Nature Trekker on Pulau Ubin

Fright Night with this nature guide, anyone?
Straits Times 9 Nov 08;

Participants have been known to scream in fear when they go on night tours of Pulau Ubin led by nature guide Ben Lee.

'Yes, there were some people who freaked out when they heard loud noises coming from the trees,' said the 47-year-old.

He is unsure of the origins of the noises.

'Only once have I seen an unusual shape flying off from high up in the tree. That trip had about 28 people, so what I saw was not as frightening as it might have been if there were fewer people,' he said.

'The rest did not see what I noted and I kept very quiet about it,' said Mr Lee, who founded non-profit group Nature Trekker Singapore in 2003.

It has more than 2,100 members and he runs it full- time.

He will lead another night jaunt - with 26 or more people - through the wilds of Pulau Ubin on Nov 15.

There are some ground rules.

For example, do not aim your torch anywhere you want to but on the path in front.

'Once an animal is sighted, you can focus the light on it for a short time to get a better look and to take pictures,' said Mr Lee, who majored in human resource management at the University of Tasmania.

You can expect to spot resident wildlife such as wild boar, civet cat, leopard cat, otter, pangolin and python.

'Most of the participants will round off the trip with a meal in Changi to talk about what they've experienced, including any scary moments,' he said with a laugh.

Loh Keng Fatt

To find out more about the night tour, visit www.naturetrekker.org