Best of our wild blogs: 22 Feb 19



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Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum


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Wolbachia mosquitoes released in expanded Nee Soon, Tampines sites in next phase of study

Vanessa Lim Channel NewsAsia 22 Feb 19;

SINGAPORE: Male Wolbachia-carrying mosquitoes have been released in expanded sites in Nee Soon and Tampines, under the next phase of a study to reduce the Aedes mosquito population and fight dengue.

The third phase of the National Environment Agency's (NEA) Project Wolbachia kicked off on Friday (Feb 22), with the mosquitoes released at Nee Soon East and Tampines West sites that are 1.6 to 2.2 times larger compared to the trial area in phase two.

These male mosquitoes infected with the Wolbachia bacterium do not bite or transmit diseases. If they mate with an uninfected female mosquito, the resulting eggs will not hatch.

The purpose of expanding the sites is to determine if suppression of the urban Aedes aegypti mosquito population can be sustained in larger areas, said NEA.


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Malaysia: Johor govt to ensure enough water supply despite falling dam levels

remar nordin The Star 21 Feb 19;

JOHOR BARU: The state government is working closely with water operator Ranhill SAJ Sdn Bhd and the Johor Water Regulatory Body (Bakaj) to monitor the water supply situation here.

State International Trade, Investment and Utilities Committee chairman Jimmy Puah Wee Tse (pic) said despite the long dry spell and falling levels at four dams, the government will ensure there is enough water supply in the state.

The four dams affected by the hot weather are Sungai Lebam, Upper Layang, Sembrong Barat and Lok Heng.


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UN: Growing threat to food from decline in biodiversity

Matt McGrath BBC 22 Feb 19;

The plants, animals, crops and micro-organisms that are the bedrock of food production are in decline, according to a UN study.

If these critical species are lost, the report says, it "places the future of our food system under severe threat".

The study says that land use changes, pollution, and climate change are all causing biodiversity loss.

While species friendly policies are increasing, they are not growing quickly enough, the scientists say.


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