Best of our wild blogs: 26 May 17

Launch of the Biodiversity Library of Southeast Asia
News from Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum

3 June (Sat): R.U.M. at Balik Chek Jawa
Restore Ubin Mangroves (R.U.M.) Initiative

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Bat man has a secret mission on Pulau Ubin

Despite its small size, Singapore is home to a large variety of animal and plant species. But conserving them is an ongoing challenge. In this five-part weekly series to mark the ongoing Biodiversity Week, The Straits Times has been highlighting some success stories. Today, in the last part of the series, we look at the bats of Pulau Ubin, and ask NParks officers why they love their jobs.
Samantha Boh Straits Times 26 May 17;

With their hairy bodies, razor-sharp teeth and macabre appearances in horror films, bats are feared by many.

However, these creatures of the night actually help maintain a balance in the ecosystem - pollinating plants, dispersing seeds and keeping insect populations in check.

Their numbers worldwide are under threat, with their habitats destroyed by deforestation or colonies wiped out by humans because of fears fuelled by myths about vampires.

In Singapore, the lack of forested areas makes it difficult for bats to thrive. That's why they have earned themselves a spot in the National Parks Board's (NParks) species recovery programme, which is aimed at conserving Singapore's endemic and threatened plants and animals.

About 30 bat boxes and two bat houses, man-made structures for bats to roost in, have been set up across Pulau Ubin. They are meant to promote the growth of more colonies, and to attract new bat species to the island.

NParks' focus is on species that are critically endangered in Singapore, including the Megaderma spasma, known commonly as the Lesser false vampire bat, that lives on Pulau Ubin and Pulau Tekong, and the Hipposideros cineraceus, or the Ashy roundleaf bat, which has been spotted only on Pulau Ubin.

The Ashy roundleaf bat was first recorded here three years ago and, so far, two colonies have been found in abandoned structures, said NParks manager for conservation Noel Thomas, who spotted them during one of his nature surveys.

The exact location of their dwellings is a well-kept secret, to protect the bats from being disturbed by human activities.

This bat species, named after its leaf-shaped nose, is not endangered in other parts of South and South-east Asia but its numbers are believed to be small here, and estimated at fewer than 100, said Mr Thomas, who is studying them.

They are forest-dwelling bats which use echolocation. This means the bats produce sounds that bounce around their surroundings and return to their ears, to detect insects to feed on.

Their sighted cousin, the Lesser false vampire bat, is a more established species here with about 120 individuals. Several colonies are found in disused structures around Pulau Ubin. It looks like the vampire bat but does not consume blood, feeding primarily on insects.

"Insect bats can go out and consume insects in large numbers at night, so they do play that ecological role to maintain a balance in nature by keeping insect numbers in check," said Mr Thomas, 35.

Globally, bats make up one-fifth of all mammals, with about 1,000 species of bats, many of which are fruit and nectar bats.

Fruit bats help to disperse seeds while nectar bats pollinate flowers by carrying pollen on their furry coats from one flower to another as they feed on nectar. "They are also important for scientific research... as they have strong antibodies that protect them from contracting diseases," added Mr Thomas.

As part of the bat species recovery programme, the bat boxes and houses were placed last December in various habitats across Pulau Ubin, such as mangroves and coastal forests, to provide more roosting options.

"These species of bats that reside in rainforests around South-east Asia roost in large tree holes which can hold hundreds of bats, but we don't have that kind of environment here," said Mr Thomas, who will be checking all the structures for bat colonies next month.

Research, however, shows that it can take up to three years for bats to colonise such structures. Another effort to promote the conservation of bats includes a survey of known bat colonies to ensure that their environment is hospitable.

BAT FACTS

Only mammals capable of sustained flight

Associated with vampires in Western cultures, but believed to bring good luck in Asia

There are about 1,000 species of bats, and they make up one-fifth of all mammals

All bats are nocturnal

Bats live an average of 20 years

The popular phrase "blind as a bat" is not quite right - some bats have well-developed eyes which they use to hunt their prey


NPARKS OFFICERS ON WHY THEY LOVE THEIR JOBS AND BIODIVERSITY

MS BAZILAH IBRAHIM, HERBARIUM MANAGER, SINGAPORE BOTANIC GARDENS

I love my job because... of the experiences it allows me to be part of. Also, I have awesome colleagues at the Herbarium. They are genuinely passionate about what they do and are always willing to share their knowledge about plants. As a bonus, I get to work in a pretty neat environment.

I find herbarium work fascinating because... I get to work on specimens that have passed through the hands of many celebrated botanists and collectors. I also get a glimpse of Singapore's history and its natural heritage.

I feel that biodiversity is important because... we rely on it for science, research, the economy and more. It tells the story of our natural heritage.

MS HOLLY SIOW, MANAGER OF BIODIVERSITY (TERRESTRIAL), NATIONAL BIODIVERSITY CENTRE

I love my job because… I feel like I can make a tangible difference to the future of biodiversity conservation in Singapore.

I find frogs fascinating because... given their permeable skin (which makes them vulnerable to environmental contaminants), studying the frogs in an area can tell you a lot about the general health of the ecosystem. They are also adorable.

I feel that biodiversity is important because... it plays a critical part in many aspects of our life, such as the views we wake up to each morning, the food we eat, the clothes we wear and even the air we breathe.

MR ZESTIN SOH, MANAGER OF PARKS

I love my job because... there is rarely a typical day at the office. My job allows me to be involved in activities revolving around my passions - working with nature and people in Singapore.

I find bees fascinating because... they arecritical to ecosystems but are under-appreciated and misunderstood. Most people do not realise that Singapore is home to more than 100 native bee species, and that they come in a variety of shapes, sizes and colours - even blue.

I feel that biodiversity is important because... so many incredible stories about the natural world that possess the ability to thrill and teach lie within its intricacies. Also, biodiversity is an irreplaceable part of our natural heritage - we would not be Singapore without it.

MR NOEL THOMAS, MANAGER FOR CONSERVATION (PULAU UBIN)

I love my job because... I get to monitor species that are threatened and propose measures to aid their conservation.

I find bats fascinating because... they communicate in ways we cannot detect without special equipment and are the only flying mammal. They are nocturnal animals that work hard to pollinate our flora and keep insect numbers in check.

I feel that biodiversity is important because... it takes many species to form ecosystems that provide services used by all living things. Better species diversity means natural sustainability for all life forms.

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Singapore must be more transparent in shark fin trade: Report

Singapore was ranked the world’s second-largest shark fin trader by value after Hong Kong, according to trade figures from 2012-2013, say conservationist groups Traffic and WWF.
Channel NewsAsia 26 May 17;

SINGAPORE: Conservationist groups called on the Singapore Government to improve transparency and conduct "more robust monitoring" to tackle the global shark fin trade, after the country was found to be one of the world's largest shark fin trader by value.

According to the latest report released by wildlife-trade monitor Traffic and conservation group WWF on Friday (May 26), Singapore was ranked the world’s second-largest shark fin trader by value after Hong Kong, according to trade figures in 2012-2013.

The recorded export and import values of shark fin in Singapore was S$50.4 million and S$65 million, respectively, during that period, second only to Hong Kong's S$57.2 million for export and S$215.4 million for import trade, the report said.

Traffic and WWF added that in-depth analysis into the shark fin trade was hampered by a lack of detail in Singapore Custom's import and export data. They recommended that Singapore Customs begin recording shark data using detailed Harmonised System Codes (HS Codes), developed by the World Customs Organisation for the classification of goods.

The system allows for better distinction between dried and frozen shark products, which is critical for accurately determining actual trade volumes and provide further insight into the species in trade, WWF and Traffic said.

Accurate, openly available information would also enable individuals and businesses to make responsible choices about which products they ​consume, they added.

“Any country that dominates a particular trade has an extra responsibility to ensure it is transparent and traceable,” Ms Kanitha Krishnasamy, senior programme manager for Traffic in Southeast Asia, added. “Key to any effort aimed at enabling legal and sustainable sourcing, and long-term viability of shark populations, is the open availability of product-specific trade data."

According to a survey by WWF released in February 2016, three out of four consumers in Singapore think the government is not doing enough to protect sharks and would support legislation against shark fin consumption.

Commenting on the latest report, Ms Elaine Tan, CEO of WWF-Singapore, said: “Support to reduce the consumption of shark fin has grown as more people and businesses now believe in keeping sharks off our plates and in the oceans."

"The fact that Singapore is a significant trader means that the solution to the global shark crisis lies right here on our shores. More robust monitoring of volumes and protected species will set a positive precedent for other countries and contribute to healthier shark populations and oceans,” she added.

Singapore edging up as world’s second-largest shark’s fin trader
KENNETH CHENG Today Online 26 May 17;

SINGAPORE — Despite various moves here in recent years, such as hotels removing shark’s fin from their restaurant menus, for example, Singapore has moved up the ranks to become the world’s second-biggest trader of the product, a report has found.

Traffic, a wildlife-trade monitoring network, and the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), which published the report, noted that an in-depth analysis of the trade here was hampered by a lack of detail in the Singapore Customs’ import and export data.

They urged the government department to begin recording data on the trade using the internationally recognised harmonised system (HS) codes developed by the World Customs Organisation, and the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority of Singapore (AVA) has told them that this was under way. The use of HS codes to classify goods, including shark commodities, was introduced in 1967, Singapore Customs told TODAY.

The report indicated that Singapore should “immediately scrutinise” its practices including its HS codes, which do not distinguish the different types of shark products or provide for all protected species.

The analysis of Singapore’s role in the shark and ray trade found that, on the export front, the country placed second after Hong Kong, with trade valued at US$40 million (S$55 million) between 2012 and 2013.

This was 11.1 per cent lower than Hong Kong’s US$45 million. Singapore is also the second-largest importer of shark’s fin after Hong Kong. Imports over the same period were valued at US$51.4 million, compared with Hong Kong’s US$170 million. As a re-exporter of the product, Singapore is placed second as well, averaging 2,422 tonnes yearly between 2012 and 2013 — which is one-tenth of the world’s total exports. It re-exported the commodity to countries such as Hong Kong, China and Japan.

A Traffic report in 2013 showed that Singapore was one of the world’s top four exporters and the third-largest importer of shark’s fin between 2000 and 2009.

In recent years, businesses from hotels to airlines have taken steps to stem the trade. In 2014, Singapore Airlines Cargo stopped carrying shark’s fin on its flights. That year, hotel giants, including Hilton, also said no to dishing out the ingredient at the properties they own and manage.

In their report, Traffic and the WWF said that more detailed codes would allow shark products to be distinguished between “dried” and “frozen”, which is crucial to determining trade volumes accurately.

The two groups have started discussions with the AVA to put in place product commodity codes for all

30 species of sharks and rays that are subject to international trade restrictions under the Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora.

Such information would also allow individuals and firms to make “responsible” choices on the products they consume or use, they added.

The impact of hunting sharks for their fins has been the subject of much debate. More than 70 million sharks are killed yearly across the globe, and many species are caught at “unsustainable levels”, Traffic and the WWF said.

Singapore emerges as second largest trader of shark fin in the world
NICHOLAS CHEW AsiaOne 29 May 17;

Many Singaporeans may no longer be consuming shark's fin soup nowadays, but large amounts of this expensive and rare product is still making its way through our borders.

In a report released by wildlife trade monitoring group, TRAFFIC, it has been revealed that Singapore is now the second largest trader of shark fin.

Hong Kong tops the list in terms of revenue, according to findings done in 2012-2013.

The same report also noted that an in-depth, accurate analysis has not been available due to the lack of transparency in Singapore's trade information regarding shark fin.

The statistics

According to the report published together by TRAFFIC as well as the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), Singapore's trade valued at $50.4 million and $65 million for exports and imports of shark fin respectively.

It was also found that some of the species traded include the porbeagle (Lamna nasus), the oceanic whitetip shark (Carcharhinus longimanus), the basking shark (Cetorhinus maximus), the scalloped hammerhead (Sphyrna lewini), and the great hammerhead shark (Sphyrna mokarran).

These five species of sharks have all been classified under threatened categories on the IUCN Red List.

The hunting and selling of shark fin has long been a highly controversial topic, with more than 70 million sharks killed worlwide yearly according to TRAFFIC and WWF.

Lack of transparency

In response to the lack of transparency, the report has urged the Singapore government to implement Harmonised System Codes (HS Codes), which aids in distinguishing different species of sharks, allowing Singapore Customs to monitor the trading of endengered species.

"Any country that dominates a particular trade has an extra responsibility to ensure it is transparent and traceable," said Ms Kanitha Krishnasamy, senior programme manager for Traffic in Southeast Asia.

"Key to any effort aimed at enabling legal and sustainable sourcing, and long-term viability of shark populations, is the open availability of product-specific trade data."

Ms Elaine Tan, the CEO of WWF-Singapore said: "The fact that Singapore is a significant trader means that the solution to the global shark crisis lies right here on our shores."

One good thing here is "support to reduce the consumption of shark fin has grown as more people and businesses now believe in keeping sharks off our plates and in the oceans," pointed out Ms Tan.



Calls for better traceability after report identifies Singapore as world’s second largest shark fin trader
TRAFFIC 26 May 17;

Singapore is the world’s second largest shark fin trader by value after Hong Kong according to a new report by TRAFFIC and WWF, who are calling on Singapore to improve transparency in the global shark fin trade through more robust monitoring.

The recorded value of the export trade was US$40million (S$50.4 million) for 2012–2013, a close second after Hong Kong’s US$45 million (S$57.2 million), while the corresponding figures for import values were US$170 million (S$215.4 million) for Hong Kong, with Singapore well behind but still second on US$51.4 million (S$65 million).

Analysis of Singapore-specific trade data showed that the country imported 14,114 tonnes of shark fin over a six year period from 2005–2014*. According to the report, The Shark and Ray Trade in Singapore (PDF, 3 MB), the country was also the world’s second largest re-exporter of shark fin after Thailand, accounting for 10% of the world’s total exports from 2012–2013, averaging 2,422 tonnes per year.

“Any country that dominates a particular trade has an extra responsibility to ensure it is transparent and traceable,” said Kanitha Krishnasamy, Senior Programme Manager for TRAFFIC in Southeast Asia. “Key to any effort aimed at enabling legal and sustainable sourcing, and long-term viability of shark populations, is the open availability of product-specific trade data.”

In-depth analysis was hampered by a lack of detail in Singapore Customs’ import and export data, and the report recommends a number of changes in the way information is gathered. For example, Singapore Customs should begin recording shark data using detailed Harmonized System Codes (HS Codes), developed by the World Customs Organization for the classification of goods. TRAFFIC and WWF have been informed by the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority of Singapore (AVA) that this is underway.

More detailed information will allow for distinction between dried and frozen shark products, which is critical for accurately determining actual trade volumes, and provide further insight into the species in trade—clearly vital information. Accurate, openly available information would also enable individuals and businesses to make responsible choices about which products they consume.

Sharks and rays found for sale in Singapore. Singapore's import / export figures of rays reveals that there is high domestic demand.
“Support to reduce the consumption of shark fin has grown as more people and businesses now believe in keeping sharks off our plates and in the oceans. The fact that Singapore is a significant trader means that the solution to the global shark crisis lies right here on our shores. More robust monitoring of volumes and protected species will set a positive precedent for other countries and contribute to healthier shark populations and oceans,” said Elaine Tan, Chief Executive Officer of WWF-Singapore.

TRAFFIC and WWF have embarked on discussions with the AVA based on findings of the report, targeting the full implementation of product commodity codes for all 30 species of sharks and rays subject to international trade restrictions under the Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).

More than 70 million sharks are killed every year around the world, with many species caught at unsustainable levels. According to the IUCN Shark Specialist Group, nearly 25% of sharks and rays now face extinction, with overfishing for fins and meat the major drivers. Slow growth, late maturing and the production of few young further leave them vulnerable to overfishing and slow to recover from depletion.

About the report
The Shark and Ray Trade in Singapore is the first detailed analysis of the country’s role in the shark and ray trade, and provides a full picture of Singapore’s role in the shark fin and ray trade from source to market. It was conducted as part of the global WWF and TRAFFIC Shark & Ray Initiative.

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Indonesia: 310 hectares of rice fields inundated in Langkat, North Sumatra

Antara 26 May 17;

Langkat, N Sumatra (ANTARA News) - Rice fields measuring a total of 310 hectares were flooded in the sub-districts of Sei Lepan and Babalan, Langkat District, North Sumatra Province.

Of the total, 270 hectares were located in Lama Village, Sei Lepan Sub-district, Miswandi, a local agricultural coordinator, revealed here, Thursday.

Moreover, 20 hectares of rice fields and 12 hectares of corn fields were inundated in the Harapan Baru Village. Corn fields in the villages of Suka Damai and Hinai Hanan were also flooded.

In the Babalan Sub-district, flooding affected 20 hectares of rice fields in North Pelawai Village.

Noto Atmojo of the local disaster mitigation office said flooding also affected the palm oil plantations, including 100 hectares in Harapan Baru Village and 10 hectares in Lama Village.

Floods have hit several villages in Sei Lepan Sub-district, Langkat District, North Sumatra Province.

The flooding affected a total of 526 families and displaced at least 29 families.

"They are taking refuge, as flooding has affected their homes," Noto Atmojo of the local disaster mitigation office stated here, Thursday.

The floodwaters, reaching heights of up to 80-100 centimeters, affected 156 families and displaced 29 of them in Lama Baru Village.

Floods also affected 155 households in Lama Village, 98 families in Harapan Baru Village, and 48 others in Harapan Jaya Village.

In addition to the Babalan Sub-district, Langkat District experienced floods due to the overflowing of Lepan River.

Tens of houses in the villages of South Pelawi and North Securai were inundated.

The local disaster mitigation office has set up emergency tents to accommodate the flood victims and deployed several rubber boats for evacuation.(*)


Floods hit Langkat District in North Sumatra Province
Antara 25 May 17;

Langkat, N Sumatra (ANTARA News) - Floods have hit several villages in Sei Lepan Sub-district, Langkat District, North Sumatra Province, and displaced at least 29 families.

"They are taking refuge, as flooding has affected their homes," Noto Atmojo of the local disaster mitigation office stated here, Thursday.

A total of 457 families were affected by the floods in Sei Lepan. The flooding was caused, as a 15-meter-long dyke had burst.

The floodwaters, reaching heights of up to 80-100 centimeters, affected 156 families and displaced 29 of them in Lama Baru Village.

Floods also affected 155 households in Lama Village, 98 families in Harapan Baru Village, and 48 others in Harapan Jaya Village.

In addition to the Babalan Sub-district, Langkat District experienced floods due to the overflowing of Lepan River.

Tens of houses in the villages of South Pelawi and North Securai were inundated.

The local disaster mitigation office has set up emergency tents to accommodate the flood victims and deployed several rubber boats for evacuation.(*)

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