Best of our wild blogs: 31 Jul 10

Note of thanks and special highlights from 2009/2010 civet work
from The Biodiversity crew @ NUS

Bidadari Cemetery
from Urban Forest

Guides of Singapore shores: Sandy shores and seagrass meadows
from wild shores of singapore

Pulau Ubin - Singapore's last kampong!
from wild shores of singapore

Massive Tuas reclamation continues until Jan 2011
from wild shores of singapore

Predators and Prey, and Catching Turtles
from NYT science blog

Read more!

Fresh look at Singapore's aquatic environment

Third book in series on biodiversity throws up some surprising insights
Ben Nadarajan Straits Times 31 Jul 10;

THE third book in the Private Lives series on Singapore's biodiversity will be launched next Monday.

The latest book will focus on the wide range of species living in Singapore's freshwater bodies. The previous two books were on the country's shoreline and its mangroves.

The series is sponsored by ExxonMobil through its Biodiversity Fund, which was set up in December 2005 through a donation to the Raffles Museum of Biodiversity Research at the National University of Singapore's department of biology.

Proceeds from the sale of the books go back to the fund, which publishes guidesheets and books on nature and conservation for schools as well as the general public. The fourth book planned for the series will be on rainforests.

One of the new book's editors, Assistant Professor Darren Yeo Chong Jinn, said it is not meant to be a guide to the biodiversity in Singapore's freshwater bodies, but more to provide a glimpse, to get people interested in some of the 'strange and unusual' aspects.

'Some of these animals really surprise us - we think they're gone, then they suddenly show up again,' he said. 'It's amazing how resilient some of them are.'

Prof Yeo said many people may think that a book on freshwater species would just be about fish and prawns, but there are other species in the ecosystem such as insects, frogs and birds as well, all featured in the book.

In fact, the cover photo is of the purple swamphen, standing among wetlands. This bird, which is closely related to the chicken, is quite uncommon but can be found even in artificial wetlands, such as those at Kranji.

There is also a chapter titled Temasekia which highlights species which were important in the country's heritage. These are species which were either first discovered in Singapore or named after some part of the country. This group includes prawns, crabs and aquatic bugs.

The book also features contributions from academics, biologists and overseas experts, as well as amateurs who have a keen interest in the topic. National water agency PUB has also contributed a chapter on human and societal involvement with freshwater bodies.

The other two editors of the book are Mr Kelvin Lim, the Raffles Museum's collections manager, and field ornithologist Wang Luan Keng, who is the museum's education and research officer.

Prof Yeo, who lectures on freshwater biology, the ecology of aquatic environments and biodiversity, said: 'Conservation of freshwater resources is very important as the freshwater ecosystems provide us not only with fresh water for daily use, but also other, perhaps less tangible, benefits such as temperature regulation, biodiversity, and even aesthetics and recreational opportunities.'

Raffles Museum head Peter Ng said that after 150 years of 'relentless development' in Singapore, it was very surprising that the extinction rate of fish, for example, was just 40 per cent and not closer to 90 per cent.

'It is hard to imagine that any of the freshwater biodiversity would have survived,' he said.

benjamin@sph.com.sg

Private Lives: An Expose Of Singapore's Freshwaters will be available for sale at the Raffles Museum of Biodiversity Research, National University of Singapore, as well as bookstore Nature's Niche. The hardcover version is $35, while the paperback costs $22.

Read more!

NEA unveils Litter Munchers to get youths to bin trash

Alvina Soh Channel NewsAsia 30 Jul 10;

SINGAPORE : The National Environment Agency (NEA) has unveiled a series of Litter Munchers as part of its nationwide campaign to curb littering among youths in Singapore.

The Litter Munchers are litter bins which have been given a unique personality to motivate youths to keep their environment clean.

According to a one-year sociological study by NEA, about 7-in-10 students interviewed admitted to littering. More than 2-in-10 even said nothing will stop them from littering.

The Litter Munchers have been created as a fun and amusing approach to appeal to the youths to stop littering.

Munster Muncher, which is one of the most popular of the series, takes the form of a cute and furry monster that burps whenever it receives litter.

And Robo Muncher, which is created from robotic parts, makes robotic noises. It even thanks people for binning their trash.

NEA said the Litter Munchers will also be incorporated into a skit - "Do The Right Thing. Let's Bin It!" - to deliver the anti-littering message in schools.

They also have their own interactive website, www.littermunchers.com.sg.

On Friday, NEA also introduced local celebrity Edmund Chen as its first cleanliness ambassador.

- CNA/al

Read more!

Great potential for China eco-cities: Mah

Much of innovation in sustainable living will occur in China, he says
Grace Ng Straits Times 31 Jul 10;

SHANGHAI: What a small place like Singapore can do to create a fast-growing yet liveable city, the cities of China have even more potential to do it, National Development Minister Mah Bow Tan told a Shanghai forum yesterday.

'My personal belief is that much of the innovation in sustainable living will occur right here in Chinese cities,' he said.

'The huge market in China, as well as the huge talent pool in China, will make Chinese cities fertile grounds for innovations, new technology and ideas to bloom and take off.'

Mr Mah was giving the keynote speech at the forum organised by the Urban Redevelopment Authority of Singapore in conjunction with the World Expo 2010 in Shanghai.

Some 300 people attended the forum, including officials from Shanghai, Tianjin, provinces such as Guangdong and Jiangsu, as well as local developers and urban planners.

The event featured speakers such as China's Vice-Minister for Housing and Urban-Rural Development, Mr Qiu Baoxing, and Mr Daniel Libeskind, a renowned American architect who designed Reflections at Keppel Bay.

The speakers shared their views on how to make high-growth cities sustainable and liveable.

This is a hot topic in China, which has paid a heavy environmental and social price for its red-hot growth in many parts of the vast country.

Mr Mah observed that different cities in Asia will strike their own paths, depending on their unique circumstances.

But, he noted, underlying the innovative ideas and models of sustainable and liveable cities are three principles that guided Singapore as it was charting its own development path, since gaining independence 45 years ago.

Firstly, Mr Mah said, 'sustainable development is about improving the quality of life for our people'.

Secondly, there is a need to plan long term and invest consistently in sustainable development during both high and low points of the economic cycle, he said.

A third principle, he added, was to 'make markets work for, rather than against sustainability'.

The Singapore Government has intervened in markets to make them work better, such as by pricing resources right. For instance, Singapore has a policy of zero subsidy for water and may even include a charge to discourage wastage and pollution.

Singapore has followed these principles in creating 'clean growth' that cuts down on pollution, and designing living spaces that are green, congestion-free and make good use of scarce resources.

And Chinese cities can do even more than Singapore - which at 710 sq km, is just one-tenth the size of the Shanghai municipality.

'If Singapore, a small city-state, can achieve both growth and liveability, so much more is the potential of Chinese cities,' said Mr Mah.

'China's success in achieving both vibrant growth and liveability will make a tremendous positive impact on cities throughout Asia, including Singapore.'

Vice-minister Qiu said China wants to be at the forefront of the creation of low-carbon eco-cities.

Unlike some developed countries that create eco-cities after they have industrialised, China is doing both at the same time now, he added. 'The development of our eco-cities is taking place at the peak period of our urbanisation.'

Mr Libeskind noted that China has what it takes to successfully create sustainable eco-cities - even ahead of some developed countries. It has 'great potential of intelligence', a sophisticated culture, and 'more urgency', he said. 'I have great confidence... that eco-cities will be realised here first.'

Read more!

Sabah Parks checking if marine parks affected by coral bleaching

Daily Express 30 Jul 10;

Kota Kinabalu: Sabah Parks is checking all marine parks in the State for coral bleaching, Deputy Chief Minister, Datuk Seri Yahya Hussin said.

If the situation arises, Sabah Parks would close the parks or take ameliorative actions to overcome the problem.

"A few days ago, the Department of Marine Parks Malaysia announced that numerous islands in Kedah, Terengganu and Pahang have been closed for a few months due to coral bleaching.

"The bleaching this time was more significant and widespread due to global warming," he said, at the opening of the Fifth Meeting of the Sulu-Sulawesi Marine Ecoregion Programme Tri-National Committee here.

His speech was delivered by Assistant Minister, Datuk Musbah Hj Jamli Yahya, who is also Agriculture and Food Industry Minister, said he highlighted the point to drive home the message that people now face unprecedented challenges to protect their natural resources.

"If in the past we have been concerned about more specific issues such as the destructive exploitation of natural resources, making animal or plant species extinct, pollution and illegal fishing, now we have to be not only very concerned but actually take necessary action to improve our global climate.

"The flip side of this is starkly dark for our future - species disappearance, biodiversity loss, negative socio-economic impacts, threats to our very living spaces and regression in our quality of lives, among others," he said.

Meanwhile, dive master Clement Lee said the claim by USM marine biologist Prof Dr Zulfigar Yassin that "some 90pc of Malaysia's corals are dead" does not speak for Sabah.

"Sipadan and Mabul both 40 minutes to one hour from Semporna are not affected except at isolated spots. Pulau Sibuan and Mantabuan are also not affected," Clement said via phone.

"I have been taking pictures in Mabul and Sipadan, the corals are as healthy as ever." Lee said readers can verify what he says in the Internet at clement@borneodivers.info.

In the West Coast such as Tunku Abdul Rahman Park we do see some bleaching but it's no more than 20pc to 30pc and began since June, Lee said.

"Our West Coast shares the same South China Sea as the east coast of Peninsular Malaysia. The water temperature in Sabah's west coast and Peninsular Malaysia is quite similar. In Peninsular, it's between 30-31 degrees Celsius and 29 to 30 degrees in Sabah," Lee said.

USM's Prof Zulfigar singled out global warming, noting that coral bleaching had spread since April from the coast of India to Australia and now West Malaysia but said non-stop sewage and industrial discharge from coastal development add to the "stress".

He said corals would bleach and turn white when sea temperature rises above 31 degrees Celsius for more than two days.

However, Clement said if global warming were the cause, it puzzles him why Sabah seems to be spared .

Even during an extended drought February to April this year when stifling temperatures were experienced across Sabah, there was little sign of coral bleaching here, Clement noted.

However, the switch of weather patterns from El Nino to La Nina which see frequent cloudy conditions and rainfalls "invariably lower the water temperature," Clement guessed.

"Being part of the Celebes Sea, Semporna's water temperature right now is 26 to 28 degrees Celsius and therefore Mabul and Sipadan's water temperature is much cooler than West Malaysia or even Sabah's West Coast.

Maybe this is why the corals here are not affected," Clement said.

"But equally, corals will get a shock if there were a sudden drop in temperature," said Clement, citing a caution from UMS' Prof Ridzwan.

"We hope this will not be the case," Lee said.

Prof Zulfigar warned that decline in coral reefs will lead to fewer fishes in the sea and ocean and hurt fishing industry because the reefs provide a home to many marine species.

He also warned that bleached corals may take years to recover despite mitigating measures such as closure of diver sites, reduced intake of seafood and reduction in carbon emissions.

Read more!

Expo shows illegal pet trade rampant in Indonesia

Niniek Karmini, Associated Press Yahoo News 31 Jul 10;

JAKARTA, Indonesia – The most threatened tortoise in the world is being sold openly at a plant and animal exposition in the heart of Indonesia's capital, highlighting concerns about the rampant — and growing — illegal pet trade.

The country has become a major trading hub for endangered tortoises and freshwater turtles, including species from Africa, South America and Asia, said Chris Shepherd of TRAFFIC, a British-based international wildlife monitoring network

While the government has passed legislation banning such illegal trade, dealers continue to blatantly sell endangered species without fear of arrest or prosecution, Shepherd said.

Those found Friday at Jakarta's annual flora and fauna expo — held from July 2 until Aug. 2 — included the world's most threatened ploughshare tortoise and the critically endangered radiated tortoises, both from Madagascar. They were priced up to $1,700.

Cages also were filled with rare Indian star tortoises, which are protected under the Convention on International Trade on Endangered Species, known as CITES, and the endangered pig-nose tortoise, from Indonesia's easternmost province of Papua, both selling for up to $500.

Vendors told The Associated Press other threatened tortoises and turtles not found on display could easily be obtained for a price.

"Recent surveys, and this expo, have shown that the trade continues and, in fact, now involves more illegally imported species than ever," said Shepherd. "Dealers know full well that it is illegal and are taking advantage of the enforcement agencies' lack of action."

Indonesia, one of the most biologically diverse nations in the world, has for years sold everything from eagles and leopard cats to gibbons as pets in the capital. Shady transactions continue to take place at the popular Pramuka and Jati Negara markets.

Read more!

South Aceh villager trampled by elephants

Antara 30 Jul 10;

Tapaktuan, Aceh Province (ANTARA News) - Salehuddin (30), a resident of Gampong Koto, Central Kluet sub district, South Aceh District, Aceh, was trampled to death by a herd of elephants, Friday.

The victim was a farmer who was guarding his garden at Alue Keujereun village, around 50 km east of Tapaktuan, South Aceh, when he was attacked by sumatran elephants (Elephas maximus sumatranus), Muhammad Hasbi, Central Kluet Sub district head, said.

Last July 15, in Bengkalis district, a senior citizen aged 63 years old, Marsini, was found dead Riau province, after being attacked by wild elephants.

"According to information we`ve received, Marsini was attacked by more than one elephant," chief of Riau province`s Conservation and Natural Resources Board, Trisnu Danisworo, said recently.

The tragic accident happened when Marsini who was walking around a palm oil plantation near her house met a group of wild elephants which were crossing the area.

"That location is actually part of wild elephant`s habitat. There are 40 elephants there. But now their habitat is damaged due to the shifting function of the area into palm oil plantation," he said.

Wild elephants attacking local people often happens in Bengkalis district during this year.

Last June, a herd of wild elephants attacked Petani village, Mandau sub-district, Riau district of Bengkalis, damaging four houses over the weekend.

Read more!

Cheetah will run again in India

BBC News 30 Jul 10;

The cheetah, eradicated in India by hunting nearly a century ago, will run again in the country, as three sites are earmarked for its reintroduction.

The government has approved wildlife groups' recommendations of two sanctuaries in Madhya Pradesh and an area in Rajasthan as potential homes.

The government will spend 30m rupees ($0.6m; £0.4m) to restore these sites before the animals are imported.

The plan is to import the cats from Africa, Iran and the Middle East.

Kuno Palpur and Nauradehi wildlife sanctuaries in the central Indian state of Madhya Pradesh and Shahgarh area in Jaisalmer, in the northern state of Rajasthan, have been selected as the sites to house the animals.
Trophy hunters

Environment and Forests Minister Jairam Ramesh said the reintroduction of the world's fastest land animal would "restore the grasslands" of India.

Wildlife experts say the two sanctuaries in Madhya Pradesh had the capacity to accommodate nearly 80 cheetahs, although 23 human settlements will have to be moved from the one in Nauradehi.

Scores of nomadic human settlements would also have to be cleared at the site in Rajasthan on the international border with Pakistan.

"The return of the cheetah would make India the only country in the world to host six of the world's eight large cats and the only one to have all the large cats of Asia," MK Ranjitsinh of Wildlife Trust of India told the Press Trust of India news agency.

Pursued by trophy hunters and herdsmen to the brink of extinction during the Raj, the Asiatic cheetah vanished from India many decades ago.

Conservationists say less than 100 of the critically endangered subspecies remain in Iran, roaming the central deserts.

The vast majority of the 10,000 cheetahs left in the world are in Africa.

Critics of the reintroduction scheme in India say that without restoring habitat and prey base, and reducing the scope for man-animal conflict, viable cheetah populations will not flourish.

Read more!

Criminal gangs drive surge in rhino poaching in South Africa

Tabelo Timse Yahoo News 30 Jul 10;

JOHANNESBURG (AFP) – Nine-month-old rhinoceros Vuma was orphaned after poachers this month hacked out his mother's horn and left her dead in a pool of blood at a reserve just north of Johannesburg.

She was the latest victim in a wave of poaching that has seen the number of slain rhinos escalate sharply this year in South Africa.

Vuma, whose name means "acceptance", only survived because his horn has still to grow. His mother was the last adult at the reserve, so he was moved last weekend to join a new herd.

Rhinos are so social that they can actually die of loneliness if left on their own.

"He was very stressed, dehydrated and extremely hungry when he arrived, but now he is slowly making progress, he is adapting well," said Ed Hern, owner of the private Rhino and Lion Nature Reserve where Vuma now lives with two other orphaned calves.

Poaching has surged this year on growing demand in Asia, where rhino horns are believed to have medicinal powers.

Last year, 122 rhinos were killed, but the number is set to double this year with 139 already slain, said Pelham Jones, chairman of the Private Rhino Owners Association.

Conservationists warned that if poaching continues at the current rate, the number of killings will outstrip the new births.

"South Africa is the remaining bastion of a viable rhino population in Africa and they (poachers) won't stop until there are no rhinos left," said Jones.

"What is of concern now is the level of sophistication they use for these attacks and the brutality," he added.

In the past, poachers used home-made weapons, but now conservation experts say international criminal gangs have entered the trade with specialised veterinary drugs, guns, helicopters, night vision equipment, bullet-proof vests and well-trained mercenaries to track rhinos.

South Africa National Parks spokeswoman Wanda Mkutshulwa said the government has established a Wildlife Reaction Unit to fight and combat rhino poaching.

"The aim of the unit is to coordinate the reporting, investigation and prosecution of these criminals in a systematic and deliberate manner because it has come to light that we are not dealing with your 'normal' poacher but rather with organised crime involving a number of syndicates," said Mkutshulwa.

She said that 5.2 million rands (710,000 dollars, 544,000 euros) was spent last year to hire more field rangers and buy new equipment for Kruger National Park.

Private game reserves, which often have less security, have been more vulnerable but are also stepping up their defences.

The commercial value of the slain rhinos is more than 470 million rands (64 million dollars), said Jones, adding that tourism will be greatly affected if the problem continued as the animal was among the big five which South Africa boasts.

"These guys know there is increased security at Kruger so now they are shifting their focus to us. I have to pay 40,000 rand a month for additional security and equipment," said Hern, who lost two rhinos to poaching two months ago.

"Rhino poaching is not only a problem but a trauma in our lives," he said.

"There is a lot of anger that goes with these things. One of our rhinos that was killed had been here for 25 years. These people just come and kill it just for the horn."

Jones said an awareness campaign in Asia was needed to explain that rhino horns have no scientific medicinal value.

"Scientists have proven that the rhino horn has keratin, which is the same chemical found in your nails. We respect their (Asian) culture and heritage so they must do the same to us," he said.

"Rhinos are part of our heritage. We brought these animals from extinction."

Read more!

Chernobyl zone shows decline in biodiversity

Victoria Gill BBC News 30 Jul 10;

The largest wildlife census of its kind conducted in Chernobyl has revealed that mammals are declining in the exclusion zone surrounding the nuclear power plant.

The study aimed to establish the most reliable way to measure the impact on wildlife of contamination in the zone.

It was based on almost four years of counting and studying animals there.

The scientists say that birds provide the best "quantitative measure" of these impacts.

They report their findings in the journal Ecological Indicators.

The research team say that their census of species in the zone - which was carried out for more than three years - provides more evidence that contamination has a "significant impact" on biodiversity.

Professor Timothy Mousseau from the University of South Carolina, US, and Dr Anders Moller from the University of Paris-Sud, France, worked together on the project.

From 2006-2009, they counted and examined wildlife including insects, amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals.

Their previously published work revealed some of the negative impacts on birds and on insects of the low-level radiation that still contaminated the exclusion zone surrounding the power plant.

The new data on mammals and reptiles shows what Professor Moussaeu described as a "strong signal" of reduced biodiversity in these groups too.

The research team compared the abundance of species in the exclusion zone with similar types of habitats in the area, which were not contaminated.

"The truth is that these radiation contamination effects were so large as to be overwhelming," Professor Mousseau told BBC News.

During their census work, he and Dr Moller have also examined the effects of radiation contamination on the animals. They say that these impacts are particularly obvious in birds.

In their studies on barn swallows, the team observed birds with tumours on their feet, necks and around their eyes.

"We think they may be more susceptible, after their long migrations, to additional environmental stress," explained Professor Mousseau.
Poison or haven?

Scientists in the Ukraine criticised the conclusions. Dr Sergii Gashchak, a researcher at the Chornobyl Center in Ukraine was not available for comment on this latest paper.

But he spoke to BBC News last year and dismissed the team's previous findings on insects and birds. He said that he drew "opposite conclusions".

"Wildlife really thrives in Chernobyl area - due to the low level of [human] influence," Dr Gashchak told BBC News.

"All life appeared and developed under the influence of radiation, so mechanisms of resistance and recovery evolved to survive in those conditions," he continued.

But Professor Mousseau said the evidence of an increase in biodiversity in the region is "purely anecdotal".

"This is the first paper that provides quantitative, rigorous data that the mammals really are significantly affected by contamination," he told BBC News.

"That said - it's not a bad idea to set this place up as a wildlife haven - it's a natural laboratory where we can study the long-term consequences of this kind of an accident."

Dr Mousseau also criticised a recently made documentary film called Chernobyl, A Natural History, which has been promoted by a French production company as showing how nature has "recolonised" the exclusion zone in the absence of man.

Professor Mousseau said: "If society is ever to learn more about the long term environmental consequences of large scale accidents - and Chernobyl is just one of several - it is important that we all take our responsibilities seriously."

Read more!