Chek Jawa with special guests

The Naked Hermit Crabs spent an enjoyable Friday morning with some special guests on the Chek Jawa Boardwalk.

Seagrasses of Singapore (Part 3)

(Click to enlarge)

In my previous post on seagrasses, 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.

Seagrasses of Singapore (Part 2)

The leaves of various seagrass species found in Singapore;
(Photo by Ria Tan)

In the previous post, we took a look at seagrasses, some of the places in Singapore where you can find them, and also went through the ten species of seagrass recorded in Singapore in recent surveys. In this post, we'll find out why seagrass habitats are so important, and some of the threats they face.

Seagrasses of Singapore (Part 1)

Lush seagrass meadows of Cyrene Reef;

In my earlier post on World Oceans Day, I mentioned seagrass meadows as one of several marine habitats that can still be found in coastal areas of Singapore. But what are seagrasses? Why are they important? And what can we do to protect them?

Of Boar and Men: My article on POSKOD

Chek Jawa is home to many creatures large and small, but few other animals manage to thrill and excite visitors like the resident herd of friendly wild boar (Sus scrofa vittatus). Feeding has made some of the pigs very used to humans, and it is now common to see sows with piglets out in the open, allowing people to get very close to them. Such habituation has its benefits, and there have been countless peaceful interactions between wild pigs and humans, but there is an uneasy tension. With some of the wild boar starting to approach people to beg for food, are people at risk of being harassed or even attacked? And are visitors aware of how to behave appropriately around wildlife so as to allow this coexistence to continue? I write about this interesting relationship between humans and wild pigs in my first article for POSKOD.

Review: Sony Xperia Z

Note: I was recently invited to test the Sony Xperia™ Z and write a review, which is up on the Sony Mobile SG Facebook page. I don't usually do product reviews for this blog, but because I find that this is a device suitable for people who spend a lot of time outdoors, I thought it's appropriate that I share it here as well.

A smartphone can be an essential tool while hiking in the forest, whether as a backup camera, GPS, getting the latest updates on the weather, or simply sharing your adventures with friends via social media. As someone who loves the outdoors, spends a lot of time close to water, and relies heavily on my smartphone to stay connected, one of the biggest headaches I often face involves keeping my phone safe and dry, regardless of the terrain and weather. Sure, there are waterproof cases for many smartphone models out there, but these can be expensive and cumbersome. And one can never know when ziploc bags might spring a leak.

When I first heard about the Xperia™ Z, the main feature that caught my attention was its supposed water-resistance. Given that I have a tendency to get caught in the rain, or have my gear immersed in a stream or lake, I knew I had to put it to the test.

Mantis Shrimps of Singapore (ONETWOTHREE DEATH!)

Many people are finally clued in to the awesomeness of mantis shrimps, thanks to a hilarious comic by The Oatmeal.



This has been cited as an excellent example of science communication, and is also a great opportunity to highlight that Singapore has mantis shrimps too!

Pulau Ubin: Explanation, and Final Remarks

A house at Kampung Melayu, Pulau Ubin;
(Photo from TODAY)

After the kerfuffle over the last few days, with lots of voices of indignation and outrage being expressed on many different platforms, and even an online petition, there's finally a clarification about what was thought to be plans to evict some of the residents on Pulau Ubin.

I am glad that there is finally some explanation, and even happier that it was not the worst-case scenario that many of us had feared. Still, in light of all this information, there are some points to be made.

Should we care about Pulau Ubin? Seeking views and comments

One of the houses at Kampung Melayu, Pulau Ubin;
(Photo by Pod Boy)

Yesterday's post on the planned eviction of some of the residents on Pulau Ubin received a lot of attention. I haven't been able to keep track of what others are saying about the whole matter, especially on Facebook and various online forums, but I'm glad to see that a number of people care about what happens to Pulau Ubin.

Eviction of residents at Kampung Melayu, Pulau Ubin: What's happening?

Kampung Melayu, Pulau Ubin;
(Photo by Ria)

Pulau Ubin is often described as the last remnant of a Singapore that has all but vanished everywhere else, a place bypassed by the decades that feels as it must have done in colonial times.

Of course, this is largely a myth: the Ubin I now visit on a frequent basis is quite different from the Ubin I visited as a child in the 1990s. Change is constantly taking place on Ubin, even if we're not always immediately aware of it; familiar faces vanish, buildings change hands and exterior decor, and trees fall as a result of both storm and chainsaw.

But sometimes, there are signs of even greater upheaval lying in wait, hints of policies that some fear will destroy or irrevocably alter the Ubin that so many of us have grown to love and appreciate.

Mega Marine Survey Day 2: Pulau Ubin

I've just returned from my first field session with the Northern Expedition of the Comprehensive Marine Biodiversity Survey; Ria has a post on the preparations that took place before the field trips commenced today.



Our base of operations is at Outward Bound Singapore (OBS), on the western side of Pulau Ubin.

World Elephant Day: Elephants in Singapore

Elephant at the Singapore Zoo;
(Photo by i359702)

Today (12th August) is the inaugural World Elephant Day, a day for the world to learn about and act on solutions to the urgent plight of Asian and African elephants. Many of us know that the Asian elephant (Elephas maximus) can still be found in many countries in tropical Asia, including Malaysia, Indonesia, and Thailand. However, did you know that there are relatively recent records of elephants in Singapore, albeit from our larger offshore islands?

Chek Jawa in June with the Naked Hermit Crabs

(Photo by Kok Sheng)

With it being the June holidays, the Naked Hermit Crabs received an overwhelming response for our monthly guided tour on the Chek Jawa boardwalk. And so 5 guides showed up on Saturday morning, ready to take on the crowds and share the sights and sounds of this very special place.

Prickly Porcupines

There are porcupines on Pulau Ubin!

Robert Teo from the National Parks Board (NParks) shared this video showing a wild Malayan porcupine (Hystrix brachyura) being released, after it had been caught and kept as a pet by one of the villagers.

Meet the 'friendly' wild boars at the wetlands of Pulau Ubin

Monday Morgue: 21st February 2011

Mass of button zoanthids (Zoanthus sp.)
Pulau Ubin, 18th October 2008

Wild Fact Sheets
Advanced Aquarist
WetWebMedia.com
Sea Mat: An Ocean Of Color For The Aquarium

Monday Morgue: 7th February 2011

Mangrove whipray (Himantura walga)
Pulau Ubin, 3rd December 2009

Wild Fact Sheets
A Guide to Common Marine Fishes of Singapore
FishBase
IUCN Red List
Fishes of Andaman Sea

Raffles Museum Treasures: Hill myna

Hill myna (Gracula religiosa)
Collected from Pulau Ubin, January 1923
Native to Singapore

Oriental Bird Images
xeno-canto Asia
BirdLife
IUCN Red List
Mangoverde World Bird Guide
Animal Diversity Web


(Photo by Jose Sousa)

Beautiful Pulau Ubin slowly eroded by waves

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

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

Worried, STOMPer Botanist says in an email:

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

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

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

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

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

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

Picnickers burn hole in bench at Pulau Ubin

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

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

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

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

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