Wild boar euthanised after accident with lorry in Bukit Batok West

Timothy Goh Straits Times 26 Jan 19;

SINGAPORE - A wild boar was euthanised after suffering spinal injuries in an accident with a lorry in Bukit Batok West on Thursday night (Jan 24).

This is the second reported fatal accident between a lorry and a wild boar this month, with a similar incident less than two weeks ago in Punggol.

The wife of a motorist who witnessed Thursday's accident sent a video of the injured boar to citizen journalism website Stomp.

Read more!

Malaysia: Research centre restoring giant clams into the ocean

Olivia Miwil New Straits Times 26 Jan 19;

KOTA KINABALU: A research centre here aspires to educate more people to leave natural filter species alone for sustainable marine ecosystem.

Marine Ecology Research Centre (MERC) ambassador Lizio Godfrey Mosigil was referring to giant clams which play a role in filtering the system, just like mangrove forests and other similar species.

“If Giant Clams are missing from the system, it will leave some impact or different chain reactions.

“That is why the centre has put focus on propagating and putting back giant clams into the ocean,” he said.

Read more!

Indonesia: 90 percent of orangutans live outside preserved forests - BKSDA

Antara 25 Jan 19;

Pontianak, (ANTARA News) - Some 90 percent of the orangutan population are living outside preserved forests and are exposed to conflicts with humans, according to the Natural Resource Conservation Agency (BKSDA) of West Kalimantan.

"To protect the orangutan population, we need a joint commitment to preserve its habitat," an official of the agency Lidia Lili stated here on Friday.

Orangutans are currently only found in the rainforests of Kalimantan and Sumatra, and some in Malaysia, Lili pointed out.

Read more!

Indonesia: South Sulawesi hit by worst flooding in last decade

Fardah Assegaf Antara 26 Jan 19;

Jakarta (ANTARA News)- The Indonesian Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) has warned of possible flooding as the country is currently in the peak rainy season, but the devastation caused by widespread flooding and landslides hitting South Sulawesi has shocked the nation.

Flash floods believed to be the worst in the last decade affected 106 villages in 61 sub-districts in 13 districts and cities in South Sulawesi Province. The 13 districts and cities were Jeneponto, Maros, Gowa, Makassar, Soppeng, Wajo, Barru, Pangkep, Sidrap, Bantaeng, Takalar, Selayar and Sinjai.

So far, 59 were dead, 25 missing, 47 injured and 6.596 displaced due to flooding and landslides in the province. Besides, the natural disasters damaged 10 bridges, 79 homes, two traditional markets, 12 places of worship, 22 school buildings, and submerged 4,857 homes, as well as 11,876 hectares of rice fields.

Read more!