Dangerous-looking bug with hundreds of spines found at foot of Hougang block

Kind-hearted Hougang Sec students help bird trapped in drain

Is this a real baby shark?

STOMPer Speedy spotted this specimen of a 'baby shark' at a shop in Hougang Mall and wonder if it's real.

The STOMPer wrote:

"Surprised and unbelievable! I found this at a shop located on Level 2 in Hougang Mall.

"Real or not, not sure though."

It's difficult to tell for sure, although I won't be surprised if it is indeed a genuine preserved specimen of a small shark. More details, like the dimensions of the container, and more photos from various angles, would be helpful.

What's happening to Hougang Point festival market? Rats on rampage there!

It's rats galore at Hougang Point festival market, as STOMPer Evets shows with these two disturbing videos. The pests were so bold they did not even try to run from the camera.

Here's what the STOMPer had to say of the situation:

"Bold rats are running everywhere around the mall at night.

"The mall is heavily infested with these rodents and they were running around the carts which we use in the day.

"I do not think these carts even get cleaned. These are the very carts which we used to put our food in.

"They weren't even afraid of us when I filmed this video, this shows the nerve the rats have.

"Some of these rodents were even running in and out of the fast food restaurant.

"I think the NEA should really come down to check on this before a repeat of the Geylang Serai market incident where more than 80 rats were caught happens again."

Do check out the video posted on STOMP.

Related posts: Get rid of the rats infesting this Jurong West block, says STOMPer (19th June 2009)
Mouse found at Vivocity's Giant. Where's the standard of hygiene? (31st May 2009)
Pest control efforts intensified to curb Woodlands Circle rat problem, says TC (18th May 2009)
Rats run wild in Woodlands Circle! (17th May 2009)
Rat plays peek-a-boo at East Point Banquet food court (11th March 2009)
Dead rat found lying on Maxwell Market performers' stage (9th March 2009)
Shocking to find rat at Changi Airport's T3! (8th March 2009)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

"Picture above shows the trimmed hedges.

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

Related article:
Overgrown hedges at Hougang attract hornets and bees

Before hedges were trimmed

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

Overgrown hedges at Hougang attract hornets and bees

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

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

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

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

Through the fire and the flames: A collection of news articles and Seen on STOMP posts on bushfires and haze in Singapore

This post will serve as a repository for all news articles and Seen on STOMP posts regarding the current spate of bushfires and hazy conditions in Singapore. Instead of having to manually update and re-publish every fire-related post every time I have a new article, I've decided that it would be much more efficient for me to just update this single post, and link all the relevant posts to this one.

News articles: In case of fire, land buffer can save lives (12th March 2009) (Mirror)
Clear and present danger (24th February 2009) (Mirror)
95% of vegetation fires to date caused by human-related activities (24th February 2009) (Mirror)
Carelessness behind 95% of bush fires (24th February 2009) (Mirror)
Carelessness caused fires (24th February 2009)
Big forest fire in Tampines (22nd February 2009) (Mirror)
3 bush fires in a day (22nd February 2009)
Singapore not affected by haze in Sumatra (22nd February 2009) (Mirror)
Blazing Again (19th February 2009) (Mirror)
Bush fire watch (19th February 2009)
Bukit Batok bush fires keep firemen busy (1st Mirror, 2nd Mirror) (18th February 2009)
S'pore fires hit decade high (18th February 2009)
Haze is back, but blame it on fires in Singapore (17th February 2009) (Mirror)
Record high of vegetation fires in Singapore (17th February 2009) (Mirror)
Dry spell causes bush fires to surge to record numbers (16th February 2009) (Mirror)
S'pore bush fires hit record high (16th February 2009) (Mirror)
Lazy winds, hazy days (16th February 2009)
Smoke's in the air (14th February 2009) (Mirror)
Slight haze in Singapore, but PSI reading within good range (13th February 2009) (Mirror)
Fire razes forested area in Sengkang (10th February 2009) (Mirror)
Dry spell to carry on in Singapore (6th February 2009) (Mirror)
Bush fire at Tampines (31st January 2009)
Singapore: Driest January in 10 years (31st January 2009) (Mirror)
SCDF put out 146 bush fires this month (29th January 2009) (Mirror)

Seen on STOMP: S'poreans should know that Bukit Batok forest fires not easy to put out
Reddish sun in S'pore: Could haze and bush-fires be the cause? (18th February 2009)
Second fire at Bukit Batok captured on video (18th February 2009)
Fire so large that SCDF firemen take turns having dinner on-site (18th February 2009)
Yet another bush-fire at Bukit Batok (17th February 2009)
S'porean concern about Aussie-type fire disaster here (17th February 2009)
Bushfire starts despite earlier rain (17th February 2009)
Bukit Batok bushfire a surreal experience for fire safety engineer (17th February 2009)
"Terrifying to see huge balls of fire in S'pore" (17th February 2009)
Firemen battle hilltop bush-fire in Bukit Batok (16th February 2009)
Haze back in S'pore? Healthy PSI reading, but can still see and smell smoke in air (15th February 2009)
Look at the damage wreaked by S'pore's own bush-fire in Sengkang (12th February 2009)
Tampines bush fire so huge, it can be seen from Eunos (31st January 2009)
Trees on fire at Sungei Tengah (24th January 2009)

Haze back in S'pore? Healthy PSI reading, but can still see and smell smoke in air

STOMPer Marc says he was told that the PSI reading is normal, but he can still see and smell the smoke in the air.

He says:

"My wife and I live in the Hougang area, and have been plagued by hazy and smoky air at nights for the last 1.5 weeks.

"This morning (Feb 15, 8am), we again woke up to smoky air. There was a strong smoky smell in the air, and it had seeped into the house.

"When you look out the window, it is very apparent to the naked eye that the air was hazy.

"I called the National Environment Agency Hotline and was told by the staff that the PSI reading was a mere 46 - which is in the healthy range.

"I have attached a picture that I took this morning from our living room window. You can see the poor visibility in the picture.

"There is an obvious disparity between what you can see/smell vs the PSI reading. I question the accuracy of the NEA PSI meters, as what we're experiencing is corroborated by most of the neighbours in our estate.

"I would appreciate it if the relevant authorities can look into this health issue."

Go here for relevant news articles and related Seen on STOMP posts on bushfires in Singapore

Look at the damage wreaked by S'pore's own bush-fire in Sengkang

YW was cycling along Upper Serangoon Road when he noticed a huge section of bushes burnt to the ground, leaving only ashes. This brings to mind the raging bushfire in Australia, which has claimed the lives at least 180 people at last count. He says:

"I was just cycling through the area, and for a moment I thought, 'Wow, the bushes all cleared, very nice. It's kind of like autumn.'

"Then I realised something, 'Oh my god it's a bushfire aftermath!'

"You can see how clear the path was after the bushfire.

"Made it kind of scary to cycle through that whole area you know?

"Oh, I pin-pointed that place, it seems like Google updated the map as well.

"By the way, the place that got devoured by flames was huge!

"Now you can even see into the cycling path from the road!

"I am not sure when it happened, I cycle through here often to my friend's place, so I would say it definitely happened two or three days ago.

"oh yeah, the smell was 'horigible', that's like terrible and horrible coming together. It was worse than charcoal!"

Go here for relevant news articles and related Seen on STOMP posts on bushfires in Singapore

I'm trying my best to ignore the cringe-worthy text. (Seriously, 'horigible'?)

Coincidentally, earlier this morning, I was discussing with one of my classes how a lack of rain can lead to bushfire. A few of my students mentioned that they had witnessed the effects of these fires, either by seeing the smoke from their homes, or travelling past the burned sites.

Although some of the wildlife living in these patches of scrub and belukar would be adversely affected by the fire, it is likely that the area will soon be quickly repopulated. In any case, the devastation and impact of these localised wildfires is nothing compared to the tragedy that has struck parts of Australia. I certainly hope that this atypical spate of hot and dry weather is not a sign of a long-term shift in our weather patterns. Unlike savanna and sclerophyll communities, I don't think our local vegetation is adapted to survive regular cycles of burning and regrowth.

By the way, I'm doubtful that Google has actually updated its satellite images

Trees now botak, so no more shade

These trees at Lorong Ah Soo, which have been pruned, no longer provides shade, gripes a STOMPer. Patrick told STOMP on Jan 23:

"The trees at Block 119 Lorong Ah Soo has provided good shade and now they are botak (bald). "I don't understand why the town council cut them botak."