a>, <a href="http://merlionwayfarergoesgreen.blogspot.sg/2013/06/go-eco-get-crafty-t-shirt-bag.html">"Go Eco, Get Crafty" - T-Shirt Bag</a>, <a href="http://merlionwayfarergoesgreen.blogspot.sg/2013/06/go-eco-get-crafty-sock-pouch.html">"Go Eco, Get Crafty" - Sock Pouch</a></li>
<li><b>OnlyWilliam:</b> <a href="http://onlywilliam.blogspot.sg/2013/06/panasonic-eco-friendly-craft-workshop.html">Transforming my old t-shirt into a useful Eco-friendly T-Shirt Bag!!!</a></li>
<li><b>Pasture Living:</b> <a href="http://www.pastureliving.blogspot.sg/2013/06/singapores-eco-friendly-mall-and-crafts.html">Singapore's Eco-Friendly Mall and Crafts</a></li>
<li><b>www.aletheajayne.com:</b> <a href="http://blog.myfatpocket.com/alethea/2013/06/23/sharing-ideas-for-green-living-fun-eco-crafts-diy-projects/">Sharing ideas for green living; fun eco-crafts, DIY projects!</a></li></ul><br />
(Cross-posted to <a href="http://blog.omy.sg/sba-plus/2013/06/17/fun-learning-with-panasonic-go-eco-get-crafty/">SBA Plus</a>. Do support me in the <a href="http://sgblogawards.omy.sg/2013/category/?cat=ecochallenge&seq=9">Singapore Blog Awards</a>!)Ivanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11637204084596462318noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7625711962780385617.post-76373027312587556092013-06-14T20:00:00.001+08:002013-06-18T05:37:01.928+08:00Chek Jawa with special guests<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/hai_ren/9042138200/" title="IMG_8417 by Hai_Ren, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3776/9042138200_d75c9ba249.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="IMG_8417"></a><br />
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The <a href="http://nakedhermitcrabs.blogspot.sg/">Naked Hermit Crabs</a> spent an enjoyable Friday morning with some special guests on the Chek Jawa Boardwalk.<br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/hai_ren/9042140796/" title="IMG_8379 by Hai_Ren, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7284/9042140796_bc158cd39a.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="IMG_8379"></a><br />
While we're on the boat en route to Pulau Ubin, Ria is already pointing out the boardwalk, which can be seen jutting out from the eastern tip of the island. And as the van brings us from Ubin town to Chek Jawa, she continues to regale us with stories about the former headman of Pulau Ubin, who <a href="http://www.simplygreen.com.sg/ubin/ubin3.html">passed away at the age of 101</a>, the quarries that <a href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/ubin/places/quarry.htm">once supported a thriving settlement</a> on the island, and the Thai temple <a href="http://pulauubinstories.blogspot.sg/2007/08/goodbye-ubin-thai-temple.html">that was relocated</a> several years back.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/hai_ren/9042140186/" title="IMG_8386 by Hai_Ren, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7423/9042140186_461f71f596.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="IMG_8386"></a><br />
The resident <a href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/vertebrates/mammals/scrofa.htm">wild pigs</a> (<i>Sus scrofa vittatus</i>) were foraging when we arrived at Chek Jawa. The piglets are growing fast and losing their watermelon stripes. But it seems like there are only six of them, when we counted eight just two weekends ago. Grandma, the first of the wild pigs to start getting comfortable around people, made an appearance too; she's had a few daughters, some of which have since grown and bore litters of their own, like the young adult sow in this photo.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4lHM_2t5dKGYl1kzJ-6Xbf-9e0zxRY3c126njwhuB6DM1uDzlb-X19C4Rbs-R0QQfpBc8bHPH2JCXwcFrN6KnZhP2S5Uf3d6mjzae6yb0UEnL4uVCgvgMQ7_L8s5HzRJKGQdvjlub2Ex-/s1600/3+wild+boars%5B1%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4lHM_2t5dKGYl1kzJ-6Xbf-9e0zxRY3c126njwhuB6DM1uDzlb-X19C4Rbs-R0QQfpBc8bHPH2JCXwcFrN6KnZhP2S5Uf3d6mjzae6yb0UEnL4uVCgvgMQ7_L8s5HzRJKGQdvjlub2Ex-/s500/3+wild+boars%5B1%5D.jpg" /></a><br />
(Photo by Ley Kun)<br />
<br />
Once the wild boar realised that we did not have any food, they wandered off. I'm glad that for now, both the human visitors and resident wild boar <a href="http://poskod.sg/Posts/2013/5/28/Of-Boar-And-Men">are still able to tolerate each other and coexist</a> on Chek Jawa. The idea of feeding wildlife may be appealing to some, but it results in the animals learning that humans are a source of food, resulting in people being disturbed or harassed. And if people complain about animals like wild boar or monkeys turning bold and aggressive, it's the animals that ultimately bear the consequences.<br />
<br />
With three guides, and a small audience to begin with, we decided to go as a single group. Just before we started, the wild boar made another appearance. <br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/hai_ren/9042140156/" title="IMG_8392 by Hai_Ren, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3736/9042140156_6ea7e212a4.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="IMG_8392"></a><br />
Mom crossed the path first, and we waited for the piglets to catch up and cross as well. It's never a good idea to stand between a mother and her young.<br />
<br />
Unfortunately, it looks like for the second consecutive year, the <a href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/plants/fruittrees/durio/zibethinus.htm">durian</a> (<i>Durio zibethinus</i>) trees at Chek Jawa won't be fruiting. I have a feeling that the weather we've been having these few years has screwed with the environmental factors that trigger flowering.<br />
<br />
We didn't manage to spot the <a href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/vertebrates/birds/albirostris.htm">Oriental pied hornbills</a> (<i>Anthracoceros albirostris</i>) today, but the nesting box is always a great opportunity to talk about the <a href="http://youtu.be/bqjbevg0mZk">hornbills' return</a> as a part of Singapore's native avifauna, and the success of the <a href="http://rmbr.nus.edu.sg/rbz/biblio/s24/s24rbz003-004.pdf">Singapore Hornbill Project</a>.<br />
<br />
Most conveniently, right where we stopped to look at the hornbill nest box, Ria found some fruits of the <a href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/plants/coastal/knema/globularia.htm">seashore nutmeg</a> (<i>Knema globularia</i>). These bright red fruits are eaten by hornbills (and other frugivorous birds). Along the boardwalk, we saw that the <i><a href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/plants/coastal/memecylon/edule.htm">delek air</a></i> (<i>Memecylon edule</i>) were blooming. Both of these coastal trees are now rare, with the seashore nutmeg being Critically Endangered, and the <i>delek air</i> considered Endangered, as they tend to grow on coastal cliffs, a habitat that has vanished from most parts of Singapore.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/hai_ren/9042139098/" title="IMG_8399 by Hai_Ren, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2828/9042139098_ce326f9426.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="IMG_8399"></a><br />
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The tide was still quite low, and in the shallows beneath the boardwalk, we managed to spot some marine life, such as the huge schools of small fishes that we commonly encounter swimming alongside or beneath the boardwalk.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMKgQohPBkh9H_xGRCSGQyLOg5mjmz4QO9vuWl4c_8lQ473U7FbKDIbIbqKHIjxOQuSoncU5jqQmEzYoXrYaNOcgw1Gbs2o3FMQ7nReGgACCUv_k9AKJ4HR6GXLBR3zXlYhy6bAYHT8XJL/s1600/5+Gar+fish%5B1%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMKgQohPBkh9H_xGRCSGQyLOg5mjmz4QO9vuWl4c_8lQ473U7FbKDIbIbqKHIjxOQuSoncU5jqQmEzYoXrYaNOcgw1Gbs2o3FMQ7nReGgACCUv_k9AKJ4HR6GXLBR3zXlYhy6bAYHT8XJL/s500/5+Gar+fish%5B1%5D.jpg" /></a><br />
We also saw a couple of <a href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/vertebrates/fish/belonidae/belonidae.htm">needlefish</a> (<i>Strongylura<i></i></i> sp.);<br />
(Photo by Ley Kun)<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/hai_ren/9039915911/" title="IMG_8401 by Hai_Ren, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7382/9039915911_6c157922b8.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="IMG_8401"></a><br />
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We spotted quite a few large <a href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/cnidaria/actiniaria/haddoni.htm">Haddon's carpet anemones</a> (<i>Stichodactyla haddoni<i></i></i>) close to the boardwalk. Despite looking like huge flowers, these animals can actually uproot themselves and move to another position, either to avoid getting buried by deposition of sediments, or to find a better feeding spot.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/hai_ren/9042138976/" title="IMG_8406 by Hai_Ren, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2824/9042138976_938a26747f.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="IMG_8406"></a><br />
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Much of the seagrass meadow was still exposed. <a href="http://teamseagrass.blogspot.com/">TeamSeagrass</a> will be having a monitoring session here on Chek Jawa tomorrow morning, which will serve as a practical and assessment for some of the volunteers. I hope they manage to meet the standards.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/hai_ren/9042138486/" title="IMG_8413 by Hai_Ren, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2811/9042138486_caac2ab6c6.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="IMG_8413"></a><br />
<br />
At the water's edge, we spotted several herons wading around in search of food.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_SrMsVSyuAM7v7D2UetIPMq56UNA677FQfn2HdZNObxkdt_1F3btm6zgZOALU0mpGKZzlP3uijUyiTII9Li0_qTinyjV8CxBjqy-hG6vd_ogF29LrN35CBHMOZrDNRGvrF1VoBsTXFP-R/s1600/6+herons%5B1%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_SrMsVSyuAM7v7D2UetIPMq56UNA677FQfn2HdZNObxkdt_1F3btm6zgZOALU0mpGKZzlP3uijUyiTII9Li0_qTinyjV8CxBjqy-hG6vd_ogF29LrN35CBHMOZrDNRGvrF1VoBsTXFP-R/s500/6+herons%5B1%5D.jpg" /></a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEs7euoxgZwZc6QJ-2ax4f4ijPCQyeclSHLcNnqzGUGA2XvrTma-PUYwl2hGbl3fVt3-twCghejRe1Mh9hWBZk5DsBjuF2O4mVhXjvh4TK8Jki0czsNzqck56R7-2n7ykbqi-k0WqetLDm/s1600/6b+IMG_4105%5B1%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEs7euoxgZwZc6QJ-2ax4f4ijPCQyeclSHLcNnqzGUGA2XvrTma-PUYwl2hGbl3fVt3-twCghejRe1Mh9hWBZk5DsBjuF2O4mVhXjvh4TK8Jki0czsNzqck56R7-2n7ykbqi-k0WqetLDm/s500/6b+IMG_4105%5B1%5D.jpg" /></a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtwQSWMiRYKO2VM2_TP6IuUm9NRhDbRZnFT_9SzfQF0JVb4AossIPwyxUu1vNTxqk2cC6QnRlveTxnJKdrrf3MetORSYk-qv510QAAtW21E0wEMJm5N3Jh94VbwuHAzO7XTv_z7uN0ok05/s1600/7b+Grey+Heron%5B1%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtwQSWMiRYKO2VM2_TP6IuUm9NRhDbRZnFT_9SzfQF0JVb4AossIPwyxUu1vNTxqk2cC6QnRlveTxnJKdrrf3MetORSYk-qv510QAAtW21E0wEMJm5N3Jh94VbwuHAzO7XTv_z7uN0ok05/s500/7b+Grey+Heron%5B1%5D.jpg" /></a><br />
(Photos by Ley Kun)<br />
<br />
It was fascinating to see how the different heron species had partitioned the area according to size. The tallest of them all, the lone <a href="http://rmbr.nus.edu.sg/dna/organisms/details/17">great-billed heron</a> (<i>Ardea sumatrana</i>), was standing slightly further offshore compared to the smaller <a href="http://rmbr.nus.edu.sg/dna/organisms/details/20">grey herons</a> (<i>Ardea cinerea</i>). And the comparatively tiny <a href="http://rmbr.nus.edu.sg/dna/organisms/details/24">striated herons</a> (<i>Butorides striatus</i>) were staying away from the surf zone and waiting on the fringes of the seagrass meadow. Throughout this whole time, we heard the staccato chatter of the <a href="http://singaporebirds.net/npassers_01/collared_kingfisher.html">collared kingfishers</a> (<i>Todiramphus chloris</i>).<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/hai_ren/9042138398/" title="IMG_8415 by Hai_Ren, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7362/9042138398_4bf841f0a3.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="IMG_8415"></a><br />
As we headed towards the mudflats and the start of the Mangrove Boardwalk, we stopped to watch the amusing antics of the fiddler crabs and mudskippers.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKSy3DpjbKjWh3GhMUyB1JqmFwPZTf9XqgXPhYtBjxIJKpNY2oMvcJaETgg0ja5NOgi3aL8E8e6JDBeX2Y9b26TGSAbfCn-dkI7Y1GCwlgI3qagB8RcTj_jT_XVP9JkyC3kcJ-__e5Toxh/s1600/16+Sea+hibiscus+flower%5B1%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKSy3DpjbKjWh3GhMUyB1JqmFwPZTf9XqgXPhYtBjxIJKpNY2oMvcJaETgg0ja5NOgi3aL8E8e6JDBeX2Y9b26TGSAbfCn-dkI7Y1GCwlgI3qagB8RcTj_jT_XVP9JkyC3kcJ-__e5Toxh/s500/16+Sea+hibiscus+flower%5B1%5D.jpg" /></a><br />
Some of the <a href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/plants/coastal/hibiscus/tiliaceus.htm">sea hibiscus</a> (<i>Talipariti tiliaceum</i>) growing along the boardwalk were blooming;<br />
(Photo by Ley Kun)<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/hai_ren/9039914573/" title="IMG_8424 by Hai_Ren, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2857/9039914573_332581d633.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="IMG_8424"></a><br />
We bumped into Yook Sau and Alan from Ubin NParks, who were conducting a service learning programme for a large group of primary school students. They'd just completed a coastal cleanup session, and had also been involved in removing invasive plants from the mangroves. It's always heartening to see the younger generations being involved in outdoor activities, and playing an active role in nature conservation.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidiHjX2ajGEh78l7R85jHLHOQh5OKtZW-9t35d3XokcDEWk-VevejGpkJSRwiE9t2kGxVi6_AH7ZjXbPdoAOoo8yhSQ_NLsMS3SHzNPzcfVaPpe2x_Oax0yGMHSXlI7e_Jr0wCosSjC3wQ/s1600/18+Rivervale+and+Springdale+Service+Learning+2%5B1%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidiHjX2ajGEh78l7R85jHLHOQh5OKtZW-9t35d3XokcDEWk-VevejGpkJSRwiE9t2kGxVi6_AH7ZjXbPdoAOoo8yhSQ_NLsMS3SHzNPzcfVaPpe2x_Oax0yGMHSXlI7e_Jr0wCosSjC3wQ/s500/18+Rivervale+and+Springdale+Service+Learning+2%5B1%5D.jpg" /></a><br />
(Photo by Ley Kun)<br />
<br />
We were distracted for a while when we noticed that an <i><a href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/plants/mangrove/avicennia/officinalis.htm">api-api ludat</a></i> (<i>Avicennia officinalis</i>) growing next to the boardwalk had leaves encrusted with white crystals. This is actually salt that the tree had absorbed together with the water, but then managed to expel through its leaves. If you're feeling adventurous, you can always prove that it is salt by wiping a leaf with a fingertip, and then licking your finger. <br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/hai_ren/9039913833/" title="IMG_8432 by Hai_Ren, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3724/9039913833_a3d7f811e2.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="IMG_8432"></a><br />
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Further down, we saw the <a href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/crustacea/crab/ocypodoidea/vocans.htm">orange fiddler crabs</a> (<i>Uca vocans</i>) that swarm this stretch of shore when the tide is out. With crabs frantically feeding, males waving their outsized claws at each other and at females, and occasional skirmishes in which males sized each other up, compared claw sizes, and chased intruders, it's so easy to forget all about the time while you're watching the little dramas that unfold beneath our feet.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDXKldEBJoG-U5-dHu53S9sTJTgtREbcOyYe7X3f4eKIS80tAdBZ_1lD7moYhIjmkY1dJIZ4x8netNZoN_jRh-0Acw6J4-_ltdx4cuF2TjuVPohNLOzdvMFOKjI1dcSBBj2JxKX-8C9ghA/s1600/19+fiddler+crabs%5B1%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDXKldEBJoG-U5-dHu53S9sTJTgtREbcOyYe7X3f4eKIS80tAdBZ_1lD7moYhIjmkY1dJIZ4x8netNZoN_jRh-0Acw6J4-_ltdx4cuF2TjuVPohNLOzdvMFOKjI1dcSBBj2JxKX-8C9ghA/s500/19+fiddler+crabs%5B1%5D.jpg" /></a><br />
(Photo by Ley Kun)<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji7DIRKWgSThNOAtSiJPl07aK8Xs_jj5gFrgCK-MX0Pn4aIFqeiJGhCFigniAsAhkNudccvM8cEU0SC9419bLykjRyNxM9HLQ84eGSQX16RfyOBgWkpH4z23ntOLVtFUUQ2LQrHdgr_kem/s1600/14+Blue-spotted+mudskippers%5B1%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji7DIRKWgSThNOAtSiJPl07aK8Xs_jj5gFrgCK-MX0Pn4aIFqeiJGhCFigniAsAhkNudccvM8cEU0SC9419bLykjRyNxM9HLQ84eGSQX16RfyOBgWkpH4z23ntOLVtFUUQ2LQrHdgr_kem/s500/14+Blue-spotted+mudskippers%5B1%5D.jpg" /></a><br />
We saw quite a few large <a href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/vertebrates/fish/gobiidae/boddarti.htm">blue-spotted mudskippers</a> (<i>Boleophthalmus boddarti</i>), which were flashing their dorsal fins at one another;<br />
(Photo by Ley Kun)<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/hai_ren/9042136802/" title="IMG_8434 by Hai_Ren, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2851/9042136802_49c34bd0d1.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="IMG_8434"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/hai_ren/9042136298/" title="IMG_8436 by Hai_Ren, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7400/9042136298_69efc049de.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="IMG_8436"></a><br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv4hTWFVHrTcTJg3wfypF_AdQ_U8E0_lok4kgYYDA3Z9rS7r_BYICyLeHJezyJQKdu6X3VlvOXcAtFVdM8iVdXdYZgFWsOWDylZRfryQf7hAqYbb-sU4tjGVDfolDvAnJwEGtG37BzxAXH/s1600/21+fiddler+crab+in+mangroves%5B1%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv4hTWFVHrTcTJg3wfypF_AdQ_U8E0_lok4kgYYDA3Z9rS7r_BYICyLeHJezyJQKdu6X3VlvOXcAtFVdM8iVdXdYZgFWsOWDylZRfryQf7hAqYbb-sU4tjGVDfolDvAnJwEGtG37BzxAXH/s500/21+fiddler+crab+in+mangroves%5B1%5D.jpg" /></a><br />
In the mangroves, we saw yet <a href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/crustacea/crab/ocypodoidea/stoutpincer.htm">another species of fiddler crab</a>. We haven't managed to identify this one yet;<br />
(Photo by Ley Kun)<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL2u2HeSWpw78aJQ-m-dXSu7Nk44ZxUxaV31X9TGVY22vhjLkfB0738_9wdDvGWCJHDE7O9X7ykDqzlxYccP3Fe1DZu8uTYCh2v6_RYvgE_60zava_8g-So3Z5uRSImnhkIFct0oFQRI-f/s1600/22+tree-climbing+crab%5B1%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL2u2HeSWpw78aJQ-m-dXSu7Nk44ZxUxaV31X9TGVY22vhjLkfB0738_9wdDvGWCJHDE7O9X7ykDqzlxYccP3Fe1DZu8uTYCh2v6_RYvgE_60zava_8g-So3Z5uRSImnhkIFct0oFQRI-f/s500/22+tree-climbing+crab%5B1%5D.jpg" /></a><br />
We also saw a number of <a href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/crustacea/crab/sesarmidae/episesarma.htm">tree-climbing crabs</a> (<i>Episesarma</i> spp.) hiding amongst the mud lobster mounds. Some of our older visitors actually recalled that these crabs were traditionally harvested, preserved in black sauce and vinegar, and then eaten with Teochew porridge;<br />
(Photo by Ley Kun)<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/hai_ren/9042135288/" title="IMG_8442 by Hai_Ren, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2862/9042135288_accd72f481.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="IMG_8442"></a><br />
One of the <a href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/plants/mangrove/nypa/nypa.htm">nipah palms</a> (<i>Nipa fruticans<i></i></i>) was flowering, and was attracting large numbers of tiny bees (too small and too quick to be photographed).<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/hai_ren/9042135116/" title="IMG_8449 by Hai_Ren, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3670/9042135116_01362218b1.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="IMG_8449"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/hai_ren/9042135964/" title="IMG_8440 by Hai_Ren, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2833/9042135964_e243385712.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="IMG_8440"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/hai_ren/9039911881/" title="IMG_8451 by Hai_Ren, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7434/9039911881_df95e40a18.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="IMG_8451"></a><br />
It was a little hazy when we were out on the Coastal Boardwalk, but by the time we ascended the Jejawi Tower, the situation had deteriorated considerably. Oh dear. More about this sudden return of the haze <a href="http://lazy-lizard-tales.blogspot.sg/2013/06/hazy-friday.html">in another post</a>.<br />
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The <i><a href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/plants/others/ficus/microcarpa.htm">jejawi</a></i> (<i>Ficus microcarpa</i>) (that gives the tower its name) and some of the surrounding trees were playing host to a small group of <a href="http://rmbr.nus.edu.sg/dna/organisms/details/884">purple-throated sunbirds</a> (<i>Leptocoma sperata</i>). Made up of both males and females, I wasn't able to count exactly how many sunbirds were there, but they were tweeting away and flitting amongst the leaves in that typical sunbird manner.<br />
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None of us managed to take a photo of the sunbirds, but here are some photos by others to illustrate just how brightly coloured and attractive the male is. <br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/38396164@N00/4429107264/" title="Purple-throated Sunbird by hiker1974, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4051/4429107264_51742d08bd.jpg" width="500" height="357" alt="Purple-throated Sunbird"></a><br />
(Photo by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/38396164@N00/">hiker1974</a>)<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/lonesomecrow/8390097720/" title="Purple-throated Sunbird by kampang, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8223/8390097720_d94cb64dc8.jpg" width="500" height="339" alt="Purple-throated Sunbird"></a><br />
(Photo by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/lonesomecrow/">kampang</a>)<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC0PMes80Ld_ws9KkgzDXAJ049z0GenxSIFTeyUW1YFRygDpmpDTHzagd2AwwThXzsRCna5HBMxiIcfLVad6wCupmL1a2-TrY3P9Rx6jnwFTJZdgSJsSnI85O3x0IYqiARTwsfs_16qkdC/s1600/23+weaver+ant+nest%5B1%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC0PMes80Ld_ws9KkgzDXAJ049z0GenxSIFTeyUW1YFRygDpmpDTHzagd2AwwThXzsRCna5HBMxiIcfLVad6wCupmL1a2-TrY3P9Rx6jnwFTJZdgSJsSnI85O3x0IYqiARTwsfs_16qkdC/s500/23+weaver+ant+nest%5B1%5D.jpg" /></a><br />
On the way down, Ley Kun pointed out this <a href="http://www.naturia.per.sg/buloh/inverts/weaver_ants.htm">weaver ant</a> (<i>Oecophylla smaragdina</i>) nest;<br />
(Photo by Ley Kun)<br />
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I always like to compare weaver ant nests to <i>bak chang</i> or rice dumplings. Fitting for today's session, as just two days ago, many Singaporeans had commemorated the Dragon Boat Festival with the practice of <a href="http://www.dongyuan.com.sg/info.asp?id=180">consuming rice dumplings</a>. <br />
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As we headed back towards the Information Kiosk, a male <a href="http://rmbr.nus.edu.sg/dna/organisms/details/498">Oriental magpie-robin</a> (<i>Copsychus saularis</i>) flew across the path.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/hai_ren/9039911375/" title="IMG_8457 by Hai_Ren, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2809/9039911375_e12e1cc14f.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="IMG_8457"></a><br />
We headed back to the van and got ready to leave Chek Jawa, but not before encountering a troop of <a href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/vertebrates/mammals/fascicularis.htm">long-tailed macaques</a> (<i>Macaca fascicularis</i>). Unlike elsewhere, the monkeys on Pulau Ubin are still quite wary of people, but that doesn't give us any reason to start feeding them, whether deliberately or by leaving food unattended. This juvenile was perched in some branches just above us, although most of the rest of the troop was beginning to retreat deeper into the forest.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/hai_ren/9042133998/" title="IMG_8460 by Hai_Ren, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7309/9042133998_615768a73a.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="IMG_8460"></a><br />
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Just before we all piled into the van and departed, we saw the family of wild boar again, seeking refuge in the shade. This is a spot where I've seen the sows suckle their young, sometimes in full view of visitors.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/hai_ren/9039910965/" title="IMG_8462 by Hai_Ren, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3743/9039910965_cb1baea15e.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="IMG_8462"></a><br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/hai_ren/9042133406/" title="IMG_8466 by Hai_Ren, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3758/9042133406_c6eb7529a3.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="IMG_8466"></a><br />
I'm amused that the wild boar conveniently chose to rest right where NParks has placed signs informing people about not feeding the wild boar, and how to behave appropriately in their presence.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/hai_ren/9039910181/" title="IMG_8468 by Hai_Ren, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7388/9039910181_385755be0f.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="IMG_8468"></a><br />
You can't really see it very clearly in this photo (thanks to that one piglet blocking the view), but one of the piglets was lying down and getting a full-body massage from Mom.<br />
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It was a fun trip, and despite the weather, we managed to encounter a lot of interesting wildlife, and shared lots of stories about Chek Jawa and its many inhabitants. I may have used these paths and boardwalks countless times over the last 5 years or so, but I'll never tire of showing people the marvels of this little gem.<br />
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Ria has written about the morning at <a href="http://wildshores.blogspot.sg/2013/06/sharing-chek-jawa-with-special-guests.html">Wild Shores of Singapore</a>, while Ley Kun shares her experience over at <a href="http://nakedhermitcrabs.blogspot.sg/2013/06/day-out-at-chek-jawa-with-special-guests.html">Adventures with the Naked Hermit Crabs</a>.<br />
<br />
(Cross-posted to <a href="http://blog.omy.sg/sba-plus/2013/06/15/chek-jawa-with-special-guests/">SBA Plus</a>. Do support me in the <a href="http://sgblogawards.omy.sg/2013/category/?cat=ecochallenge&seq=9">Singapore Blog Awards</a>!)Ivanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11637204084596462318noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7625711962780385617.post-36704006994021704772013-06-14T20:00:00.000+08:002013-06-18T05:37:09.372+08:00Hazy Friday<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/hai_ren/9039911881/" title="IMG_8451 by Hai_Ren, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7434/9039911881_df95e40a18.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="IMG_8451"></a><br />
<br />
The haze is back! Oh dear. This was the view that greeted us this morning when we'd reached the top of the Jejawi Tower <a href="http://lazy-lizard-tales.blogspot.sg/2013/06/chek-jawa-with-special-guests.html">at Chek Jawa</a>. Much of Pulau Tekong is obscured by the thick haze, and we can't even see the hills of Johor beyond.<br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/hai_ren/5213805091/" title="P1030730 by Hai_Ren, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4128/5213805091_18966242c8.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="P1030730"></a><br />
This photo, taken in 2010, shows what we usually get to enjoy on most days. <br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/hai_ren/9042131844/" title="IMG_8471 by Hai_Ren, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2831/9042131844_436f84d979.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="IMG_8471"></a><br />
At the end of the walk, while resting at the Information Kiosk, we could detect a faint burning smell. The haze was still visible over Changi as we headed back to mainland Singapore.<br />
<br />
It turned out that <a href="http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/psi-reading-climbs-in-s/710384.html">the whole of Singapore was affected</a>, as people all over the island shared images of <a href="http://www.straitstimes.com/breaking-news/singapore/story/the-haze-back-three-hour-psi-reading-higher-end-moderate-range-2013061">the view from their homes and offices</a>. The <a href="https://twitter.com/NEAsg/status/345497438884347904">3-hour PSI at 7 pm</a> was 82, which is still within the Moderate range. Let's just hope that it clears up over the weekend.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGVormDcXGoy02TKppQ8fsNXtrZVHXQtJ95j1QAE_5LCGsdgFUP5Q_cpt6xiEM79pszk8xA5Gle8jxacAzzxtrF5HushvCByA_x2j-WF0-qbb8CvrgUvof4yDpC3X7k-ZOzh5so7kMEORT/s1600/HazeMap1406.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGVormDcXGoy02TKppQ8fsNXtrZVHXQtJ95j1QAE_5LCGsdgFUP5Q_cpt6xiEM79pszk8xA5Gle8jxacAzzxtrF5HushvCByA_x2j-WF0-qbb8CvrgUvof4yDpC3X7k-ZOzh5so7kMEORT/s500/HazeMap1406.jpg" /></a><br />
This is the Haze Map for today, 14th June (Click to enlarge). You can see the hotspots in Sumatra, and the winds that are blowing the smoke from these fires across to Singapore and southern Peninsular Malaysia;<br />
(Map by <a href="http://www.weather.gov.sg/wip/web/ASMC/home">Meteorological Service Singapore</a>)<br />
<br />
Do also note that the full extent of the hotspots and spread of haze could not be accurately observed by the satellites used to detect them, due to cloud cover. So in reality, things could actually be worse.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaAC7FAqpsWqapqzvwsbYg6qywsjb082Ye-nMCoH3l5A3LdLtVqwx0VlzFEyc8unmY_TzgHstu4e6AU8_ZRdyg09wumncFXOu8OYe2mvHtmt_-HHoMv3DTsfoeH2ljTXsw1HzATfv96V1N/s1600/NOAA-18-1406.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaAC7FAqpsWqapqzvwsbYg6qywsjb082Ye-nMCoH3l5A3LdLtVqwx0VlzFEyc8unmY_TzgHstu4e6AU8_ZRdyg09wumncFXOu8OYe2mvHtmt_-HHoMv3DTsfoeH2ljTXsw1HzATfv96V1N/s500/NOAA-18-1406.jpg" /></a><br />
Here's a closer look at the hotspots in Sumatra, as detected by the NOAA-18 weather satellite run by the U.S. <a href="http://www.noaa.gov/">National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration</a> (NOAA);<br />
(Image by <a href="http://www.weather.gov.sg/wip/c/portal/layout?p_l_id=PUB.1003.540">Meteorological Service Singapore</a>)<br />
<br />
And this is what a hotspot possibly looks like from the air:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ipsnews/4184066075/" title="Sumatra burning forest courtesy of Kim Worm Sorensen] by IPS Inter Press Service, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2577/4184066075_0276daff78.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Sumatra burning forest courtesy of Kim Worm Sorensen]"></a><br />
Burning forest on Sumatra;<br />
(Photo by Kim Worm Sorensen, from <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ipsnews/">Inter Press Service News Agency</a>)<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/greenpeaceinternational/5802908091/" title="Smoke from man made forest fires in the RAPP concession in Giam Siak Kecil area to clear land for palm oil plantations by Greenpeace International, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3454/5802908091_0ed8dd9032.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="Smoke from man made forest fires in the RAPP concession in Giam Siak Kecil area to clear land for palm oil plantations"></a><br />
Smoke from man-made forest fires in the Giam Siak Kecil-Bukit Batu area;<br />
(Photo by John Novis, from <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/greenpeaceinternational/">Greenpeace International</a>) <br />
<br />
And if you think it's bad here in Singapore, I can't even begin to imagine what it must be like at ground zero.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/rainforestactionnetwork/7142772391/" title="Truth and Consequences: Palm Oil Plantations Push Unique Orangutan Population to Brink of Extinction by Rainforest Action Network, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7237/7142772391_625a554771.jpg" width="500" height="261" alt="Truth and Consequences: Palm Oil Plantations Push Unique Orangutan Population to Brink of Extinction"></a><br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/rainforestactionnetwork/6996996432/" title="Truth and Consequences: Palm Oil Plantations Push Unique Orangutan Population to Brink of Extinction by Rainforest Action Network, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7040/6996996432_45bcc6c0ce.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="Truth and Consequences: Palm Oil Plantations Push Unique Orangutan Population to Brink of Extinction"></a><br />
Sumatra's Tripa forest going up in smoke;<br />
(Photos by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/rainforestactionnetwork/">Rainforest Action Network</a>)<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/greenpeaceinternational/5803463498/" title="Burnt roots stick out of wet ground in the destroyed peatland rainforest outside the village of Teluk Meranti by Greenpeace International, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2772/5803463498_53a8d30107.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="Burnt roots stick out of wet ground in the destroyed peatland rainforest outside the village of Teluk Meranti"></a><br />
Destroyed peat swamp forest outside the village of Teluk Meranti, Kampar Peninsula;<br />
(Photo by Kajsa Sjölander, from Greenpeace International)<br />
<br />
The haze here is a very clear example of a transnational environmental problem. Pollution does not respect a country's political boundaries, and hopefully, with increased collaboration between Indonesia and the rest of the ASEAN member-states, this issue will be eventually resolved. After all, it's not just the wildlife and forests that are being affected by this, but millions, if not billions of people throughout the region whose health relies on clean air. I don't have any serious respiratory issues, but I don't think it's a good idea to head out for a run tonight.<br />
<br />
But why are the forests being burnt? And how might our consumption patterns possibly be contributing to the destruction of rainforests in neighbouring countries? That's a story for another time.<br />
<br />
I'm suddenly reminded of a song...<br />
<br />
<iframe width="500" height="375" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/zUwEIt9ez7M?rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br />
<br />
(Cross-posted to <a href="http://blog.omy.sg/sba-plus/2013/06/14/hazy-friday/">SBA Plus</a>. Do support me in the <a href="http://sgblogawards.omy.sg/2013/category/?cat=ecochallenge&seq=9">Singapore Blog Awards</a>!)Ivanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11637204084596462318noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7625711962780385617.post-91341418217164641242013-06-14T12:00:00.000+08:002013-06-18T05:37:16.228+08:00A quote worth sharing...Just a quick post, but I saw this in my Facebook news feed, and thought that this was worth sharing.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=475976795813691" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3LBNqxUclH-T910qRSASfrYfjrWDhFyY2yZ8xNdUTvdefqTV54mdjvKQliv6k-oyu-YZPg8hZqdXbrbFDSUqnrHTKsvckW3udT1O-4akFih6vui6lP87Hdm9tKfbVEdj3rg9P_GgtjHRZ/s500/379600_475976795813691_913992676_n%5B1%5D.jpg" /></a><br />
<blockquote><i>"If you really think the environment is less important than economy try holding your breath while counting your money."</i><br />
- Dr. Guy McPherson</blockquote><br />
<a name='more'></a>I tracked down the source of the quote, and it's from this blog post that he wrote back in May 2009, titled <a href="http://guymcpherson.com/2009/05/time-for-a-revolution/">Time for a Revolution</a>.<br />
<br />
The exact quote is:<br />
<br />
<blockquote><i>"If you think the economy is more important than the environment, try holding your breath while counting your money."</i></blockquote><br />
<b>About Guy McPherson:</b><br />
<br />
<a href="http://guymcpherson.com/" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQS8XHuN4E8UKm0gN72klYDtfcPuvo00zGdrS7UW5ftxvD0lUncfUqUJbmg42xUf8p_yD0jWCZhS22a93R8HdVugeH6VvPwd8Bl4MuVnIIpYs6Ftj_a97cfZHEVRz0rCejFF6Iy0fxUsgH/s400/Guy-McPherson-January-20081%5B1%5D.jpg" /></a><br />
<br />
<blockquote><i>Dr. Guy McPherson was Professor Emeritus of Natural Resources and Ecology & Evolutionary Biology at the University of Arizona, where he taught and conducted research for twenty years.<br />
<br />
His scholarly work, which has for many years focused on conservation of biological diversity, has produced 10 books and more than 100 articles. He is the author or co-author of such books as "<i>Living with Fire: Fire Ecology and Policy for the Twenty-first Century</i>," "<i>Letters to a Young Academic: Seeking Teachable Moments</i>," and "<i>Ecology and Management of North American Savannas</i>."<br />
<br />
McPherson speaks about the two primary consequences of our fossil-fuel addiction: global climate change and energy decline; and strategies he's employed to prepare for an uncertain future.<br />
<br />
He lives in an off-grid, straw-bale house where he organic gardens, raises small animals for eggs and milk, and works with members of his rural community. Guy developed a comprehensive set of durable living arrangements in response to the ongoing collapse of the industrial economy and global climate change. He shares property in a rural area developed specifically to provide abundant supplies of food and water as well as maintaining comfortable body temperature in the absence of fossil fuels.</i><br />
<br />
<a href="http://guymcpherson.com/">http://guymcpherson.com/</a><br />
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Guy-McPherson/200473870003415">https://www.facebook.com/pages/Guy-McPherson/200473870003415</a><br />
<a href="https://twitter.com/Guy_McPherson">https://twitter.com/Guy_McPherson</a></blockquote><br />
I haven't really read many of his writings, nor do I know much about him at the moment, but this one quote echoes a lot of my thoughts about the importance of conservation, and why we need to focus a lot more attention on ecological health. Many serious environmental problems are the direct result of exploitation of resources for economic growth, while many of the solutions are stymied or waylaid by those who insist that the cost to economic growth would be too great. While I believe that a balance can be struck between development and environmental protection, I do sometimes wonder if it's really possible to have constant economic growth on a planet with finite resources. Is GDP really the only benchmark to gauge whether a society is doing well?<br />
<br />
I'd like to end this quick post by sharing two articles by Paul Kingsnorth that I've read recently, <a href="http://www.orionmagazine.org/index.php/articles/article/6599/">Confessions of a Recovering Environmentalist</a>, and <a href="http://www.orionmagazine.org/index.php/articles/article/7277">Dark Ecology</a>. These aren't your typical superficial "Save the Earth" platitudes, but for reasons that I can't really articulate, the messages they bear are much deeper and even more profound, with suggestions on what we can do in the face of what appears to be an inevitable march towards continued environmental deterioration. Grim, no doubt, but truthful.<br />
<br />
Now, if you'll excuse me, <a href="http://www.orionmagazine.org/index.php/articles/article/6599/">I am going to go out walking</a>.<br />
<br />
(Cross-posted to <a href="http://blog.omy.sg/sba-plus/2013/06/14/a-quote-worth-sharing/">SBA Plus</a>. Do support me in the <a href="http://sgblogawards.omy.sg/2013/category/?cat=ecochallenge&seq=9">Singapore Blog Awards</a>!)Ivanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11637204084596462318noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7625711962780385617.post-29508231920020614642013-06-13T11:00:00.000+08:002013-06-18T05:37:23.261+08:00Thursday (20th June 2013), 7-10pm: Nature and the Big City by The Leafmonkey Workshop<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/pkpix/3443515563/" title="071_Apr09 by PKpix, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3573/3443515563_f54906ea5d.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="071_Apr09"></a><br />
The forest and the city: the view along the Southern Ridges;<br />
(Photo by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/pkpix/">PKPix</a>)<br />
<br />
<b>Nature and the Big City</b><br />
<br />
How can we have nature in Singapore city? What is the history and process of urban planning and development in Singapore? How can we manage the trade-offs between conservation and development?<br />
<br />
<b>When:</b> Thursday, 20th June 2013, 7.00pm - 10.00pm<br />
<b>Where:</b> Civil Service College, 31 North Buona Vista Road, Singapore 275983<br />
<br />
<a href="http://leafmonkeyworkshop.blogspot.sg/2013/06/nature-and-big-city.html">More info here</a><br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a><b>What is this workshop about?</b><br />
<br />
This workshop introduces the history and process of planning and urban development in Singapore. Find out how to decipher the future plans for Singapore, the difference between nature reserves and other nature areas and how we can manage the trade offs between conservation and development. Our panel of speakers will also share ideas of how we can have nature in our big city and what each of us can do. <br />
<br />
<b>Who should attend?</b><br />
<br />
Anyone interested in learning, sharing and doing more for nature! This workshop is useful for all who are interested to learn more as well as seasoned members of the community who would like to exchange ideas on how we can creatively have nature in our big city.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/wildsingapore/7181889789/" title="City reefs: Kusu Island's living reefs with city skyline by wildsingapore, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7216/7181889789_b06c664928.jpg" width="500" height="368" alt="City reefs: Kusu Island's living reefs with city skyline"></a><br />
City reefs: Kusu Island's living reefs with city skyline;<br />
(Photo by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/wildsingapore/">Ria</a>)<br />
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<b>SPEAKERS</b><br />
<br />
The workshop will see a panel of speakers from diverse fields to share ideas with participants and more importantly, to spur creative exchanges between participants. This workshop will be an active exchange between you and other participants, to brainstorm practical ideas and possible solutions.<br />
<br />
<b><a href="http://www.laicheekien.com/">Dr Lai Chee Kien</a></b><br />
<br />
Dr Lai Chee Kien is Assistant Professor at the Department of Architecture, National University of Singapore. He is a registered architect, and graduated from the National University of Singapore with a M Arch. by research (1996), and a PhD in HIstory of Architecture & Urban Design from the University of California, Berkeley (2005). He researches on histories of art, architecture, urbanism and landscapes in Southeast Asia. His books include "<i>A Brief History of Malayan Art</i>"(1999), "<i>Building Merdeka</i>" (2007) and "<i>Cords to Histories</i>" (2013).<br />
<br />
<b>Khew Sin Khoon, <a href="http://www.butterflycircle.com/">ButterflyCircle</a></b><br />
Khew is an architect in private practice, and has been involved in a number of ecological and gardens projects with the National Parks Board, amongst these are the Masterplan of Labrador Park, Kent Ridge Park & Canopy Walk, Ginger Garden, Evolution Garden, Children's Garden, Symphony Lake at the Singapore Botanic Gardens, Redevelopment of Chek Jawa, Sg Buloh Wetland Reserve Redevelopment and more recently, Gardens by the Bay.<br />
<br />
He also runs the <a href="http://www.butterflycircle.com/">ButterflyCircle website</a> and has been a volunteer in biodiversity surveys for NParks, as well as, being involved in the creation of butterfly-friendly gardens at Alexandra Hospital, Pulau Ubin Butterfly Hill, Butterfly Garden at Hort Park and Tampines-Changkat Butterfly Garden. He is also an Hon Research Associate at the Raffles Museum of Biodiversity Research, NUS.<br />
<br />
<b>PLEASE REGISTER AT</b><br />
<a href="http://tinyurl.com/leafmonkey2013">http://tinyurl.com/leafmonkey2013</a><br />
<br />
Registration is strongly advised as it allows us to better customize the workshop to suit YOUR needs! If you have difficulty submitting your registration on this website, please email us at leafmonkey[@]gmail[.]com.<br />
<br />
<b>CLOSING DATE</b><br />
Please register by 17 June 2013.<br />
<br />
<b>PROGRAM</b><br />
7.00pm - Registration, Networking, Bring your own Dinner!<br />
7.30pm - Short sharing by speakers<br />
8.30pm - Workshop discussion and group presentations.<br />
9.30pm - End of workshop<br />
<br />
<b>COST OF WORKSHOP</b><br />
Our workshops are <b>free</b>! Workshops are run by volunteers for volunteers. Any contribution is most welcome because your support helps us keep the workshops alive! <a href="http://leafmonkeyworkshop.blogspot.com/2008/10/workshops-faq.html">Find out more</a>.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.mnd.gov.sg/landuseplan/e-book/index.html"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8215/8449001899_a11323b8b3.jpg" width="500" height="318" alt="Land Use Beyond 2030 Plan for Singapore"></a><br />
Map of Singapore from the <a href="http://www.mnd.gov.sg/landuseplan/">Land Use Plan</a>, showing possible land use allocation beyond 2030;<br />
(Image from <a href="http://www.mnd.gov.sg/landuseplan/">Ministry of National Development</a>)<br />
<br />
<b>About The Leaf Monkey Workshop:</b><br />
<br />
<a href="http://leafmonkeyworkshop.blogspot.sg/" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3oBh7NcEWqr7O6eflqnv5TTTlJhbV_Vm2VBJnsU__xa0HNAHpNFrlFBlW3qulG2Orl_UVym5M8xCn7vkoCo6YAL70F8LWJa2r9Q32rHBZkrHV1jPW9XeXEMIAnF3Pi3jpPJEDoPF2tM3z/s500/workshopheaderbanner1yranniv.jpg" /></a><br />
<br />
<blockquote><i>The Leafmonkey Workshop is an intellectual garage that organises workshops and provides a platform for networking, learning, sharing and doing for nature groups, nature volunteers and nature lovers, and is the latest initiative by the Leafmonkey and her many collaborators. Much emphasis is given in each of the workshops on methods, content and techniques in engaging the public and our community.<br />
<br />
Workshops are conducted by various invited speakers who are either academic experts or deeply experienced naturalists in the field. Participation is open to all interested groups and individuals. Customized workshops for organisations and groups can also be arranged.</i><br />
<br />
<a href="http://leafmonkeyworkshop.blogspot.sg/">http://leafmonkeyworkshop.blogspot.sg/</a></blockquote><br />
After a hiatus, my friend November is back with another series of workshops for people interested in making a difference for nature in Singapore. If you're interested in this month's topic, do sign up and participate!<br />
<br />
(Cross-posted to <a href="http://blog.omy.sg/sba-plus/2013/06/13/thursday-20th-june-2013-7-10pm-nature-and-the-big-city-by-the-leafmonkey-workshop/">SBA Plus</a>. Do support me in the <a href="http://sgblogawards.omy.sg/2013/category/?cat=ecochallenge&seq=9">Singapore Blog Awards</a>!)Ivanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11637204084596462318noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7625711962780385617.post-66200854601518605742013-06-12T22:42:00.000+08:002013-06-18T05:37:30.238+08:00Singapore's Underwater Meadows: a talk by Dr. Len McKenzie<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikV4fHbDJn3wNaOURhQkD8v9WY4iZn4kWcCRgI6s2mnRdOUFWjer-c3Q78CVF-Hc1Pa-4EhcPNymsMDoBzknchd2ese9g7omqwmvD7IBslXTYu9fiv8GeJh7ojixRutJ82B8YphTdl5Uk2/s1600/IMG_8324.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikV4fHbDJn3wNaOURhQkD8v9WY4iZn4kWcCRgI6s2mnRdOUFWjer-c3Q78CVF-Hc1Pa-4EhcPNymsMDoBzknchd2ese9g7omqwmvD7IBslXTYu9fiv8GeJh7ojixRutJ82B8YphTdl5Uk2/s500/IMG_8324.jpg" /></a><br />
<br />
Earlier this evening, I attended a talk by Dr. Len McKenzie of <a href="http://seagrasswatch.org/home.html">Seagrass-Watch</a>. As mentioned in <a href="http://lazy-lizard-tales.blogspot.sg/2013/06/seagrasses-of-singapore-part-3.html">my earlier post about seagrasses</a>, Dr. Len has had many years of experience working on this threatened marine ecosystem, and I learnt a lot from him.<br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZenMAm1ElZ1-nsVlR_Z-eJHNrHse6ZzRqULJ_n0nI4LV6xgZ0sxb5XCOPcUsDsKgNg6kHVidE2Rr8YM2ZQ_5cdj91VLJ7Uuo43U2qlAzo2DB6t20xdnSLgG7ykU9LVishP9rAgtLTjr1r/s1600/IMG_8342.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZenMAm1ElZ1-nsVlR_Z-eJHNrHse6ZzRqULJ_n0nI4LV6xgZ0sxb5XCOPcUsDsKgNg6kHVidE2Rr8YM2ZQ_5cdj91VLJ7Uuo43U2qlAzo2DB6t20xdnSLgG7ykU9LVishP9rAgtLTjr1r/s500/IMG_8342.jpg" /></a><br />
<br />
Here's a Storify that I compiled from live-tweets by Ria (<a href="https://twitter.com/wildsingapore">@wildsingapore</a>) and Gladys (<a href="https://twitter.com/cubismwonder">@cubismwonder</a>).<br />
<br />
<script src="//storify.com/VaranusSalvator/singapore-s-underwater-meadows.js" type="text/javascript" language="javascript"></script><noscript>[<a href="//storify.com/VaranusSalvator/singapore-s-underwater-meadows" target="_blank">View the story "Singapore's Underwater Meadows" on Storify</a>]</noscript><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhASA66zme8RvB-yqe0MTCm2S921gq2KyIWbX5SuOUwphdIjaEDDrXqyUlssBFaEIhbAmBYFak7quSljIvHS-jO4Jz1jmaC4d3J9XjEMNg_6RWt8upcR8a0FC7o0feEm2jKhDTrchqLk9-5/s1600/IMG_8348.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhASA66zme8RvB-yqe0MTCm2S921gq2KyIWbX5SuOUwphdIjaEDDrXqyUlssBFaEIhbAmBYFak7quSljIvHS-jO4Jz1jmaC4d3J9XjEMNg_6RWt8upcR8a0FC7o0feEm2jKhDTrchqLk9-5/s500/IMG_8348.jpg" /></a><br />
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Andy has also recorded the talk and uploaded it online for the sake of those who missed it.<br />
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<iframe src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/68264347?byline=0&portrait=0" width="500" height="375" frameborder="0" webkitAllowFullScreen mozallowfullscreen allowFullScreen></iframe><br />
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Len will be conducting a second round of training for <a href="http://teamseagrass.blogspot.sg/">TeamSeagrass</a> volunteers this weekend, which will include a monitoring session on Chek Jawa. Follow the <a href="http://teamseagrass.blogspot.sg/">TeamSeagrass blog</a> for updates!<br />
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(Cross-posted to <a href="http://blog.omy.sg/sba-plus/2013/06/12/singapores-underwater-meadows-a-talk-by-dr-len-mckenzie/">SBA Plus</a>. Do support me in the <a href="http://sgblogawards.omy.sg/2013/category/?cat=ecochallenge&seq=9">Singapore Blog Awards</a>!)Ivanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11637204084596462318noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7625711962780385617.post-36995289724326662892013-06-12T11:00:00.000+08:002013-06-18T05:38:10.423+08:00Friday (14th June 2013), 7-9pm: "Do the Math" Movie Screening<a href="http://act.350.org/signup/math-movie/" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZUQ_Lb8OPi2gXSIfqswEBBLVUUn8JwzVt7uQbWldkFEJyWs6STd1D364sxdA-DSdfFKuj6QzWQDmh7qUZhoGX2MZiGeq67mX1aZKrhng9fFujQmRP9k6BbTn9EfQkHWE16nJK8NOVpdB5/s500/9365_10151462029578176_1623799595_n%5B1%5D.jpg" /></a><br />
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Join <a href="https://www.facebook.com/350sg">350 Singapore</a> and <a href="http://www.ecosystem.sg/">EcosystemSG</a> for this <a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/375702142541356/">free movie screening</a> about the rising movement to change the terrifying maths of the climate crisis and challenge the fossil fuel industry.<br />
<br />
<b>When:</b> Friday, 14th June 2013, 19:00-21:00<br />
<b>Where:</b> EcosystemSG, No. 3 Jalan Kledek, Singapore 199259 (near Bugis MRT Station)<br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a>19:00 Event starts <br />
19:10 Short Introduction to the film <br />
19:15 Movie starts <br />
20:00 Short discussion of movie <br />
20:30 Short sharing by 350.org's Global Power Shift Phase 1 participants from Singapore and introducing the newly formed 350 Singapore team<br />
<br />
Free admission but seats are limited, so do register early at <a href="http://act.350.org/event/do_the_math_movie_attend/5748">http://act.350.org/event/do_the_math_movie_attend/5748</a>.<br />
<br />
<b>About <i>Do the Math</i>:</b><br />
<br />
<a href="http://math.350.org/"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_4mOyeMFg8JjmvKsbx2vomauMZOXQawXFw4o9LV34WfLqUw_ClJGzeGmHc7D34XN5vOfyWksmxU9JmSG5RO-szu3loQW-nozbVSstgNqHulb-OKvnh444xGNCoKLldSmZcNduUxyA-z9L/s320/dtm-logo%5B1%5D.jpg" /></a><br />
<br />
<iframe width="500" height="281" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/uLr_lfyRfqY" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br />
<br />
<blockquote><i>The Do The Math documentary is a 42-minute film about the rising movement in the United States to change the terrifying maths of the climate crisis and challenge the fossil fuel industry. While it is set in the United States, the maths the film outlines apply globally -- making it important for all of us to watch. It is in English with the option of subtitles in French, German, Portuguese or Spanish.</i><br />
<br />
<a href="http://math.350.org/">http://math.350.org/</a></blockquote><br />
<b>About 350 Singapore:</b><br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/350sg" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKNiZigv34XnS5UMaURYRl1UO1WTUgHiz0PgbisVCtWQEZULi0ihDNb47bJZ0Pp0TTH9WpJWDlSzrJd7A3jVnQF2FUNR_Ricalh_oI8VXE3R3sRUVmie5kFzIOUdBqtB7IQgpgbyvcbKtN/s320/31166_123955020953015_2795520_n%5B1%5D.jpg" /></a><br />
<br />
<blockquote><i>350 Singapore was founded by <a href="http://www.youngntuc.org.sg/">Young NTUC</a> in March 2010. It is the Singapore chapter to the global <a href="http://350.org/">350.org</a> movement. <br />
<br />
350 is widely believed by many scientists to be the safe upper limit of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Measured in parts per million, the measurement today reads 390ppm. Which is why the earth is heating up it seems.<br />
<br />
To raise awareness on 350.org, 350 Singapore aims to encourage Singaporeans to find out how they can contribute through our programmes.</i><br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/350sg">http://www.facebook.com/350sg</a><br />
<a href="http://www.twitter.com/350singapore">http://www.twitter.com/350singapore</a></blockquote><br />
<b>About 350.org:</b><br />
<br />
<a href="http://350.org/" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV7tIONByrsYYjqirltEmPDyfEqSL7tXYnLkhAxUVhuyrlemujztupKhYRhXCVTFZwksSIGyroPArQKFe1pD4_GYKjXw8Oaxq9RJmWqYB5oYr4B9bF3BSIBGvQjy3oEzhKQykjQWngNohY/s320/350.org.jpg" /></a><br />
<br />
<blockquote><i>350.org is building a global grassroots movement to solve the climate crisis. Our online campaigns, grassroots organizing, and mass public actions are led from the bottom up by thousands of volunteer organizers in over 188 countries.<br />
<br />
350 means climate safety. To preserve our planet, scientists tell us we must reduce the amount of CO2 in the atmosphere from its current levels of nearly 400 parts per million to below 350 ppm. But 350 is more than a number—it's a symbol of where we need to head as a planet.</blockquote><br />
<iframe width="500" height="281" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/s5kg1oOq9tY" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br />
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<blockquote>350.org works hard to organize in a new way—everywhere at once, using online tools to facilitate strategic offline action. We want to be a laboratory for the best ways to strengthen the climate movement and catalyze transformation around the world. We believe that if a global grassroots movement holds our leaders accountable to realities of science and principles of justice, we can realize the solutions that will ensure a better future for all.</i><br />
<br />
<a href="http://350.org/">http://350.org/</a><br />
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/350.org">http://www.facebook.com/350.org</a><br />
<a href="https://twitter.com/350">http://twitter.com/350</a></blockquote><br />
<iframe width="500" height="281" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/mgaxuYhI_9E" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br />
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<b>About EcosystemSG:</b><br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXQW_7znfCkYOuS4b7QuLwK7BOscgN-l-COKL1GYvOuIcFN3O1b2YKN2ZwwD2TI6ZImKuD33YtXHWfkZFYaAI4tJtvn_gMLkI8q1E9Q0SrFL1eolz1tk0tnC2SGWch6VlaLy5X5WIABmSZ/s1600/EcosystemSG.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXQW_7znfCkYOuS4b7QuLwK7BOscgN-l-COKL1GYvOuIcFN3O1b2YKN2ZwwD2TI6ZImKuD33YtXHWfkZFYaAI4tJtvn_gMLkI8q1E9Q0SrFL1eolz1tk0tnC2SGWch6VlaLy5X5WIABmSZ/s320/EcosystemSG.jpg" /></a><br />
<br />
<blockquote><i>Ecosystem is a collaborative and coworking space for companies, start‐ups and non‐profits with environmental initiatives. Our community members enjoy these benefits:<br />
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1. Co‐working space near Bugis<br />
2. Online crowdfunding platform with an environmental focus<br />
3. Skills and services offered by the community<br />
4. Business and partnership opportunities among the community<br />
5. Networking events that promote environmental awareness</i><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.ecosystem.sg">http://www.ecosystem.sg</a><br />
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/ecosystemsg">http://www.facebook.com/ecosystemsg</a><br />
<a href="https://twitter.com/ecosystemsg">http://twitter.com/ecosystemsg</a></blockquote><br />
(Cross-posted to <a href="http://blog.omy.sg/sba-plus/2013/06/12/friday-14th-june-2013-7-9pm-do-the-math-movie-screening/">SBA Plus</a>. Do support me in the <a href="http://sgblogawards.omy.sg/2013/category/?cat=ecochallenge&seq=9">Singapore Blog Awards</a>!)Ivanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11637204084596462318noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7625711962780385617.post-42058399614134989152013-06-11T16:00:00.000+08:002014-01-23T21:53:48.705+08:00Seagrasses of Singapore (Part 3)<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/wildsingapore/463752119/" title="A4 Poster: TeamSeagrass--crazy about seagrasses! by wildsingapore, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm1.staticflickr.com/177/463752119_8adb108a32.jpg" width="500" height="354" alt="A4 Poster: TeamSeagrass--crazy about seagrasses!"></a><br />
(Click to enlarge)<br />
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In <a href="http://lazy-lizard-tales.blogspot.sg/2013/06/seagrasses-of-singapore-part-2.html">my previous post on seagrasses</a>, we explored some of the reasons why seagrass meadows are important habitats, and also looked at some of the threats that seagrasses face. In this final part of the series, I'll show you some local efforts to better understand seagrasses so that we can protect them.<br />
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<a name='more'></a><h1><b>Seagrass-Watch</b></h1><br />
One of the leading global programmes to monitor and conserve seagrasses is <a href="http://seagrasswatch.org/home.html"><b>Seagrass-Watch</b></a>. A global non-destructive scientific programme to assess and monitor seagrass, it was established in Australia in 1998, but has since expanded to cover approximately 259 sites across 17 countries. As shared on its website:<br />
<blockquote><i>Seagrass-Watch aims to raise awareness on the condition and trend of nearshore seagrass ecosystems and provide an early warning of major coastal environment changes. The Seagrass-Watch program has a simple philosophy of involving those who are concerned, and involves collaboration/partnerships between community, qualified scientists and the data users (environment management agencies).<br />
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People involved in the program develop a deep sense of custodianship and understanding of their local marine environments that reaches throughout the wider community. Coastal communities are concerned about the condition and loss of seagrasses in their regions and are keen to play a primary information-gathering role and work in partnership with government agencies.<br />
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Participants of Seagrass-Watch are from a wide variety of backgrounds who all share the common interest in marine conservation. Most participants are associated with universities & research institutions, government (local & state) or non-government organisations, established local community groups and schools.<br />
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The level of involvement depends on local resources, local coordination, local support, available capital, and scientific expertise. Seagrass-Watch also integrates with existing education, government, non-government and scientific programs to raise awareness and preserve these important marine ecosystems for the benefit of all. Participants collect quantitative data on seagrasses and their associated fauna by means of simple yet scientifically rigorous monitoring techniques.<br />
<br />
The program has a strong scientific underpinning with an emphasis on consistent data collection, recording and reporting. Scientific, statistical, data management, data interpretation and logistic support underpins all monitoring efforts. Seagrass-Watch identifies areas important for seagrass species diversity and conservation and the information collected is used to assist the management of coastal environments and to prevent significant areas and species being lost.<br />
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Seagrass-Watch monitoring efforts are vital to assist with tracking global patterns in seagrass health, and assess the human impacts on seagrass meadows, which have the potential to destroy or degrade these coastal ecosystems and decrease their yield of natural resources. Responsive management based on adequate information will help to prevent any further significant areas and species being lost. To protect the valuable seagrass meadows along our coasts, everyone must work together.</i></blockquote><br />
The goals of Seagrass-Watch are:<br />
<ul><li>To educate the wider community on the importance of seagrass resources</li>
<li>To raise awareness of coastal management issues</li>
<li>To build the capacity of local stakeholders in the use of standardised scientific methodologies</li>
<li>To conduct long-term monitoring of seagrass & coastal habitat condition</li>
<li>To provide an early warning system of coastal environment changes for management</li>
<li>To support conservation measures which ensure the long-term resilience of seagrass ecosystems</li>
</ul><br />
<h1><b>TeamSeagrass</b></h1><br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/wildsingapore/2296054090/" title="TeamSeagrass logo by wildsingapore, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3108/2296054090_f3fc14297e.jpg" width="500" height="335" alt="TeamSeagrass logo"></a><br />
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Here in Singapore, <a href="http://teamseagrass.blogspot.sg/">TeamSeagrass</a> functions as the local chapter of the Seagrass-Watch network. A collaboration between Seagrass-Watch and the <a href="http://www.nparks.gov.sg/cms/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=59&Itemid=154">National Biodiversity Centre</a> of the National Parks Board, TeamSeagrass was started in 2007. TeamSeagrass data is submitted to NParks for a better understanding and management of Singapore's seagrasses and shores, and Seagrass-Watch uses the data for a more global perspective.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/wildsingapore/2336970118/" title="TeamSeagrass by wildsingapore, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3084/2336970118_2a45fd32b0.jpg" width="500" height="354" alt="TeamSeagrass"></a><br />
(Click to enlarge)<br />
<br />
Led by a small volunteer management team, TeamSeagrass currently has about 200 volunteers, who participate in regular data collection at 6 seagrass meadows around Singapore:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/wildsingapore/6439962101/" title="TeamSeagrass at work at Cyrene Reef by wildsingapore, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7001/6439962101_4b92e7c20c.jpg" width="500" height="368" alt="TeamSeagrass at work at Cyrene Reef"></a><br />
Cyrene Reef;<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/wildsingapore/1059206196/" title="TeamSeagrass at Semakau's vast seagrass meadows by wildsingapore, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm2.staticflickr.com/1247/1059206196_ce621ba17c.jpg" width="500" height="368" alt="TeamSeagrass at Semakau's vast seagrass meadows"></a><br />
Pulau Semakau;<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/wildsingapore/5679016099/" title="TeamSeagrass at Chek Jawa by wildsingapore, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5226/5679016099_2973d83377.jpg" width="500" height="368" alt="TeamSeagrass at Chek Jawa"></a><br />
Chek Jawa;<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/wildsingapore/2682335458/" title="TeamSeagrass at Sentosa by wildsingapore, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3162/2682335458_a4cc092dc0.jpg" width="500" height="368" alt="TeamSeagrass at Sentosa"></a><br />
Sentosa;<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/wildsingapore/1276712238/" title="RGS TeamSeagrass at Labrador by wildsingapore, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm2.staticflickr.com/1063/1276712238_829d6ed17a.jpg" width="500" height="368" alt="RGS TeamSeagrass at Labrador"></a><br />
Labrador;<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/wildsingapore/2399486425/" title="TeamSeagrass Schering Plough Tuas by wildsingapore, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2230/2399486425_4a29d085d7.jpg" width="500" height="368" alt="TeamSeagrass Schering Plough Tuas"></a><br />
and Tuas;<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/wildsingapore/7730322202/" title="TeamSeagrass getting ready to monitor on Cyrene Reef by wildsingapore, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8288/7730322202_340236f8db.jpg" width="500" height="368" alt="TeamSeagrass getting ready to monitor on Cyrene Reef"></a><br />
Here you can see the equipment we use for monitoring sessions: transect square for quick assessment of quadrats, measuring tape, plastic stakes, ruler, compass, and datasheet;<br />
(Cyrene Reef)<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/wildsingapore/2205673371/" title="TeamSeagrass at Chek Jawa by wildsingapore, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2158/2205673371_ce010f50ef.jpg" width="500" height="368" alt="TeamSeagrass at Chek Jawa"></a><br />
The transect squares get brandished a lot during group photo-taking;<br />
(Chek Jawa)<br />
<br />
Fellow volunteer Nor Aishah shared about her experiences as a TeamSeagrass volunteer in a recent issue of <a href="http://mygreenspace.nparks.gov.sg/watching-seagrass-grow-reflections-of-a-volunteer/">My Green Space</a>.<br />
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<a href="http://mygreenspace.nparks.gov.sg/watching-seagrass-grow-reflections-of-a-volunteer/">Watching Seagrass Grow: Reflections of a Volunteer</a><br />
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TeamSeagrass participants also take part in outreach activities, sharing about seagrasses with the general public.<br />
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<a href="https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=362974923762212" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7_d1cHzdIVcFXlyK5Ok-rpgxwNhymb0nm0MlAunu5nu0owNo0OKbpLAOycOn7KTAcnv-flkkCjTezAONWRcplELEtVHK9yrW-N6Qb8lUQVOWBtRXa54I3FcoaTXjW1CALYWCruIyxZrD_/s500/544817_362974923762212_82011022_n%5B2%5D.jpg" /></a><br />
At last year's inaugural <a href="http://www.nparks.gov.sg/festivalofbiodiversity/">Festival of Biodiversity</a>, we had a tank of seagrasses on display;<br />
(Photo by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/cat64fish/">Rene</a>)<br />
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<a href="https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10150836933370825" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjQ_Y3w08cfwiulaMZEQQMxDC9iD-hjYaZ0kTtJuGSu5Nu3SNuPRmM2SYF4xPOFbhYdLX1KlguJ_dsNjjN7fr_GK50hlwkqowtwhw-xxOYHnr5kuCBl5vSIjn_Crc3_XM2RHohWFhvPorv/s500/545747_10150836933370825_736391011_n%5B1%5D.jpg" /></a><br />
TeamSeagrass volunteers Sankar and Jialing;<br />
(Photo by Jeremy Ng)<br />
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<a href="https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10150836934310825" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUnJTHiVNLTGNh-R57IiZ1o2v4art-LbX8o_l_652tU6vG5r9WsTBljH10sXCz-tvyQLZiwi0VUzT4j6I9A5I_QzPx0AsHloEqjCcCBMnXDGYFC76nYMHF_HNsaTXQ4_hOTLrQgvXLAcix/s500/550845_10150836934310825_857967094_n%5B1%5D.jpg" /></a><br />
Our volunteers had lots of fun telling people about the importance of seagrasses;<br />
(Photo by Jeremy Ng)<br />
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<a href="https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10150835078540825" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizx5BG_ffTIhNgJyM8COyD9JMDHfP5uckOVjfYp1urGHtgkoR91VulhnKIBhP3GvvMIhvMc3Ud-ts2rB5KKrowGaB-yAQB9NcJJkiaoY1MQT_obq5x5LAIlIBiZisQe_3SltHWOnp7BqRH/s500/35498_10150835078540825_1904463942_n%5B1%5D.jpg" /></a><br />
Sankar even got the chance to share his fascination for seagrasses with a very important guest at the Festival;<br />
(Photo by Jeremy Ng)<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/hai_ren/7895478694/" title="IMG_7494 by Hai_Ren, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8313/7895478694_bf286c116a.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="IMG_7494"></a><br />
Siti <a href="http://teamseagrass.blogspot.sg/2012/08/siti-shares-about-seagrasses-at-green.html">gave a talk about seagrasses</a> during a <a href="http://sggreendrinks.wordpress.com/2012/08/24/green-drinks-seagrass-aqua-republica/">Green Drinks Singapore</a> session last year;<br />
(Photo by myself)<br />
<br />
But it's not all fun and games; accuracy in the data collected is very important, which is why TeamSeagrass holds training sessions for its volunteers. Volunteers need to learn <a href="http://www.seagrasswatch.org/id_seagrass.html">how to identify the various species of seagrasses</a> found in Singapore (and remember, some of them can look quite similar), and why it is necessary to be consistent when doing transects.<br />
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<a href="http://teamseagrass.blogspot.sg/2013/06/teamseagrass-training-day-1-level-1-8.html">Last weekend</a> saw the first <a href="http://teamseagrass.blogspot.sg/2013/06/teamseagrass-training-level-1-day-2-9.html">two training sessions</a> for this year, with another round of training taking place this coming weekend.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/wildsingapore/8984989979/" title="TeamSeagrass Training June 2013 by wildsingapore, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7456/8984989979_c4b533f245.jpg" width="500" height="281" alt="TeamSeagrass Training June 2013"></a><br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/wildsingapore/8986199874/" title="TeamSeagrass Training June 2013 by wildsingapore, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5329/8986199874_7ebdfdbf5d.jpg" width="500" height="368" alt="TeamSeagrass Training June 2013"></a><br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/wildsingapore/8985007893/" title="TeamSeagrass Training June 2013 by wildsingapore, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7443/8985007893_49fff4a077.jpg" width="500" height="369" alt="TeamSeagrass Training June 2013"></a><br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/wildsingapore/8986193586/" title="TeamSeagrass Training June 2013 by wildsingapore, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3734/8986193586_cb7077d02e.jpg" width="500" height="369" alt="TeamSeagrass Training June 2013"></a><br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/wildsingapore/8995441884/" title="TeamSeagrass Training June 2013 by wildsingapore, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8550/8995441884_f944838cb8.jpg" width="500" height="369" alt="TeamSeagrass Training June 2013"></a><br />
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These sessions are being conducted by Len McKenzie and Rudi Yoshida from Seagrass-Watch, both of whom have many years of experience in seagrass research and monitoring.<br />
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Dr. Len arrived in Singapore a couple of weeks back for the <a href="http://megamarinesurvey.blogspot.sg/search/label/Southern%20Expedition">Southern Expedition</a> of the <a href="http://megamarinesurvey.blogspot.sg/">Comprehensive Marine Biodiversity Survey</a>, and he certainly wasted no time in taking a closer look at our seagrasses.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/wildsingapore/8867543857/" title="Mega Marine Survey Southern Expedition by wildsingapore, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2882/8867543857_04451e5ec4.jpg" width="500" height="369" alt="Mega Marine Survey Southern Expedition"></a><br />
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And tomorrow evening, he'll be conducting a talk on his area of expertise.<br />
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<blockquote><b>Singapore's Underwater Meadows</b> <br />
by Dr. Len McKenzie<br />
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<b>Time:</b> 7-8.30pm<br />
<b>Venue:</b> Function Hall, Botany Centre, Level 1, Singapore Botanic Gardens<br />
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<i>Seagrass habitats are one of the most productive ecosystems on earth but few people know what they are and how they are important to the health and functioning of other marine ecosystems and human well-being. In this talk, Dr. Len McKenzie covers the seagrass basics, but also talks about why regular seagrass monitoring is important and how monitoring seagrass in Singapore is contributing to global effort in understanding changes in seagrass ecosystems.<br />
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Dr. Len McKenzie is a Principal Researcher with TropWATER (James Cook University) and Seagrass-Watch Program Leader. He is also the Task Leader of the Reef Rescue Marine Monitoring Program – Intertidal Seagrass Monitoring and project leader for a series of projects involving the assessment and sustainable use of coastal fisheries habitats. Len has over 20 years experience as a researcher on seagrass ecology, assessment and fisheries habitats. This includes experience within Australia and internationally in seagrass research, resource mapping/assessment and biodiversity.<br />
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He has provided information on seagrass communities that has been vital in management of seagrass resources of the Great Barrier Reef and at the state, national and international levels. He has also advised on fishers and coastal resource-use issues for managers, fishing organisations, conservation and community groups. Len is also the Secretary of the World Seagrass Association.</i><br />
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The talk is free but pre-registration is required, online at <a href="http://bit.ly/lmckenzie">http://bit.ly/lmckenzie</a></blockquote><br />
I'm looking forward to learning more about seagrasses from him!<br />
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For more information about seagrasses, Seagrass-Watch <a href="http://www.seagrasswatch.org/magazine.html">publishes a free magazine</a> with news and feature articles about seagrasses and seagrass research from around the world.<br />
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<a href="http://www.seagrasswatch.org/Info_centre/Magazine/pdf/issue47/Seagrass-Watch_Mag_Issue47_Mar13.pdf" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJM-S_qiIRrLa8iwNdck-d_bGbm_6xkqnFPzP_61-HmiZPpDwoWQVTPJWt-_3TgM29dhWvzcs0QXLv5Jha6iZOjuIRMEQ8vgwY0YzDthwLwm9lS8pPQEsX7i0EIWcNnJTC1gbUyedsP_xn/s500/SeagrassWatch47.jpg.jpg" /></a><br />
Here's the latest issue, released in March 2013. Click the thumbnail to start downloading the PDF.<br />
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The <a href="http://wsa.seagrassonline.org/">World Seagrass Association</a>, a global network of scientists and coastal managers committed to research, protection and management of the world's seagrasses, <a href="http://wsa.seagrassonline.org/blog/">has a blog</a> that is run by our own Siti Yaakub. <br />
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<a href="http://wsa.seagrassonline.org/blog/" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDRN3rGNixuMnOhXx-mYyRDOflRy0yZ2lV6Qp5q-AGuf92QIGdJ6LaidQzAmUsfaevi1rNtu8so5-A2rzE0-bI5AlcXlTMdWkZGupZE9xkXTV2ObkgQ1gUMabr3TGrQ02-LOB52S2ge7jX/s500/WSAblog.jpg.jpg" /></a><br />
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Siti was one of the NParks staff involved in TeamSeagrass, and is currently working on her PhD. Other NParks staff who have worked very hard for TeamSeagrass include Rachel Lim, Yang Shufen, and Lim Wei Ling. <br />
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<iframe width="500" height="375" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/FPg6G_XdIlo?rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br />
In this video from 2011, Siti and Wei Ling can be seen giving instructions to volunteers during a TeamSeagrass monitoring session at Chek Jawa.<br />
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Just a month ago, Siti, Rachel, and Wei Ling published a paper on <a href="http://rmbr.nus.edu.sg/nis/bulletin2013/2013nis105-111.pdf">the diversity and distribution of seagrasses in Singapore</a>.<br />
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<a href="http://rmbr.nus.edu.sg/nis/bulletin2013/2013nis105-111.pdf" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCxZnb4-Bxmv7NDviNMEtFwO9g2_BUJUP_HlU5yIAPCi75iYB_m-wVPA9HA0cS2OBmkaNDQD3mtpB9dkTI7eGnOs5GbS87dHfm9TB7rUnRzespylZfD0Xv4wpmtNSCpZ-7vNWHna3nhlYg/s500/2013nis105-111.jpg" /></a><br />
Maps generated from satellite images of Singapore's three largest seagrass meadows. A. Pulau Semakau; B. Chek Jawa, Pulau <br />
Ubin; and C. Cyrene Reef.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/wildsingapore/2787139182/" title="Siti of TeamSeagrass by wildsingapore, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3071/2787139182_80a6972b04.jpg" width="500" height="361" alt="Siti of TeamSeagrass"></a><br />
Here's a photo of Siti talking to journalists from The Straits Times about seagrasses on Cyrene Reef;<br />
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If you're curious and want to be involved in a long-term scientific monitoring project, why not read the <a href="http://teamseagrass.blogspot.sg/p/faqs.html">TeamSeagrass FAQs</a> and <a href="http://teamseagrass.blogspot.sg/p/join-team.html">join us</a>! You'll get to see a very different side of Singapore, explore some interesting places, and contribute towards a better understanding of these important yet imperiled marine ecosystems.<br />
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(All photos by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/wildsingapore/">Ria Tan</a> unless otherwise stated)<br />
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(Cross-posted to <a href="http://blog.omy.sg/sba-plus/2013/06/11/seagrasses-of-singapore-part-3/">SBA Plus</a>. Do support me in the <a href="http://sgblogawards.omy.sg/2013/category/?cat=ecochallenge&seq=9">Singapore Blog Awards</a>!)Ivanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11637204084596462318noreply@blogger.com