Best of our wild blogs: 25 May 12


Bringing a glimpse of Cyrene to the Festival of Biodiversity
from wild shores of singapore

Sneak preview of “Singapore Got Wildlife, Meh?”!
from Festival of Biodiversity 2012

Join us at the “Conserving our Biodiversity Symposium”, Festival of Biodiversity (26-27 May 2012)
from News from the International Coastal Cleanup Singapore

See, feel & experience biodiversity at Festival of Biodiversity
from Toddycats!

Celebrate World Ocean Day with us @ Pasir Ris Site 6
from News from the International Coastal Cleanup Singapore

Children’s Season 2012: Open House at the Raffles Museum
from Raffles Museum News

Oriental White-eye eating flower bud of pink mempat
from Bird Ecology Study Group

Detouring around a hornet’s (Vespa affinis) nest in Mandai Besar mangrove
from Otterman speaks and Back to beautiful Mandai mangroves and mudflats


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Call of nature

A new festival aims to educate Singaporeans on the country's diverse flora and fauna
Rachel Chan Straits Times 25 May 12;

A bird and butterfly race is on tomorrow at the Singapore Botanic Gardens, in which students will use two new iPhone apps to help them identify and record the species sighted.

The race will launch the Bird Guide and Butterfly Guide apps, created by the Nature Society (Singapore), and is also a highlight of the inaugural Festival of Biodiversity this weekend.

The two-day event, which aims to educate the public about Singapore's diverse wildlife, is on at the Botanic Gardens. Some 2,000 people are expected to participate in free activities, such as a nature and biodiversity conservation symposium; a garden-city-themed photography exhibition; and an exhibition showcasing Singapore's marine life.

The National Parks Board (NParks) is co-organising the festival with the Biodiversity Roundtable, a group comprising members of the natural history community including the Animal Concerns Research & Education Society (Acres)and Nature Society (Singapore) and government agencies.

The idea for such a festival came from the roundtable session, after participants realised there was a need to engage the public. It also wanted to raise awareness and the profiles of other organisations doing their part to conserve Singapore's natural heritage.

The annual festival is held in conjunction with the International Day of Biological Diversity, which falls on May 22. The date was designated by the United Nations in 2000 to promote biodiversity issues.

Talks, given by nature lovers, range in topic from dragonflies, to habitat loss and conservation, to the importance of examining dead animals.

Two books will also be launched at the festival: Our Fragile Rainforest by Dr Leong Tzi Ming and James Gan, and Caterpillars Of Singapore's Butterflies by Khew Sin Khoon and Horace Tan.

Walk on the wild side
Straits Times 25 May 12;

The Festival of Biodiversity's activities are free and take place at the Singapore Botanic Gardens tomorrow and on Sunday. Here are our picks.

Book it

FESTIVAL OF BIODIVERSITY

Where: Botany Centre, Singapore Botanic Gardens

When: Tomorrow and Sunday

Admission: Free

Info: Go to www.nparks.gov.sg/festivalofbiodiversity or the blog at http://festivalofbiodiversitysingapore.wordpress.com/

THE RAINFOREST TOUR

What: Follow a volunteer guide through the rainforest trail at the Botanic Gardens. The one-hour tour is suitable for all ages and fitness levels.

When: Tomorrow, 10 to 11am, 11am to noon; Sunday, 9 to 10am, 4 to 5pm.

Where: Meet the guide at the Visitor Centre 15 minutes before the tour starts.

BODIES OF EVIDENCE: A MORBID CELEBRATION OF BIODIVERSITY

What: Learn what dead animals can tell us about wildlife and the impact of human activities on the natural environment in urban Singapore. Presented by nature blogger Ivan Kwan.

When: Sunday, 2 to 2.45pm

Where: Function Room

DEVELOPMENT HISTORY OF THE PAST 200 YEARS AND ITS EFFECT ON HABITAT LOSS

What: A presentation, with aerial photos and satellite images, on how urban development has changed Singapore's natural environment starting from the late 1700s, when Teochew gambier planters from the Riau Islands arrived. Presented by Mr Tony O'Dempsey, chairman of the Vertebrate Study Group of the Nature Society.

When: Sunday, 2 to 2.45pm

Where: Function Room

SINGAPORE HORNBILL PROJECT - RETURN OF THE KING

What: A 40-minute documentary filmed by a team of dedicated researchers, citizen scientists and bird-lovers who spent more than six years studying the Oriental Pied Hornbill. This bird was thought to be extinct in Singapore as it had not been seen for more than 150 years. The 2010 film chronicles the efforts at helping the hornbill re-establish its home here after it was rediscovered in 1994.

When: Tomorrow, 11am; Sunday, 10am

Where: Function Room

SINGAPORE GOT WILDLIFE MEH?

What: A slideshow of short video clips and photos of native wildlife, taken by various nature enthusiasts. Catch interesting images, such as those of animals coupling in the reefs and those answering the call of nature while perched high up on the trees.

When: Tomorrow, 10am; Sunday, 3pm

Where: Function Room

STORYTELLING SESSION FOR KIDS

What: Librarian Chen Wanyingfrom the Bukit Merah Regional Library will be reading books such as The Giving Tree and The Lorax. For ages four and up.

When: Tomorrow, 11to 11.45am, 3 to 3.45pm

Where: Ridley Hall

MACRO WORLD OF SINGAPORE

What: An introduction to macro nature photography and basic techniques by accomplished nature photographer Lee Yan Leong who has shot for the United Nations Environemental Programme-World Conservation Monitoring Centre. He will share where shooters can go, the range of subjects available in Singapore, and the ethics of nature photography. Recommended for ages 15 and above.

When: Sunday, 1 to 1.45pm

Where: Function Hall


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Indonesia: only 7-10 Javanese leopards in East Java National Park

Count Baluran Javanese leopards with fingers
Antara 24 May 12;

Surabaya, E Java (ANTARA News) - There are only about 7-10 Javanese leopards (Panthera pardus melas) remaining in Baluran National Park in Situbondo, East Java, according to a photographer.

"I took the photograph of a Javanese leopard on February 18, 2012, and it was the first ever picture taken after 22 years," Nurdin Razak, a wildlife photographer from Gresik, stated here on Thursday.

He said the photo of the Javanese leopard would be featured in "Surabaya Wildlife Photo Exhibition" at the House of Sampoerna from May 26 to June 17.

The academician from Airlangga University school of tourism explained he encountered the Javanese leopard at dawn on Saturday on February 18 and later managed to take its picture at night while traveling with a ranger in a car.

He noted the Javanese leopard was an endangered species because there were only around 250 left in the wild worldwide and just about 7-10 in Baluran National Park.

The wildlife photographer, who has covered 33 national parks in Java and Bali, said the leopard whose picture he had taken was 1.8 metres long from head to tail.

"I think the animal was about two and a half years old when I spotted it at the Baluran evergreen area, some 4.7 km east of Bekol in Situbondo," Nurdin added.
(O001)

Editor: Ella Syafputri

Javan leopards on brink of extinction
Otniel Tamindael Antara 28 May 12;

Jakarta (ANTARA News) - The population of Javan leopards (Panthera pardus melas), who are thought to have migrated from South Asia to Java along a land bridge that bypassed Sumatra and Kalimantan during the Middle Pleistocene, continues to decline.

If nothing is done immediately to conserve this critically endangered species, it will soon vanish in the next few years.

According to the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUNC), the population of Javan leopards in the wild is estimated at less than 250 worldwide.

Meanwhile, Nurdin Razak, a wildlife photographer from Gresik, East Java, stated in Surabaya on Thursday that only about 7-10 Javan leopards remained in Baluran National Park in Situbondo.

He said that Javan leopards are found in Baluran, Alas Purwo, Meru Betiri, Bromo Tengger Semeru, Merapi and Merbabu, Ceremai, Gunung Gede, Ujung Kulon and Gunung Halimun National Parks on Java Island, but their total population is unknown.

While roaming through the Baluran National Park one night in February this year, Nurdin got the chance to photograph a Javan leopard.

"I took the photograph of a Javan leopard on February 18, 2012; it was the first ever picture taken in the last 22 years," Nurdin Razak remarked.

He added that the photo would be featured in the "Surabaya Wildlife Photo Exhibition" at the House of Sampoerna from May 26 to June 17.

The academician from Airlangga University`s school of tourism explained that he first encountered the Javanese leopard at dawn on February 18, 2012, which was a Saturday; he later managed to photograph it at night while travelling with a ranger in a car.

He pointed out that the Javan leopard was an endangered species because there were only about 250 of them left worldwide, with only about 7-10 in Baluran National Park.

The wildlife photographer, who has explored 33 national parks in Java and Bali, said that the leopard whose picture he had taken was 1.8 metres long from head to tail.

"I think the animal was about two-and-a-half years old when I spotted it at the Baluran evergreen area, some 4.7 km east of Bekol in Situbondo," Nurdin stated.

He noted that due to population growth, agricultural expansion and uncontrolled poaching, the population of Javan leopards is threatened by loss of habitat, which will eventually lead to their extinction.

Therefore, according to Nurdin, an overall effort should be made to protect these animals from extinction, including the enforcement of strict hunting laws.

Interestingly, the Javan leopard has also become a symbol of friendship between the people of Indonesia and Germany, and Berlin`s Tierpark is the only zoo which keeps the animal.

On January 16, 2012, two Javan leopard cubs - a male and a female - were born to their mother Shinta and father Wuppi in Tierpark zoo. The local community greeted their birth enthusiastically.

In a press conference before dozens of local newsmen, the Indonesian Ambassador to Germany, Eddy Pratomo, gave them traditional names: the female cub was named "Srikandi" and the male, "Arjuna."

The 6-year-old Shinta, the mother of Srikandi and Arjuna, was born in Taman Safari Indonesia, while Wuppi, 18, was raised in Wupertal, Germany.

According to Eddy Pratomo, the birth of the Javan leopard cubs was met with great enthusiasm from the German people, especially the citizens of Berlin.

"Even before the press conference on the birth of the Javan leopards, the German media had begun to publicise it," Eddy Pratomo observed.

He also appealed to the German people to love the rare animals as a symbol of friendship and goodwill between Indonesia and Germany.

"It also adds a note of happiness for the 60th anniversary of Indonesian-German relations this year," he said, adding that the successful breeding of the Javan leopard was an achievement of cooperation between Tierpark Berlin and Taman Safari Indonesia since 2010.

As part of this cooperation, Tierpark Berlin had lent a jaguar and a giraffe to Taman Safari Indonesia, which reciprocated by lending a pair of Javan leopards to Tierpark.

In addition to the Javan leopards, Tierpark Berlin also keeps a pair of Sumatran tigers and Sumatran elephants.

Several national parks on Java Island are said to keep Javan leopards, from Ujung Kulon on the tip of West Java to Alas Purwo on the tip of East Java, but because of habitat loss, their population is now unknown.

Wildlife Extra News has reported on its official website, www.wildlifeextra.com, that a rare Javan leopard was released back into the wild in June 2009, almost a year after it was found trapped in West Java.

The website stated that a team comprising members from the UK charity International Animal Rescue (IAR) and the Animal Sanctuary Trust Indonesia (ASTI) rescued the highly endangered animal, which they named "Aceng," and restored it to health.

Finally, on June 18, 2009 - almost 10 months after he was rescued - Aceng began his journey back to freedom in the wild.
(Uu.O001/INE/KR-BSR)

Editor: Priyambodo RH


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Philippines: Whale, dolphin strandings increase

WWF-Philippines Malaya Business Insight 25 May 12;

This summer, don’t panic if you see a dolphin or whale stranded on the beach.

Call the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF-Philippines) and the Marine Wildlife Watch of the Philippines or local authorities.

“WWF-Philippines alone has a 25,000-strong following on Facebook and pools volunteer experts from a wide range of disciplines to accomplish conservation goals,” Pagaduan, WWF-Philippines Hamilo Coast Project Manager. “We’re just a Facebook message or a text away.”

According to WWF-Philippines, cetacean strandings are increasing; in response, it conducts workshops on what to do during the strandings.

Cetaceans include all whale, dolphin and porpoise species, divided by type. Odontocetes or toothed whales feed primarily on fish and squid. Mysticetes or baleen whales have fringed strips of hair-like plates in place of teeth and feed primarily on plankton, krill and tiny fish.

Twenty eight – a full third of all known species – have been recorded in Philippine waters as of 2012.

Each year, thousands of cetacean strandings are reported worldwide. Some die at sea and wash ashore, while others become trapped in shallow water. Left unaided, many die within a day or two.

About a dozen stranding events are reported in the Philippines yearly, most occurring during the amihan or northeastern monsoon from November to March when strong winds generate stronger-than-usual currents.

“Our priority should be to return stranded cetaceans to their natural habitats as soon as possible,” says WWF-Philippines Vice-Chair and CEO Lory Tan.

Cetacean strandings are caused by the presence or a lack of food, predators, stress, injuries, disease, pollution, rough seas, tidal fluctuations, undersea quakes, seismic testing, blast fishing or the disruption of magnetic fields used by some cetaceans for navigation.

In December 2009, a stranded 29-foot Bryde’s Whale (Baleanoptera edeni) was towed and set-free by locals in nearby Barangay Calayo, Nasugbu.

Earlier, in February 2009, 300 Melon-headed Whales (Peponocephala electra) were stranded off Pilar and Orion towns in Bataan, in the largest recorded stranding event in Philippine history. Three of the whales died but the majority were herded to deeper waters by volunteers.

The next month, in Odiongan, Romblon, another pod of 100 Melon-headed Whales was ushered back to deeper waters.

Recently, WWF-Philippines conducted a two-day rescue workshop at Hamilo Coast in Nasugbu, Batangas. Over 40 staff members and officers of Hamilo Coast underwent classroom and field sessions on cetacean biology, identification, threats, conservation and actual rescue techniques.

“WWF conducts these workshops so local leaders know just what to do,” explains Tan, author of the multi-awarded book, “A Field Guide to Whales and Dolphins in the Philippines”.

“Few Filipinos realize that whales are found right here in the Philippines,” says Pagaduan. “Training local residents to rescue cetaceans far more than ensures the safety of stranded whales and dolphins – it cultivates their natural sense of stewardship.”

Since 2007, Hamilo Coast has been working closely with WWF to restore and protect the degraded coastlines and marine resources of Nasugbu, Batangas. The 8,000-hectare eco-tourism project has fused tourism with sustainable land development by balancing conservation and land conversion.

“When I was young, beached dolphins used to be slaughtered for meat,” recounts Zaldy Flores, Hamilo Coast Security Officer and a resident of Barangay Calayo. “The skills shared by WWF have given us both the competence and confidence to deal with future strandings. We’re now ready to rescue all stranded whales and dolphins in Nasugbu.”

“You don’t have to be a doctor or a vet to save lives,” dolphin mural painter AG Saño points out.

“Jessie De Los Reyes, a Bantay Dagat or Sea Patrol volunteer based in Calatagan, Batangas, was able to rescue and release hundreds of sea turtles, dolphins, sharks and even a large whale because he attended a workshop like this. If one person can do this, imagine what can happen if all 40 people here emulate him.”

Saño, Tan, Pagaduan, Marlyn Santiago, Vanessa Vergara, Joanne Arnaldo and Gregg Yan conducted the Cetacean rescue training.

Since 1997, WWF has been collaborating with leading Filipino marine mammal experts and conservationists to conduct marine mammal training programs with local governments, coastal communities and private sector allies.

“All Filipinos can do their part,” says Saño. “When at the beach, throw your trash in bins. Here and abroad, never order whale or dolphin meat. Finally, we call on everyone to boycott dolphin shows. If you love dolphins, then please watch them in the wild. Palawan, Bohol, the Tañon Strait and the Davao Gulf are excellent places to see them in their natural element.”

To schedule a cetacean stranding workshop, email: kkp@wwf.org.ph.


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Thai government urged to protect Irrawaddy Dolphins in Songkla Lake

Thai News Agency The Nation 25 May 12;

A Songkhla-based Irrawaddy Dolphin conservation club and concerned officials have urged government agencies to come up with proper conservation measures for the critically endangered species in the Songkhla Lake, Thai News Agency reported Thursday.

Uthai Yordchan, president of Ban Laem Hat Irrawaddy Dolphin Conservation Club, together with the Songkhla Farmers Council and its members submitted a letter to the agriculture and cooperatives minister and the natural resources and environment minister via Songklha Governor Grisada Boonrach.

The club called on the government agencies to enact measures to resolve problems related to the dying-out of the species in Songkhla Lake and to conserve the dolphins as well as urgently resolve fishing activities related to the netting of Mekong Giant Catfish in the Irrawaddy Dolphin conservation zone in Songkhla Lake.

Irrawaddy dolphins are considered as one of the five most valuable natural resources and are equally valuable to residents of the Songkhla Lake Basin, the group explained.

In April and May this year, about seven Irrawaddy dolphins were found dead. They had been netted together with the Mekong Giant Catfish.

The remaining dolphins inhabiting Songkhla Lake were thus endangered and at high risk of extinction in the near future.

An estimated 30 Irrawaddy dolphins currently inhabit Songkhla Lake, according to Santi Ninwat, professional fisheries biologist at the Songkhla-based Thailand Marine and Coastal Resources Research Centre.

Thai's Irrawaddy Dolphins At Risk Of Extinction

Bernama 25 May 12;

SONGKHLA, May 25 (Bernama) -- A Songkhla-based Irrawaddy Dolphin conservation club and concerned officials on Thursday urged relevant government agencies to determine proper conservation measures for the critically endangered dolphins in the Songkhla Lake.

Uthai Yordchan, president of Ban Laem Hat Irrawaddy Dolphin Conservation Club together with Songkhla Farmers Council members submitted a letter to the Agriculture and Cooperatives Minister and the Natural Resources and Environment Minister via Songklha Governor Grisada Boonrach.

The club called on government agencies to take steps to resolve risk factors related to the extinction of the dolphins in Songkhla Lake and to find ways to conserve the dolphins, Thai news agency reported.

Irrawaddy dolphins are considered a valuable natural resource among residents in the Songkhla Lake Basin, the group explained.

In April and May this year, local fishermen found seven dead dolphins in the Irrawaddy Dolphin conservation zone in Songkhla Lake.

The club said that the remaining dolphins in Songkhla Lake are endangered and at high risk of extinction in the near future.

Santi Ninwat, a fisheries biologist at the Songkhla-based Thailand Marine and Coastal Resources Research Centre, said an estimated 30 Irrawaddy dolphins currently inhabit the Songkhla Lake.

-- BERNAMA


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