Safe or not? Neglected tunnel is covered with overgrown vegetation

This tunnel along a cycling track has become covered with dense vegetation. STOMPer Mountain Biker is concerned that it could harbour snakes and spiders as well.

Said the STOMPer in an email today (June 11):

"Last week I went cycling on my mountain bike from Hindhede Loop to Asas Loop and had to pass through this tunnel, which is now overgrown with grass, branches and bushes.

"I have an innate fear of snakes and spiders and cycling through the tunnel made me very nervous.

"It was just after the rain and the biking trail path was very slippery and muddy

"I hope NParks can remove the overgrown vegetation and make the trail safe for mountain bikers like my buddies and me."

Related posts: Overgrown plants around this overhead bridge creeps me out (24th April 2010)
Palm tree flowers attract bees and pose danger to passers-by (12th April 2010)
Overgrown mango tree makes me tremble whenever I cross overhead bridge (20th March 2010)
I say my prayers whenever I cross this messy and ugly bridge (3rd January 2010)
"Overgrown creepers at Penjuru bus stop gives me sense that living things lurk behind" (3rd November 2009)
Creepers growing up Harbourfront floodlights could be the heart of darkness (22nd September 2009)

Not again.

Are my calls for action going down these rat holes?

STOMPer seabass is disappointed that his repeated requests for action on the many rat holes in this area have been ignored. He says that the problem is starting to worsen.

The STOMPer wrote in an e-mail:

"Some time in early 2010, I noticed the presence of a rat hole beside the drain in front of Blk 405 Clementi Ave 1.

"I sent an email to the Town Council on this seeking their assistance to follow-up on the matter.

The Senior Property Officer thanked me for the feedback and assured me that they would nstruct their contractors to carry out weekly rodent treatment in the area.

"However, nothing appeared to be done and the original 1 rat hole increased to 3. I e-mailed again to update him on the increase in the rat holes and to find out what was being done.

"I was disappointed that I did not receive any reply.

"After that, I emailed the MP to inform him of the situation and asking for assistance to curb the rats from continuing to multiply, but still there was no response.

"I checked again this afternoon and the rat holes are still there.

"During my walk from Blk 405 to Blk 407, I discovered the presence of around 6-7 more holes along the pavement between Blk 406 to Blk 407.

"I hope the authorities will do something about these rat holes.

"Even if there are no more rats in the holes, these holes should still be covered up to prevent rats from breeding."

Raffles Museum Treasures: Malay lacewing

Malay lacewing (Cethosia hypsea hypsina)
Native to Singapore

Butterfly of the Month - December 2007
Life History of the Malay Lacewing (Cethosia hypsea hypsina)
ButterflyCircle Photo Checklist


(Photo by B_cool)

Rat comes out to play because hawker didn't dispose of eggshells properly

STOMPer Chris spotted this rat at Seah Im Food Centre. It had been attracted by a bag of discarded eggshells left by the bin.

In an email today (June 10) the STOMPer wrote:

"I saw this rat feeding on a bag of rubbish which contained a large number of eggshells.

"This was probably from one of the stall owners, who just left it next to the bin instead of putting it in."

Raffles Museum Treasures: Chinese giant salamander

Chinese giant salamander (Andrias davidianus)

AmphibiaWeb
Amphibian Species of the World
IUCN Red List
IUCN Species of the Day
ARKive
EDGE Amphibians


(Photo by Melinda ^..^)

Woman struck by fallen tree branch outside Istana

STOMPer Yoko says a woman was badly hurt by a falling tree branch outside the Istana grounds. He says he saw her being stretchered off into a waiting ambulance.

This is the latest in a series of incidents involving falling trees and branches in Singapore. Read an earlier story on the subject here.

Yoko describes the scene:

"A woman got hit by a fallen tree branch outside Istana at about 4.15pm this afternoon (June 9).

"I caught sight of her being carried onboard the ambulance. She had a brace around her neck to cushion her injury.

"I hope she is fine."

A spokesperson for SCDF told STOMP that they received the call at 4.08pm. The woman has since been brought to a hospital for urgent medical attention.

This python crawled up a car at a traffic junction when light was red

STOMPer Scorpgal and her husband spotted a python curled up under the hood of a car on their way to lunch in Cantonment.

In her email, the STOMPer wrote:

"My husband was on his way to Southpoint for lunch when he saw policemen and a car parked in the middle of Cantonment Road.

"A car had stopped at the traffic light when a passer-by saw a python crawl under the car and up into the bonnet!

"The passer-by then immediately stopped the driver to inform him of the snake.

"I wonder where did the python emerge from?"

This certainly goes to show that wildlife can be found even in downtown Singapore.

This isn't the first time reticulated pythons (Broghammerus reticulatus) have been recorded entering cars; it is possible that they are seeking warmth, or simply foraging for food. Here's an earlier report about a python that crawled into a car.

At least the python in this case didn't end up like the one in this report.

Raffles Museum Treasures: Clown anemonefish

Clown anemonefish (Amphiprion ocellaris)
Collected from Pulau Seringat reef flat, August 1997
Native to Singapore: Vulnerable

Wild Fact Sheets
A Guide to Common Marine Fishes of Singapore
NParks FaunaWeb
Singapore Red Data Book
MarineBio.org
FishBase
Fishes of Bitung
Australian Museum
Field Guide to Anemone Fishes and their host Sea Anemones
Wet Web Media
Aquarium Domain
The Home Aquarium
Animal Diversity Web


(Photo by Chay Hoon)

Raffles Museum Treasures: Naked bulldog bat

Naked bulldog bat (Cheiromeles torquatus)
Native to Singapore: Critically Endangered

The naked bulldog bat, Cheiromeles torquatus in Singapore — Past and present records, with highlights on its unique morphology (Microchiroptera: Molossidae)
NParks FaunaWeb
IUCN Red List
Animal Diversity Web


(Photo by Alan Cressler)

Grey African Parrot lost in Sengkang area

STOMPer Alex is looking for his African Grey Parrot named Honghong.

The STOMPer said:

"I lost my pet, an African Grey Parrot, at around 9:00 pm, 03/06/2010, in the vicinity of our housing area of Sengkang, Blk 262A Compassvale Street.

"My parrot, Honghong, has a gold leg band on its left leg with a J715 marking.

"Do contact me if you have any leads with regards to the parrot at [redacted]."

Seems like people have a knack for losing their pet African grey parrots (Psittacus erithacus); this was posted less than 2 weeks after another report of a missing African grey parrot.

Raffles Museum Treasures: Knobbly sea star

Knobbly sea star (Protoreaster nodosus)
Collected from Pulau Seringat reef flat, August 1997
Native to Singapore: Endangered

Wild Fact Sheets
Project Semakau
NParks FaunaWeb
Singapore Red Data Book
Star Trackers
The Echinoblog
TFH Magazine
Wet Web Media


(Photo by Chee Kong)

Monday Morgue: 7th June 2010

Giant millipede (Thyropygus sp.)
Raffles Museum of Biodiversity Research, 17th May 2010

www.myriapoda.org
International Society of Myriapodology and Onychophorology
BugGuide.Net
CSIRO Insects and their Allies
Animal Diversity Web
The Earth Life Web

Yikes, rat spotted in food court! Wonder if the food is clean

STOMPer OMG was shocked to see this rat in a food court while on the way home.

Said the STOMPer:

"I was walking home and I saw this rat in a Banquet food court!

"Hope that the food is clean!"

Raffles Museum Treasures: Hawksbill turtle

Hawksbill turtle hatchlings (Eretmochelys imbricata)
Collected from East Coast Park, October 1996
Native to Singapore: Critically Endangered

Hawksbill hatchlings rescued at East Coast Park
Right way to save turtles? Call cops
Sea turtles of the Coral Triangle and Singapore
Sea turtle connection: Sentosa and Pulau Upeh
Sea turtles and Singapore's shores
Hawksbill turtle hatchling rescue at East Coast Park
Wild Fact Sheets
NParks FaunaWeb
Ecology Asia
Reptile Database
IUCN Red List
IUCN Species of the Day
WWF
ARKive
Animal Diversity Web
National Geographic Animal Facts
SeaLifeBase
MarineBio.org
NOAA Fisheries
Oceanic Resource Foundation
Sea Turtle Conservation Travel


(Photo by Matthew Oldfield)

Raffles Museum Treasures: Green tree snail

Green tree snail (Amphidromus atricallosus perakensis)
Native to Singapore: Endangered

A review of the Singapore status of the green tree snail, Amphidromus atricallosus perakensis Fulton, 1901 and its biology
NParks FaunaWeb


(Photo by Tiomanese)

Ouch! These weird ants have huge biting jaws on them

STOMPer M spotted this colony of unusual-looking ants near her home. The 1.3 cm long soldier ants had large mandibles and looked like they could give a painful bite.

In an email today (June 4) the STOMPer wrote:

"I was shocked to find these 'pincher ants' near where I live. They were found in Pasir Ris along the Sungei Api Api path between Block 514 and 513.

"Their colony was about 100 metres across from what I could see at night. I was alerted of their presence because they were rustling the leaves there.

"Those with the pincers are about 1.3 cm long and the worker ants are about 1 cm long each.

"I blew onto them and they went into attack mode. It was a bit scary because there were so many. Not something you expect to see at a HDB estate."

Here's another sighting of the termite species Macrotermes carbonarius, which I already blogged about recently here.

Raffles Museum Treasures: Curved spiny spider

Curved spiny spider (Macracantha arcuata)
Native to Singapore: Vulnerable

A Guide to Common Singapore Spiders
A checklist of spiders from Singapore (Arachnida: Araneae)
NParks FaunaWeb


(Photo by artour_a)

Fallen tree branch has been blocking path for 4 days: why nothing done?

STOMPer Chopper spotted this tree branch lying on a path in front of a condominium along West Coast Drive. He feels that it should be removed as people are being forced to walk around it.

Said the STOMPer:

"This broken tree branch has been left there since Monday, untouched. The authorities should send someone to clear it.

"It's dangerous, of course. But I also think it causes a lot of inconvenience.

"When people try to cross the road, they have to go around the branch."

Based on the photo, I don't quite see how pedestrians are that greatly inconvenienced. After all, they can just walk around the fallen branch. Besides, the authorities do depend on members of the public contacting them about these incidents; it's not like there are CCTVs all over Singapore just to keep an eye on the trees.

Raffles Museum Treasures: Great bittern

Great bittern (Botaurus stellaris)
Collected from Singapore, 1927
Rare winter visitor to Singapore

Oriental Bird Images
xeno-canto
BirdLife
IUCN Red List
ARKive
Mangoverde World Bird Guide
Birds of Britain


(Photo by Parnasso)

Parrot flew into my Woodlands Link workshop. Is it yours?