Best of our wild blogs: 1 Apr 19

13 Apr (Sat): Visit the 2019 Draft Master Plan exhibition with Lepak in SG
wild shores of singapore

Pesta Ubin will happen from 18 May to 30 Jun: Mark your calendar!
Pesta Ubin 2019

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New Bukit Gombak Park to be ready in early 2020

Channel NewsAsia 31 Mar 19;

SINGAPORE: Work on the new Bukit Gombak Park began on Sunday (Mar 31), the National Parks Board (NParks) announced in a media release.

The 4.8-hectare park, which is located at Bukit Batok West Avenue 5 opposite the Bukit Batok Driving Centre, is scheduled to be opened in early 2020.

Visitors will soon be able to enjoy its greenery and recreational facilities that will include a hill trek and a nature playgarden, NParks said, adding that residents' feedback on the features were gathered during the planning process.

"Feedback received were varied, and suggestions included having more biodiversity-attracting plants, tranquil areas to enjoy nature, recreational spaces for families and friends, and opportunities for the community to do gardening and be closer to nature," NParks said.

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Singapore uses insects to gobble up food waste

Today Online 1 Apr 19;

SINGAPORE — Some insects, armed with voracious appetites as larvae, are being bred in Singapore to eat discarded food, at the same time creating a rich fertilizer for plants.

Globally, a third of food produced for consumption is wasted, totaling about 1.3 billion tons. If food waste were a country, it would be the third largest emitter of greenhouse gases.

Black soldier flies are found all across Singapore. While the adults do not eat as their sole purpose is to mate, the larvae eat almost any organic matter and can stomach up to four times their weight a day. They are capable of converting three tons of food waste into one ton of fertilizers per week.

Mr Darren Ho is the founder of the Insectta, Singapore's first urban insect farm. Since he became a farmer five years ago, he's committed to create a production system where nothing goes waste.

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Malaysia: DoE completes final draft on forming panel

remar nordin The Star 1 Apr 19;

PASIR GUDANG: The Department of Environment (DoE) has completed its final draft for the forming of the Toxic Waste Management and Scheduled Waste National Committee following the chemical spill at Sungai Kim Kim.

Its director-general Datuk Dr Ahmad Kamarulnajuib Che Ibrahim said the draft would be sent to the Energy, Science, Tech­nology, Environment and Climate Change Ministry for approval.

“We have completed the draft. We will present it to the ministry as soon as possible for them to make the final decision.

“The committee will be responsible for any future toxic waste management,” he said during a visit to SMK Taman Pasir Putih here yesterday.

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Malaysia: Johor mulls cloud seeding

mohd farhaan shah The Star 1 Apr 19;

KLUANG: Johor is looking into carrying out cloud seeding to improve water levels at dams in the state, especially at Machap dam which is at a critical level if the current hot and dry conditions continue for longer.

Johor International Trade, Investment and Utility Committee chairman Jimmy Puah Wee Tse said the water level at Machap dam was at now 14.45mm. Its minimum level is 14.10mm.

“The water at Machap dam here flows to the Simpang Renggam water treatment plant, which is about 8.5km away, and to Sungai Ulu Benut and Sungai Machap.

“The two rivers were recently affected by ammonia pollution,” he said after a working visit to Machap dam here.

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Malaysia: Sabah records 1,671 open burning cases

SUZIANAH JIFFAR New Straits Times 31 Mar 19;

KOTA KINABALU: The state fire and rescue department recorded 1,671 open burning cases in Sabah since early this year.

Its director Kamarulzaman Malik Abdullah said 190 cases were recorded in January, followed by 537 cases in February and 994 cases this month.

“We advise the people to reduce their outdoor activity, especially open burning at farms or orchards that can lead to major fire,” he said.

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Mutilated dolphins wash up on French coast in record numbers

Activists say 1,100 dolphins found since January - but real figure may be 10 times higher
Kim Willsher The Guardian 32 Mar 19;

A record number of dolphins have washed up on France’s Atlantic coast in the last three months, many with devastating injures.

Environmental campaigners say 1,100 mutilated dolphins have been found since January, but the real figure could be 10 times higher as many bodies sink without trace. Activists warn the marine slaughter could threaten the extinction of the European dolphin population in the region.

The cause of the deaths is not known but it is thought fishing trawlers catching sea bass off the Atlantic coast may be responsible. Autopsies suggest the dolphins sustain catastrophic injuries attempting to escape nets or when trawler crew attempt to cut them free after they are caught.

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