Best of our wild blogs: 14 Jan 19



Putting the Saga in Saga Seeds
Wan's Ubin Journal


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Singapore otters a hit overseas

Fans across the globe ask interest groups where they can see the creatures when they visit Singapore
Nur Syahindah Ishak The New Paper 14 Jan 19;

National Geographic photographer Stefano Unterthiner, 48, from Italy has been to more than 30 countries and photographed exotic wildlife such as the Komodo dragon, European bison and brown bear.

When he learnt about Singapore's Bishan otters, he flew here in January last year for over three weeks.

He is not the only foreigner to be intrigued by our otters.

Otter groups here told The New Paper that they get messages from fans across the globe asking where to find the animals if they were to visit Singapore.


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Spike in fish prices likely to continue in run-up to Chinese New Year

Bad weather, rising demand, Malaysia's seafood export ban cited as reasons for higher prices of popular fishes
Rei Kurohi Straits Times 14 Jan 19;

A recent spike in the price of fish that is likely to continue with Chinese New Year just weeks away was partly the result of recent bad weather, which caused some shortages among Singapore's regular suppliers, fish sellers told The Straits Times.

Mr Lim Choon Yau, who represents wholesaler Song Fish Dealer, said fishermen in countries like Indonesia and Thailand have reported poor catches and unpredictable weather preventing them from fishing in recent weeks.

He said: "The price of Chinese pomfret has risen from about $30 to as much as $50 per kg. If the weather continues to be bad, who knows how high the price could rise?"


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Indonesia: Facebook post leads N. Sumatra police to alleged poacher

Rizal Harahap and Apriadi Gunawan The Jakarta Post 13 Jan 19;

Authorities in Riau and North Sumatra have arrested a man allegedly involved in illegal poaching after he posted a video of himself slaughtering an endangered bird on social media.

The Riau Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BKSDA) joined hands with the Kuantan Singingi (Kuansing) Police to track down and apprehend Arhedi, 29, for allegedly killing a hornbill on Friday evening.

Arhedi, who is originally from Lebak, Banten, is a rubber plantation worker in Gunung Toar subdistrict, Kuansing, Riau. The police are still on the hunt for his coworker, OG, who allegedly took down the bird with a slingshot.

A video of Arhedi chopping up the hornbill went viral on social media and alerted the police.


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