Wild Singapore's co-authors (from left) Geoffrey Davison, Ria Tan and Benjamin Lee traced Singapore's natural history from the early 1800s, taking in the breadth and depth of existing flora and fauna. -- ST PHOTO: DESMOND FOO
BRITISH publisher John Beaufoy was taken aback in 2010 when he was pitched the idea for a book on "wild Singapore". He thought it was an oxymoron.
But two years on, the book will sit on shelves worldwide alongside other titles in the "Wild" series, such as Wild Sabah and Wild Sri Lanka.
The 208-page hardcover book will be launched on Friday at the Botanic Gardens.
Mr Beaufoy, who will be flying in from London for the launch, said: "I think many people overseas will react in a similar way to me - they will be surprised, and I must say, rather delighted by the surprisingly green face of Singapore that the book presents."
Its authors are three conservationists: Dr Geoffrey Davison, assistant director of the National
Biodiversity Centre, Mr Benjamin Lee, assistant director of nature parks at the National Parks Board, and Ms Ria Tan, a blogger and an expert on marine life here.
The book traces Singapore's natural history from the early 1800s, taking in the breadth and depth of existing flora and fauna, which the authors know will leave many Singaporeans as bewildered as Mr Beaufoy was.
It is a reaction the authors have seen time and again. When Ms Tan posted photographs online of starfish and otters taken on Singapore coastlines, she had to vigorously defend their authenticity. People had commented: "Singapore, meh?"
Even pods of bottlenose dolphins can be spotted in Singapore's southern waters, according to the book.
Nature and wildlife are often "literally right in your backyard", the authors said. People just have to go out and notice it.
The book, priced at $69.99 (including GST), is available at major bookstores.
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