Govt urged to take concrete action over plastic waste

A total of 824,600 tonnes of plastic waste was generated last year, almost 11 per cent of the total amount of solid waste generated, NEA statistics show.
TOH EE MING Today Online 3 Jun 16;

SINGAPORE — Rather than wait for businesses and consumers to go green on their own accord, the authorities should take “bold action” and develop “concrete plans” — such as introduce regulations and targets to phase out plastic disposables over time — to address the mounting pile of plastics thrown away by Singaporeans each year.

In a position paper on single-use plastics issued ahead of World Environment Day — which falls on Sunday — Zero Waste SG, a non-profit group here, said that efforts to reduce plastic waste have not shown encouraging results.

Plastic disposables such as takeaway containers, cups, plates and bowls, and utensils still make up the most common form of waste disposed at incineration plants, followed by food waste and paper, said the report.

A total of 824,600 tonnes of plastic waste was generated last year, almost 11 per cent of the total amount of solid waste generated.

Of this, only 7 per cent was recycled. And these rates have remained “persistently low”, hovering around 7 to 13 per cent, despite a nearly 42 per cent rise in volume of plastic waste from 2003 to 2015, the group said, citing National Environment Agency (NEA) statistics.

“Right now, the approach is still very much left to businesses and consumers to take action … There’s no real commitment or mandatory (guidelines) … But this approach is not really fruitful and we think it’s time to lay down some concrete (policies),” said Mr Eugene Tay, executive director of Zero Waste SG, which submitted its paper to the authorities on Wednesday.

To tackle this problem, the Government could set a quota on plastic disposables used or phase out certain plastics over a certain period, such as over 12 years, or reduce them by 8 per cent every year.

“This would allow companies time to adjust to the new regulations and switch to more green alternatives,” said the group in its report.

The Government could also work with major retailers and F&B companies to implement a “structured incentive scheme”, by rewarding consumers who bring their own reusables with cash discounts or through points.

Other suggestions involve setting up a committee spanning several industry sectors to tackle the problem holistically or providing more guidelines and information to help both companies and consumers decide which green alternatives to opt for.

For instance, it could conduct more research on the various environmental impact and costs, or provide a list of retailers or F&B outlets which offer discounts for using reusable items.

Funding schemes could also be set up for F&B companies or extended to plastic manufacturers and suppliers to allay costs of developing environmentally-friendly alternatives.

In response to queries, the NEA noted that plastic disposables in Singapore are incinerated, and not disposed in landfills.

“There is value in reducing the amount of disposables used in order to conserve resources”, the agency said, adding that it will study Zero Waste SG’s suggestions.

Businesses here that encourage consumers to use less plastic include NTUC FairPrice, which gives a rebate to shoppers who bring their own bags with a minimum purchase of S$10.

Asked about the impact of its Green Rewards scheme, FairPrice said it saw a record 10.1 million plastic bags saved last year.

Since its launch in 2007, it has seen an estimated total of 56.6 million plastic bags saved and S$2.8 million in rebates given out, said a spokesperson.

As for IKEA’s adoption of reusable blue IKEA shopping bags in 2013, IKEA Tampines sustainability manager Marcus Tay said: “IKEA was very pleased to note very little resistance from the shoppers in adopting this practice.”

While most either brought their own bags, went bag-less or carried purchases in their hands, the company also saw a drop from 32 per cent to 18 per cent in its shoppers buying the blue shopping bags from 2013 to 2015, he said.

Since March this year, it has also replaced the disposable takeaway boxes in its restaurants with reusable storage containers, which cost 80 cents or S$1 each.

“So far there has been very little complaints from our customers about the switch,” Mr Tay added.

Zero Waste SG is looking to hold a public forum to discuss the proposals.

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Malaysia: Eroding coast threatens Penang highway

Today Online 2 Jun 16;

BUTTERWORTH — Strong waves in the north Penang channel have caused serious soil erosion to the coastline along the Butterworth Outer Ring Road (BORR) near the Bagan Ajam toll plaza.

As the eroded stretch of about 300m is only about 2m from BORR, the problem is endangering motorists using the coastal highway built on reclaimed land about 10 years ago.

Factory technician Osman Abu Bakar, 43, who ply the route regularly, hoped the authorities would take immediate steps to prevent further soil erosion.

“I see the seriousness of the erosion. It is unsafe. I fear it poses grave danger to motorists,” he said.

Mr Idris Abu Bakar, 51, from Tasek Gelugor, said he could see the erosion each time he crossed the toll plaza.

“What I see is worrying. The authorities must prevent the highway from being damaged,” he said.

BORR concessionaire Lingkaran Luar Butterworth (Penang) general manager Adnan Ariffin said the company was taking steps to resolve the problem.

He said they had anticipated the problem as the highway involved heavy construction on a reclaimed coastal area.

“We are concerned about the safety of highway users and our men are monitoring the stretch daily, especially during strong waves,” Mr Adnan said.

“It has to be resolved holistically. We have written to the Drainage and Irrigation Department (DID) and we are in discussion with it.

“It is not only the concessionaire’s problem just because we constructed the highway. It is also DID’s problem and we want their cooperation in resolving the problem,” he said.

He said erosion could have been avoided if a wave breaker, which was built near a row of seafood restaurants two years ago, was built nearer to the affected area.

“Constructing any sea structure is expensive. We are discussing the matter with our consultants,” Mr Adnan said.

State health, welfare, caring society and environment committee chairman Phee Boon Poh said the erosion was caused by strong waves during the northeast and southwest monsoons.

He said the waves affected the coastal highway, from a point north of the Bagan Ajam toll plaza until a seafood restaurant along the coast.

“The government should build wave breakers to weaken the impact of the strong waves hitting the coast,” Phee, who is also Sungai Puyu assemblyman, said.

He said the breakers would also benefit fishermen as they would also attract fish.

The Malaysian Fisheries Development Authority has data which can be used to build the wave breakers and Phee said the federal government should pursue the matter without further delay.

Malaysian Nature Society (MNS) Penang adviser D Kanda Kumar said it was important to conduct a proper study before reclaiming land along coastlines to prevent any negative effects in the future.

“A study on tide, wave and sea currents should be conducted before any reclamation works. Such works can impact other areas along the coast.

“If the reclamation was done without proper studies, the current pattern could also affect areas in Kedah and Perak. A holistic study involving the coastline on the island and the mainland should have been done before reclaiming the land to build the highway,” Mr Kanda Kumar said.

“The authorities should have built concrete barriers to avoid soil erosion along the coastline.”

He said the destruction of mangrove forests along coastal areas was a major cause of erosion.

A state DID spokesman said the department was aware of the problem and had alerted Putrajaya about it.

He acknowledged the damage was worsening.

“Our officers in Putrajaya will talk to the state secretary and highway operator on the matter. Eventually, the highway operator would be asked to build concrete or metal barriers to prevent further damage to the coastline,” the spokesman said. MALAY MAIL ONLINE

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Malaysia: Perhilitan seizes protected birds worth RM50,000

G.C.TAN The Star 2 Jun 16;

ALOR SETAR: The Wildlife and National Parks Department (Perhilitan) seized nine protected birds worth more than RM50,000 in Jitra on on Wednesday.

Kedah Perhilitan director Mohamad Hafid Rohani said the birds were seized from a house occupied by a 22-year-old man at Jalan Tanjong Pauh,Jitra which is also a motorcycle workshop.

“The raid was carried out based on information obtained from social media and a week of intelligence gathering and observation.

“Investigation showed that the man sold the birds online,” he said on Thursday.

The birds seized included a Burung Murai Batu, Burung Punai Daun (both protected species), Burung Lang Sewah (Elanus caeruleus), Burung Daun, Burung Merbah Luris Leher, three Burung Ayam-Ayam and a Burung Sintar (all totally protected species.)

The man would sell the birds between RM2,000 and RM8,000 each to interested parties.

“All the birds are local birds which can be trapped from forests in Kedah,” Hafid said.


Nabbed for selling protected birds
The Star 3 Jun 16;

ALOR SETAR: A motorcycle workshop mechanic who sold protected birds via the Internet and social media platforms such as Facebook has been arrested.

The Wildlife and National Parks Department (Perhilitan) nabbed the 22-year-old man in a raid at his house-cum-motorcycle workshop in Jitra.

“The raid was carried out based on information obtained from social media, and a week of intelligence gathering and observation,” Kedah Perhilitan director Mohamad Hafid Rohani told a press confe­rence yesterday at the state Perhi­li­tan’s terrapin conservation centre in Bukit Pinang near here.

He said the raiding party seized two protected birds and seven totally protected birds worth a total of RM50,000 from the premises in the 4pm bust on Wednesday.

The protected birds were a White-rumped Shama and Little Green Pigeon while the seven totally protected birds were a Black-shoulder­ed Kite, a Blue-winged Leafbird, a Striped-throated Bulbul, a Slaty-breasted Rail and three Watercock.

Mohamad Hafid said the department’s investigation revealed that the suspect had advertised the birds for sale on a popular online classifieds website as well as Facebook and WhatsApp besides direct face-to-face sale.

He said the Facebook pages created for the sale were only active for less than a day.

The suspect, currently under remand for four days, had been running the business for about six months and caught the birds himself in local forests, he added.

“He sells the birds for between RM2,000 and RM8,000 each,” said Mohamad Hafid, adding that it had yet to be ascertained how many birds the suspect had sold so far.

He said Perhilitan believed the suspect was part of a group involved in selling protected wildlife and was looking for his accomplices.

Mohamad Hafid said the case would be investigated under Section 68 of the Wildlife Conserva­tion Act 2010 for hunting totally protected wildlife without special permit, which carries a maximum RM100,000 fine or maximum three-year jail term or both.

“He will also be investigated under Section 60 of the same Act for hunting protected wildlife without a licence, which carries a maximum RM50,000 fine or maximum two-year jail term or both,” he added.

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Indonesia: Trees Don't Grow In Ash -- A Closer Look at RAPP’s Forest Fire Prevention Program

Muhamad Al Azhari Jakarta Globe 2 Jun 16;

Pelalawan, Riau. For both the APRIL Group — a producer of fiber, pulp and paper with a production base in Indonesia — and subsidiary Riau Andalan Pulp and Paper, or RAPP, it does not make sense to let the practices of slash-and-burn to clear up land for farming or plantation occur nearby or within their concession area.

“Blackwood does not make white paper. Trees don’t grow in ash. It does not make sense to burn because it does not benefit us at all,” said Ian Wevell, Head of Operations at APRIL's Fire and Aviation department.

APRIL subsidiary RAPP sells its PaperOne line of office paper in more than 75 countries.

Forest fire and the choking haze resulting from it has become a complex and costly issue for Indonesia, with losses estimated at $16 billion last year, a World Bank report says.

The haze from the forest fire poses many serious health risks and threatens the livelihoods of millions of of people in Indonesia and in neighboring countries Malaysia and Singapore.

This year, President Joko Widodo's administration has been trying a new strategy to prevent forest fires with pilot projects involving the private sector, particularly major pulp and paper companies and other companies involved in the forestry and agricultural sectors.

RAPP, which manages a 1,750 hectare manufacturing complex in Kerinci and one of the biggest single-site pulp mills in the world, is among a number of companies now working together with the government to prevent forest fires.

Last week, RAPP’s President Director Tony Wenas signed a memorandum of understanding for a pilot project to standardize forest fire prevention procedures.

The pilot project — called “Desa Bebas Api,” or Fire-Free Village — will focus on community development which will reward fire-prone villages around the Tanoto family-controlled RAPP plantations for keeping the area free of fires during the dry season starting from 2015.

This year, the program will be expanded into 20 villages in four Riau districts (Pelalawan, Siak, Kepulauan Meranti and Bangkalis). RAPP will take care of 18 villages, and two other villages will be handled by RAPP’s supply partners.

Last year, RAPP’s Desa Bebas Api program was implemented in nine villages in Riau and data from the company show it reduced the number of fire incidents by 90 percent compared to the 2014 figures in participating villages.

Ian said RAPP has so far invested $6 million in new fire fighting equipment, including pumps, hoses, helicopters, fire trucks, airboats, double-cabin cars and speed boats. It also spends about $2 million a year on fire fighting operations.

Prevention better than cure

RAPP corporate communication manager Djarot Handoko believes in the old cliché, “Prevention is better than a cure.” To that effect RAPP this year will offer a reward of up to Rp 100 million in infrastructure development for each village participating in Desa Bebas Api program if they manage to keep their villages free from forest and land fires from July 1 to Oct. 31.

Darwis, 52, a farmer from Pelalawan who works on a half-hectare of government-owned farmland, said people in the past tended to burn land to open it up for farming because it was cheap and did not require much effort.

“You only need gasoline and a box of matches to burn land. How much would that cost?” said the father of five, who also works as a cleaner at the Pelalawan subdistrict office.

“Burning takes just one day, by the end you've only got ash on top of the cleaned oil. If you have to cut trees with cleavers and then clean up the tree roots with a hoe to open the land for farming — for half a hectare of land, if you do it on your own, it would take at least a month. It takes a hell of an effort to do that,” Darwis said.

Darwis is among a group of farmers receiving RAPP’s assistance to clear new farmland. In his village in Pelalawan, some farmers have already received hand tractors from RAPP.

Unlike in Indonesia’s most populated island of Java, most of the peatlands in Riau have not been prepared for farming. With little or no irrigation facilities and reliance on rain to water the land, farmers in the region typically enjoy just a single harvest every year, not three or four like their counterparts in Java.

“The rice we produce is only enough to feed our family. That’s the best we can get. We rarely have extra to sell,” Darwis said.

Edi Arifin, community head of the village in Pelalawan where Darwis lives said people in his village are queuing up to get the equipment assistance from RAPP.

“This is proof that enthusiasm for RAPP's program is huge,” he said, adding that village officials have issued clear instructions to the villagers not to burn land or forest to make new land for farming.

Indonesia is stuck in an odd dilemma, with the current administration repeatedly saying it will act firmly against those responsible for forest fires but having to face regulations that actually allow traditional slash-and-burn practices, which have been done for centuries in Sumatra.

According to a 2010 Environment Minister regulation local communities are allowed to burn a maximum of 2 hectares of land as long as they report it first to the village head.

There is also the Government Regulation issued in 2009 which stated that burning land is allowed if it is part of local wisdom.

Village head Edi nevertheless said, “Our village disapproves of land and forest burning. I have warned my people. I will not back them if the authorities punish them for burning their land.”

RAPP’s own data for 2015 show that 78 percent of land and forest fires in Riau was caused by burning land for agriculture. Accidental fires by human error contributed only 15 percent and the cause of the rest of the land and forest fires was unknown.

For people like Darwis, living in an area which was constantly enveloped in choking haze has been punishment enough.

"But please help us with solutions. Don't just blame farmers like us," he said.

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Indonesia: WWF Indonesia Talks Illegal Wildlife Trade Ahead of World Environment Day

Ratri M. Siniwi Jakarta Globe 2 Jun 16;

Jakarta. World Wildlife Fund Indonesia hosted a forum themed "Zero Tolerance for Illegal Wildlife Trade" in Jakarta on Thursday (02/06) in response to rising demand for exotic animals on the black market.

The Indonesian branch of the international conservation organization said critically endangered animals such as sea turtles and Sumatran tigers, rhinos and elephants are at risk as their body parts are often sold as souvenirs, lifestyle accessories or for use in traditional medicines.

Participants also discussed the alarming increase in the archipelago of the illegal wildlife trade, which is currently the fifth-largest in the world, according to WWF Indonesia conservation director Arnold Sitompul.

The forum invited several government ministries and officials, including representatives of the Ministry of Environment and Forestry, a member of the House of Representatives and officers of the Bali Maritime Police and the Jakarta Police.

"As a country with mega-biodiversity, Indonesia continues to be the source of exotic wildlife and the illegal trade is worth over $10 million a year," Arnold said in his opening speech.

It was revealed in the forum that the country lost more than Rp 9 trillion ($657 million) from the illegal trade, with almost 70 cases reported in the first three months of this year alone.

"The issue of illegal wildlife trade is just the tip of the iceberg," said Khairul Saleh of WWF Indonesia. He added that it was unlikely to stop as long as demand from both local and international markets continue to increase.

According to Khairul, it is still common to see illegally traded pets in popular Indonesian online marketplaces such as Tokopedia, Lazada, and Bukalapak, or even on social-media platforms such as Blackberry Messenger, Facebook and Instagram.

Sugeng Riyanto, a representative of the National Police's Criminal Investigation Agency (Bareskrim Polri), added that in some cases, the body parts of exotic animals are even traded in the open.

"There is a high demand for exotic animal parts and potential buyers are often invited to check out the warehouses for themselves, sometimes even without an appointment," Sugeng said.

Despite many efforts by WWF Indonesia and the authorities to tackle the illegal wildlife trade, participants were considering ways to more effectively eliminate the scourge.

Officials from the Bali Regional Police suggested that regulations should be unified, because penalties for the illegal trade in wildlife vary in different parts of the country, in accordance with regional jurisdictions.

An Indonesia Veterinary Association representative pointed out a flaw in the quarantine coordination, as the quarantine body is important to get rid of back doors for international and local smugglers.

A survey by WWF Indonesia showed that 35 percent of respondents believe that tougher maximum punishments would help deter wildlife crimes, while 27 percent believe in stricter monitoring.

Meanwhile, lawmaker Aryo Djojohadikusumo acknowledged the importance of tougher laws, while he urged the government to increase the budget allocation for wildlife crimes.

"The state budget for all forest rangers in Indonesia is only $3 million dollars and the budget also has to cover conservation of critically endangered species," Aryo said. He called for the prioritization of a budget increase for conservation efforts.

According to the Great Indonesia Movement Party (Gerindra) lawmaker, it was also important for social media influencers to push for a change in the mindset of Indonesians and to advocate for animal rights.

World Environment Day is celebrated annually on June 5th.

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Microplastics killing fish before they reach reproductive age, study finds

Tiny particles of plastic litter in oceans causing deaths, stunted growth and altering behaviour of some fish that feed on them, research shows
Fiona Harvey The Guardian 2 Jun 16;

Fish are being killed, and prevented from reaching maturity, by the litter of plastic particles finding their way into the world’s oceans, new research has proved.

Some young fish have been found to prefer tiny particles of plastic to their natural food sources, effectively starving them before they can reproduce.

The growing problem of microplastics – tiny particles of polymer-type materials from modern industry – has been thought for several years to be a peril for fish, but the study published on Thursday is the first to prove the damage in trials.

Microplastics are near-indestructible in natural environments. They enter the oceans through litter, when waste such as plastic bags, packaging and other convenience materials are discarded. Vast amounts of these end up in the sea, through inadequate waste disposal systems and sewage outfall.

Another growing source is microbeads, tiny particles of hard plastics that are used in cosmetics, for instance as an abrasive in modern skin cleaners. These easily enter waterways as they are washed off as they are used, flushed down drains and forgotten, but can last for decades in our oceans.

The impact of these materials has been hard to measure, despite being a growing source of concern. Small particles of plastics have been found in seabirds, fish and whales, which swallow the materials but cannot digest them, leading to a build-up in their digestive tracts.

For the first time, scientists have demonstrated that fish exposed to such materials during their development show stunted growth and increased mortality rates, as well as changed behaviour that could endanger their survival.

Samples of perch, still in their larval state, were shown not only to take in the plastics, but to prefer them to their real food. Larval perch with access to microplastic particles ate only the plastics, ignoring their natural food source of plankton.

The study, published in Science on Thursday, found that the fish born into an environment rich in microplastics – defined as tiny pieces of less than 5mm in size – had reduced rates of hatching and development to maturity.

The perch studied also ignored the chemical signals that would normally warn them of the presence of predators, the researchers found.

These particles are now found in abundance across the world’s oceans, and are often common in shallow coastal areas, where they wash in from waste dumps and sewerage systems.

“This is the first time an animal has been found to preferentially feed on plastic particles, and is cause for concern,” said Peter Eklöv, co-author of the study. “Larvae exposed to microplastic particles during development also displayed changed behaviours and were much less active than fish that had been reared in water that contained no microplastic particles.”

Environmental campaigners have been calling for a reduction in the waste allowed to drift from rivers into seas and oceans, and for an end to the use of artificial microplastics in cosmetics. Greenpeace launched a campaign against microbeads early this year, and several companies have committed to phasing them out.

However, the study suggests that damage has already been done, and preventing the leakage of more microplastics into the oceans should be a matter of urgency, as once they are in our seas they are almost impossible to get rid of.

Perch exposed to microplastics in the study were eaten by pike four times more quickly than their naturally-reared relatives, when the predators were introduced into their environment. All of the plastic-exposed fish in the study were dead within 48 hours.

This suggests that the impacts of microplastics are likely to be far-reaching and long-lasting, beyond the immediate effects on the fish’s digestive systems, which was previously the main cause of concern. Plastics may be causing differing behaviour in the fish, and inhibiting their evolved responses to danger, through mechanisms not yet fully understood.

The study adds to research that has found coastal fish species suffering marked declines in recent years, while the amount of plastic litter in the oceans has increased.

“If early life-history stages of other species are similarly affected by microplastics, and this translates to increased mortality rates, the effects on aquatic ecosystems could be profound,” warned Oona Lönnstedt, another of the report’s authors.

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A switch to ecological farming will benefit health and environment – report

The world needs to move away from industrial agriculture to avoid ecological, social and human health crises, say scientists
John Vidal The Guardian 2 Jun 16;

A new approach to farming is needed to safeguard human health and avoid rising air and water pollution, high greenhouse gas emissions and biodiversity loss, a group of 20 leading agronomists, health, nutrition and social scientists has concluded.

Rather than the giant feedlots used to rear animals or the uniform crop monocultures that now dominate farming worldwide, the solution is to diversify agriculture and re-orient it around ecological practices, says the report (pdf) by the International panel of experts on sustainable food systems (IPES-Food).

The benefits of a switch to a more ecologically oriented farming system would be seen in human and animal health, and improvements in soil and water quality, the report says.

The new group, which is co-chaired by Olivier De Schutter, former UN special rapporteur on food, and includes winners of the World Food prize and the heads of bio-science research groups, accepts that industrial agriculture and the global food system that has grown around it supplies large volumes of food to global markets.

But it argues that food supplies would not be greatly affected by a change to a more diverse farming system.

The group’s members, drawn from rich and poor countries with no affiliations to industry, say that industrial agriculture’s dependence on chemical fertilisers, pesticides and antibiotics to manage animals and agro-ecosystems, has led to ecological, social and human health crises.

“Today’s food and farming systems led systematically to negative outcomes and vulnerabilities. Many of these problems can be linked specifically to the industrial-scale feedlots and uniform crop monocultures that dominate agricultural landscapes, and rely on chemical fertilisers and pesticides as a means of managing agro-ecosystems,” the group says.

In place of an intensive global food system they propose that agriculture diversifies production and optimises biodiversity to build fertile, healthy agro-ecosystems and secure livelihoods.

De Schutter said: “Many of the problems in food systems are linked specifically to the uniformity at the heart of industrial agriculture, and its reliance on chemical fertilisers and pesticides.” He said that simply tweaking industrial agriculture will not provide long-term solutions and a fundamentally different model was needed.

“It is not a lack of evidence holding back the agro-ecological alternative. It is the mismatch between its huge potential to improve outcomes across food systems, and its much smaller potential to generate profits for agribusiness firms.”

“There is growing evidence that these [agro-ecological] systems keep carbon in the ground, support biodiversity, rebuild soil fertility and sustain yields over time, providing a basis for secure farm livelihoods,” says the report.

Diversified agroecological systems can also pave the way for diverse diets and improved health.

The panel argues that industrial agriculture locks in farmers, subsidies, supermarkets, governments and consumers to the point where food systems are in the hands of very few companies and people.

“Food systems in which uniform crop commodities can be produced and traded on a massive scale are in the economic interests of crop breeders, pesticide manufacturers, grain traders and supermarkets alike,” says the report.

“Industrial agriculture has occupied a privileged position for decades and has failed to provide a recipe for sustainable food systems. There is enough evidence now to suggest that a shift towards diversified agro-ecological systems can dramatically improve these outcomes.”

The panel identifies three disastrous consequences of intensive farming. These include the fact that global food systems linked to industrial modes of farming or deforestation generate one-third of all greenhouse gasses.

In addition, the excessive application of fertilisers and pesticides in crop monocultures, and the waste generated by industrial animal feedlots, have resulted in severe water pollution.

Pesticide exposure in industrial farming systems has been linked to a possible range of human health problems such as Alzheimer’s disease, birth defects, cancers and developmental disorders. Additionally, the preventative use of antibiotics in industrial animal production systems has exacerbated the problem of bacterial resistance to antibiotics, creating health risks for human populations.

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Paris: Thousands evacuated, two dead, as France declares flood emergency

MICHEL ROSE AND MORADE AZZOUZ Reuters 2 Jun 16;

Torrential rain forced thousands of people from their homes south of Paris while the River Seine surged to its highest level for over 30 years in the French capital, shutting down the famed Louvre and Orsay museums and a metro line.

In Evry-Gregy-sur-Yerre, south of Paris, a man on horseback drowned on Thursday, the prefecture said in a statement. Le Parisien newspaper said the 74-year-old had been trying to cross a flooded field. The horse survived with minor injuries.

He was the second victim of the torrential rains that have caused the Loire and Seine rivers to burst their banks. An 86-year-old woman was found dead in her flooded house in a small town southwest of Paris late on Wednesday.

"Since yesterday it's just been a deluge," said Jerome Coiffier, an inhabitant of Longjumeau, less than 20 km (13 miles) south of Paris, where firemen wading thigh-deep in water rescued inhabitants using inflatable boats.

At least 3,000 out of 13,000 inhabitants were evacuated in Nemours, 75 km (45 miles) south of Paris, as floodwaters crept toward the second story of buildings in the town center.

Prolonged heavy rain also pounded parts of neighbouring Germany and at least five people have died in floods in Bavaria state in the south of the country, officials said.

In Paris, the Seine rose above 5 meters (16 feet), forcing the SNCF rail operator to close the RER C commuter line that runs along the river and is used by tourists to reach the Eiffel Tower, Notre-Dame Cathedral and Versailles.

The Louvre museum shut down and said it would remain closed on Friday to keep its priceless art safe. The Orsay museum of Impressionist art will also be shut on Friday. Both are located right by the Seine in central Paris.

The Seine could peak at six meters in Paris on Friday, officials said, stressing that this was still well below the level where it would pose danger to residents. The river reached a record high of 8.6 meters in 1910, when thousands of Parisians had to flee flooded low-lying areas of the city.

President Francois Hollande declared a state of emergency in the worst affected areas and promised funding to help local authorities deal with flood damage. Unusually heavy rains in June showed the urgency to curb climate change, he said.

In the Loire Valley, Chambord castle, a UNESCO world heritage site, found itself surrounded by water.

The national weather service said the greater Paris region had in May endured its wettest month since 1960.

In the Loiret region, where local officials called on the army to help evacuate motorists trapped on the A10 motorway, the floods were the most severe in a century.

(Additional reporting by Sybille de La Hamaide, Geert De Clercq and Emmanuel Jarry in Paris; Writing by Ingrid Melander; Editing by Richard Lough and Mark Heinrich)

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Best of our wild blogs: 2 Jun 16

Night Macro Workshop at Pulau Ubin
Macro Photography

5 stories about the Common Palm Civet
Life of a common palm civet

10 – 11 June 2016 – [Global Asia] Memes, Schemes & Dreams: Imagining Singapore Urban Futures
Green Drinks Singapore

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Impact on existing wildlife, plants among concerns over Mandai project

LAURA ELIZABETH PHILOMIN Today Online 2 Jun 16;

SINGAPORE — The potential impact on wildlife in Mandai as well as the type of “green mitigation” measures needed to protect the natural habitats in the area are among the issues being ironed out ahead of a pending Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report on the planned mega-project.

The report, said Mandai Safari Park Holdings (MSPH) yesterday, will be out “in a few weeks”.

In the meantime, it is in discussions with government agencies and various nature groups on environmental issues that could arise from plans such as introducing a large collection of birds into the area with a new bird park, and building a new eco-bridge for wildlife to roam.

Commenting on the plans, which were announced yesterday, Dr Ho Hua Chew, vice-chair of Nature Society’s (Singapore) conservation committee, said he was concerned about the eco-friendliness of the new bird park and possible adverse impact on local wildlife in the area. The planned bird park, which MSPH had touted as one of the world’s largest collection of birds, would require more fences and pose problems for wildlife movement, he said, describing it as an “artificial, completely non-wild set-up”.

“There will be problems of escapees into our nature reserve; there can be no absolute control. (It could also be a) possible source of infections to our local birdlife,” added Dr Ho, who has been in talks with MSPH since redevelopment plans were first revealed.

While he felt heartened by plans for an eco-bridge, he noted that the site proposed is too narrow and crosses over the nature reserve at an “awkward spot” on the side of Mandai Lake Road. Suggesting an alternative location in a central part of the land further away from the road for the bridge, Dr Ho said this would encroach into land earmarked for the planned bird park, but such an important ecological benefit and value should not be sacrificed.

Dr Ho also pointed out that the land set aside for the planned Rainforest Park has been left alone for decades, turning into secondary forest and becoming home to wildlife like the leopard cat, Sunda pangolin and grey-headed fish eagle. “More local plant species can be slowly introduced but there should not be any clear-felling of large tracts of trees,” he said.

Professor Peter Ng of the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum, which is conducting the EIA with MPSH and National University of Singapore under the guidance of the National Parks Board, said he could not elaborate on the issues under discussion at this point in time.

But he stressed that progress has been made in the talks, which include non-governmental agencies like Animal Concerns Research & Education Society (ACRES), Nature Society (Singapore) and Nature Trekker, and wildlife experts like Mr Joseph Koh, an authority on spiders.

Mr Koh did not respond by press time, while ACRES and Nature Trekker could not comment.

Asked about previous calls by the nature groups for a buffer zone to be created between man-made and existing forested areas, Prof Ng said that it is not an easy balance, and added that discussions on how to make the planned eco-bridge effectively are ongoing. He also said the land set aside for the planned Rainforest Park, which will involve reforestation efforts, has already seen development over the areas, but important plants and habitats within the area must be protected.

“The Mandai develop(ers) are fully aware of this and are now juggling their own plans to accommodate. … The agencies and NGOs have been pointing out what are necessary “green mitigations” that need to be done, and they are being factored in as far as possible,” said Prof Ng.

“The plan is evolving continuously so that as many concerns as possible can be addressed.”


Bird park, new rainforest to be added to Mandai wildlife attractions
SIAU MING EN Today Online 2 Jun 16;

SINGAPORE — The lush greenery of the Mandai area is set to be transformed with two new wildlife parks — a rainforest-themed adventure park and a new bird park transplanted from Jurong — to add to the trio of wildlife attractions already in the area.

By 2023, the Mandai precinct will be home to a nature-themed education centre and eco-sensitive lodging for vacationers, part of the planned 126ha mega-nature attraction.

Mandai Safari Park Holdings (MSPH) revealed these plans on Wednesday (June 1), although they will still be subject to regulatory approval, while an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is under way.

To be sited outside the Central Catchment Nature Reserve, the 17ha Bird Park will house one of the world’s largest collection of birds. Visitors will be able to observe free-flying birds in nine different walk-in aviaries modelled after various habitats, such as the wetlands, bamboo forests and rainforests. The current 20ha Jurong Bird Park has only three walk-in aviaries.

Certain iconic features of the Jurong Bird Park will also be “reimagined” for the new park. These include a new waterfall and a custom-designed amphitheatre for bird performances.

A breeding and research facility will also be built within the new park to breed critically-endangered species from around the world in captivity, particularly South-east Asian species such as the Bali Mynah and the Black-winged Starling.

The new bird park is expected to be ready within the first phase of Mandai’s makeover in 2020.

Temasek Holdings was earlier named as Singapore Tourism Board’s partner in this project, and the first phase estimated to cost some S$1 billion.

The relocation of the 45-year-old Jurong Bird Park was first mooted as a possibility by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong during a live television forum in September 2014 when the Government was seeking the advice of nature groups on refining its plans for Mandai.

Meanwhile, visitors can expect to set out on a “multi-layered adventure” in the new 12.5-ha Rainforest Park on forest floor pathways to the tree-top canopies.

Located along Mandai Lake Road — facing the new Bird Park — it will also feature walking trails while the MSPH is also toying with the idea of placing resting pods mounted in the trees.

With ongoing reforestation works expected to take place in this area, the Rainforest Park will only be fully open in 2023.

At the press conference on Wednesday, MSPH said that stringent environmental protection measures will be put in place to minimise any potential impact on the flora and fauna in the area.

An eco-bridge also be built across the Mandai Lake Road to allow wildlife to move between the central and northern reaches of the Central Catchment Nature Reserve, similar to the one built to connect two nature reserves over the Bukit Timah Expressway.

The plans to redevelop Mandai had previously sparked concern among nature advocacy groups here due to the area’s proximity to the swathes of forest in the nature reserve. An EIA is being conducted by Temasek with the National University of Singapore and Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum, under the guidance of the National Parks Board.

On Wednesday, MSPH group chief executive officer Mike Barclay declined to reveal findings from the EIA due to ongoing consultations. The report is expected to be ready w ithin the next few weeks, and will be put up for public consultation.

“The engagements that I mentioned it has already shaped some of our decision-making. I would say that the big blocks we’ve all agreed on and we’re now into the smaller detailing,” said Mr Barclay.

Tapping the popularity of the overnight camps already available at the Singapore Zoo, Night Safari and River Safari, MSPH also plans to have more permanent accommodation such as tents, rustic cottages and family rooms.

Visitors will also have access to some of the public green spaces within the Mandai nature precinct. These areas will be designed to include seating areas, nature trails, boardwalks, playgrounds as well as dining outlets.

Asked if the five parks would mean a saturation of attractions, Mr Barclay disagreed, saying the parks are “well-differentiated”. Prices will also be positioned to encourage people to visit multiple parks, he said, adding that their multi-park pricing introduced this year have already seen an encouraging response.

Addressing concerns that the Mandai area is relatively inaccessible, MSPH also plans to introduce shuttle bus services between the upcoming Springleaf MRT on the Thomson-East Coast Line to Mandai, among other transport options being considered. All the attractions will also be connected with shuttle buses and trams.


More accommodation options on the cards at Mandai nature precinct
To enhance the visitor experience, the expanded nature precinct could have permanent tented structures, cottages and family rooms says Group CEO of Mandai Safari Park Holdings Mike Barclay.
Lim Jia Qi Channel NewsAsia 1 Jun 16;

SINGAPORE: When the new Mandai nature precinct is ready in 2023, visitors can expect a more immersive wildlife experience which includes allowing the public to stay at the zoo in a range of accommodation options to get up-close and personal with nature.

The current offerings will be expanded to allow visitors, who wish to enjoy overnight experiences at the zoo, to extend their stay.

"Right now we do have camping options so people can camp over at the zoo. We will look at whether we can have permanent tented structures, cottages, also family rooms," said Group CEO of Mandai Safari Park Holdings (MSPH) Mike Barclay at a press conference on Wednesday (Jun 1).

"We know the area that we want to do this but we are working through the details," Mr Barclay added.

Aside from the Singapore Zoo, Night Safari and River Safari, two new attractions - a Bird Park and Rainforest Park - and an indoor nature-themed education centre will be added to the Mandai nature precinct.

The 17-hectare Bird Park, which is due to open in 2020 with nine large aviaries, will allow visitors to to experience different habitats such as wetlands, bamboo forests and rainforests.

"You may move from a rainforest habitat with rainforest birds into wetlands habitat with very bright colourful scarlet birds," said Mr Barclay. "The new Bird Park will house one of the world's largest collections of birds."

To enhance visitors' experience at the new Bird Park, some familiar features from Jurong Bird Park will be reimagined and incorporated. These include a waterfall and a custom-designed amphitheatre where visitors could see birds fluttering freely around the facility.

"Our plan is to have aviary structures above all the bird exhibits including the amphitheatre which is very unusual. This means that in fact the birds in the amphitheatre could be free flying within the aviary and then with the whistle, they can come down and take part in the show," Mr Barclay added.

Over at the Rainforest park, which will be connected to the Bird Park, visitors can learn more about tropical rainforests. They can go on an "multi-layered adventure", meandering through forest floor pathways to the treetop canopies, spotting wildlife amongst the surrounding trees. The 12.5-hectare park will open in 2023.

In total, the development of the Mandai precinct including the current attractions, will span about 120 hectares.The first phase of the project is estimated to cost about S$1 billion. Mr Barclay added that construction work will start by the end of this year and steps will be taken to minimise the impact on the wildlife there.

- CNA/jq

Mandai nature precinct will house two new wildlife parks
A new Bird Park and a new Rainforest Park are set to be part of the new Mandai nature precinct when it is completed, announced Mandai Safari Park Holdings.
Lim Jia Qi, Kimberly Spykerman, News 5 and Liyana Othman Channel NewsAsia 1 Jun 16;

SINGAPORE: The Mandai nature precinct will be home to two new wildlife parks when it is completed - a Bird Park and Rainforest Park - announced the Mandai Safari Park Holdings (MSPH) on Wednesday (Jun 1).

The new Bird Park, located in the western part of the precinct, will open by 2020. The 17-hectare attraction will house one of the world's largest collections of birds. It will have nine large aviaries with different landscapes from around the world, including wetlands, bamboo forests and rainforests.

Together with the existing Singapore Zoo, Night Safari, and River Safari, this will create an integrated nature and wildlife experience for all visitors to Mandai.

Jurong Bird Park will close eventually and the land will return to the Government when the new Bird Park is ready. No definitive timeline is given for this, but Group CEO of MSPH Mike Barclay said Jurong Bird Park will still be open before the new Bird Park is ready.

Some of the best-loved features in Jurong Bird Park will be reimagined in the new park, said MSPH. There will be a new waterfall, a grand entrance to the park framed by flowering plants and a custom-designed amphitheatre to feature bird performances.

The new Bird Park will also feature a facility that focuses on breeding and researching critically endangered species from all over the world.

The 12.5-hectare Rainforest Park will open in 2023. It will be connected to the new Bird Park. Visitors will be able to be fully immersed in the sights and sounds of the tropical rainforest of Southeast Asia.

Besides wildlife, Singaporeans will get access to a series of open spaces in the heart of Mandai - with gardens, waterways and playgrounds.

An indoor nature-themed education centre focusing on Conservation, Research and Education is also in the pipeline. The centre will aim at raising awareness and appreciation for the region's biodiversity and natural heritage.

In response to public feedback, the current eco-accommodation will be expanded to allow nature enthusiasts and families to extend their stay in Mandai. MSPH is also exploring a range of options with the Government to improve accessibility to Mandai. These include introducing shuttle buses from the upcoming Springleaf MRT station and direct bus services from regions that are not well-connected to Mandai.

"We want to give Singaporeans a nature and wildlife destination that they can call their own. Visitors have asked for more novel, engaging and immersive experiences and we hope the new Mandai nature precinct will provide all that and more," said Mr Barclay.

ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT

The Nature Society Singapore has raised concerns that the development of the Mandai nature precinct will affect the native animals living in the Central Catchment area.

"Back in 2010, there was another development proposed in that area and the Nature Society's opinion was that the area would be better off as a nature park and to allow the continued usage of the area by the native fauna,” said Tony O'Dempsey, a spokesman from the organisation. “So from the nature point of view that is the optimum usage for the land."

Mr Barclay said steps will be taken to protect the wildlife: "We will be very careful in how we go into the new development area and to make sure we have a very, very responsible way of moving wildlife away first before we build structures there."

An eco-link bridge will also be built spanning Mandai Lake Road. The bridge will allow animals to move between the central and northern reaches of the Central Catchment Nature Reserve.

In regard to this, Mr O'Dempsey added that the Nature Society Singapore hopes there will be sufficient buffer zones for the animals in the area, as well as "reasonable-sized eco links", so that they can continue to move to and fro the two parts of the nature reserve.

Mr O'Dempsey also lauded the mitigation efforts undertaken by the environmental impact consultants.

"I think the environmental impact consultant is actually putting in a lot of effort into mitigation the construction impact by phasing the construction work. You can never have no impact, but at least they're taking some reasonable steps to minimise," he said.

DEVELOPMENTS TO BE COMPLETED IN PHASES

The new developments at Mandai will be completed in phases from 2020, subject to required approvals. The first phase is estimated to cost some S$1 billion.

When asked if there is sufficient demand to justify the investment, Mr Barclay noted that there has generally been "very robust growth" in visitation to zoological parks around the world.

"We also want to be a cutting edge kind of wildlife park - move away from the cages and have open concept exhibits or very large aviaries. So we want to be an environment where our guests feel that this place really understands looking after wildlife and conservation," said Mr Barclay.

"The conservation elements will be very strong both in terms of education and our breeding centres, our rehabilitation centres which will be opened to the public," Mr Barclay added.

- CNA/av


Mandai to host 5 parks in one location by 2020
Stephanie Luo AsiaOne 1 Jun 16;

Mandai will be home to the new Bird Park and the brand new Rainforest Park from the year 2020.

At a press conference held earlier today (June 1) at the Singapore Zoological Gardens, Mandai Safari Park Holdings (MSPH) revealed that the two parks will be part of the 126ha integrated nature wildlife park which also houses the Singapore Zoological Gardens, Night Safari and River Safari.

This comes after MSPH, Temasek Holdings and Singapore Tourism Board announced a partnership to revamp the zoo in January last year.

The inclusion of the new Bird Park at Mandai, which will be situated at where the now defunct Mandai Orchid Gardens used to be, will be home to the species of birds at the present Jurong Bird Park.

This means that Jurong Bird Park will be closed down when the species of birds are fully brought over to the new 17ha park, although the exact date of the closure has not been confirmed. Its name has yet to be finalised.

The new Bird Park will centre around nine large walk-in aviaries and each aviary will feature a different habitat and birds associated with that habitat. Visitors can expect to see tropical birds flying freely.

A walk-in trail will be designed around water courses and visitors will have a close view of some red birds like the Carribean flamingoes and Roseate spoonbill.

According to Mr Mike Barclay, Chief Executive Officer of MSPH, the new Bird Park will "amplify parts of Jurong Bird Park which are enjoyed by the public".

New Rainforest Park

For the new Rainforest Park installation, visitors can enjoy a "mulit-layered" experience. There will be elevated walking trails to allow for different perspectives when viewing the flora and fauna.

According to Ms Neo Gim Huay, Managing Director of Enterprise Development Group of Temasek Holdings, public utilities will mostly be kept underground as hard structures could be an "eyesore" in the nature park. The carpark will be kept "submerged" as the area is meant for visitors to view greenery and not be interrupted by infrastructure.

Resting pods will be available for visitors to the Rainforest Park.

A rehabilitation centre will also be set up where agencies and the public can bring in injured or abandoned wildlife for the veterinarian team to treat and if appropriate, release back into the wild.

Eco-accommodation and new bird species

The area for development of the two new parks is situated outside of the Central Catchment Nature Reserve. It occupies about 35ha and used to house settlements and farmers in the past.

There will be an eco-bridge for wildlife to move freely and help prevent roadkill.

There will be eco-accommodation options too. After requests from the public about lodging, WRS said that it is considering this option for tourists in the future.

A representative from WRS said that the Rainforest Park will have new species of birds which are undecided as of now.

There will be two phases to the development of the new parks, which will be separate and gated.

Construction of the new Bird Park will fall in the first phase which costs $1 billion, while the second phase is still subject to government approval and a budget has not been set aside as yet, according to Mr Barclay. Construction is expected to take place at the end of this year.

Accessibility to the area, however, seems limited for now. Mr Barclay said that public transport is currently "a bit patchy" but when the Thomson-East Coast line is ready from 2019, WRS will introduce shuttle buses from Springleaf MRT station and direct bus services from key regions that are not well-connected to Mandai.

In this new development project, there will also be public spaces that are not gated or ticketed, and seating places will be incorporated for a view of the reservoir. There will be a playground for children, nature trails and boardwalks along the edge of the reservoir.

According to Ms Neo, there might also be a potential introduction of a heritage trail in Mandai documenting the place's historic and memorable moments.

Mr Barclay said: "We're really excited by the idea of having five wildlife parks at one location where guests can hop between all these different parks.

"Visitors have asked for more novel, engaging and immersive experiences and we hope the new Mandai nature precinct will provide all that and more," the 49-year-old added.


Wistful memories of bird park as move is announced
SIAU MING EN Today Online 2 Jun 16;

SINGAPORE — A fixture in school excursions for older Singaporeans, the iconic Jurong Bird Park — home to more than 5,000 birds across 400 species — will be relocated to the Mandai nature precinct just before the park turns 50.

For some, such as nutrition scientist Fong Chee Wai, 47, the 20ha avian attraction left him with a positive impression of birds, and eventually saw him holding photography classes there with members of his Nature Photographic Society (Singapore) (NPSS).

His very first visit to the park was with his extended family when he was in his early teens, where Mr Fong said he vividly remembers the iconic 30m man-made waterfall in the Waterfall Aviary.

Over the past 15 years or so, Mr Fong has made more than 20 trips to the park where he conducts photography practice classes with the NPSS members.

Yesterday, the Mandai Safari Park Holdings (MSPH) announced its plans to build an integrated nature and wildlife destination in Mandai, including the relocation of the Jurong Bird Park to the new 17ha site by 2020.

Earlier, when there were whispers of a possible relocation, Mr Bernard Harrison, former chief executive of Wildlife Reserves Singapore, had said the move would be extravagant and unnecessary.

The Jurong Bird Park was built at a cost of S$3.5million more than four decades ago, excluding the price of the land.

Mr Mike Barclay, MSPH’s group chief executive officer, pointed out yesterday that the existing infrastructure at the park was less than ideal.

“The underground facilities are in pretty bad shape ... If we were to remain for another 50 years, we will actually have to do pretty major renovations to redo all the waterworks, the sewerage, the electricity — all the things you don’t see,” he said.

It will take about three months for the birds to be moved to the new park in Mandai. Jurong Bird Park will not close until they have fully moved their collection of birds, said Mr Barclay. The plot of land used by the old bird park will be returned to the Government.

On the bird park’s imminent move, Mr Fong said: “We’ll definitely miss it, it’s a pity but I think it’s inevitable in Singapore.”

Ngee Ann Polytechnic’s senior lecturer in tourism Michael Chiam felt that the relocation will help consolidate the attractions in one location as Jurong Bird Park is currently in “quite an isolated place”.

Mr Allan Chia, the head of the MBA Programme at SIM University, noted that Singaporeans need more interesting outlets for leisure and recreation, and the majority of tourists could be enticed by time and cost savings with this new “one-stop attraction”.

Wildlife consultant Subaraj Rajathurai said the new bird park will have to build more superior infrastructure than the current bird park to prevent birds from escaping.

He suggested that visitors to the new park could also be educated on endangered species and captive breeding.

On the potential uses of the vacated land after 2020, some property analysts felt the area could be used for industrial purposes, or be turned into a business park or a commercial centre.

Read more!

27 complaints about wild boars received this year: AVA

Last year, the Agri‑Food and Veterinary Authority of Singapore received 77 pieces of feedback, including 12 from Punggol.
Alice Chia Channel NewsAsia 1 Jun 16;

SINGAPORE: The Agri‑Food and Veterinary Authority of Singapore (AVA) said on Wednesday (Jun 1) that it has received 27 reports related to wild boars so far this year, including six from Punggol. Last year, it received 77 reports, including 12 from Punggol.

AVA was responding to media queries after a wild boar apparently chased and injured a boy on Sunday near Block 184 at Edgefield Plains in Punggol. It said it operations are underway to hunt for the boar, but so far, no wild boars have been caught.

The Singapore Civil Defence Force said it was alerted to the incident at 2.10pm and dispatched an ambulance.

AVA said it carries out surveillance to assess the situation when it gets feedback on wild boar sightings. Control operations will then be carried out if there are public safety or nuisance concerns.

"Impounded wild boars are humanely put down as relocation options are not available in land-scarce Singapore," AVA added.


Punggol residents on edge after boy injured by wild boar
Darryl Laiu and Cheryl Ying AsiaOne 3 Jun 16;

Some residents of Edgefield Plains in Punggol say they remain worried after a wild boar injured a boy in the area on Sunday afternoon.

Madam Yun Dan Hui, 53, who had taken her two-year-old grandson to the playground at Block 185, said that she was "terrified" that the wild boar would make a reappearance.

She told The New Paper in Mandarin: "Wild boars are very fierce and will charge at people. Young children don't know any better and might get injured as a result."

At least two other residents who spoke to The New Paper echoed her concerns.

Madam Anna Gordeeva, 35, who takes her five-year-old son, Andrei, to the playground at Block 185 every day, said she was surprised that the wild boar could end up in such a populated area.

The Singapore permanent resident, who has lived in Edgefield Plains for five years, said: "I used to think that everyone was safe here as it is so far from the main road and so many people come down here every day."

She says she keeps a sharper eye on her son now.

A spokesman for My First Skool - a pre-school located at Block 184 - said that an advisory circular on precautionary measures has been sent to the principals of the centres located within Punggol and Sengkang.

Teachers are instructed to keep a safe distance if the wild boar is spotted during outdoor activities.

Other residents were more curious about how it had found its way into the area, which is densely populated with HDB flats. Mr Calvin Chan, 37, a father of two and resident of the estate for five years, said: "It's a part of nature, so it's unpredictable. But I wonder how it came here since we live quite far away from the forested areas."

Mr Ben Lee, founder of nature conservation group Nature Trekker, said that the wild boar could have come from Coney Island, also known as Pulau Serangoon.

SWIM ACROSS

"The stretch of water between the island and the mainland is not very wide. The water there is also usually quite calm, making it easier for them to swim across," said Mr Lee.

Recently, two bridges were also constructed, linking the island - which is now a nature park that people can visit - to the mainland.

This is not the first time wild boars have made an appearance in Punggol.

In June last year, it was reported that residents in the same area, Edgefield Plains, had spotted boars multiple times and had complained to the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority of Singapore (AVA).

According to a Shin Min Daily News report then, some residents resorted to carrying wooden sticks to defend themselves.

Responding to queries, the AVA told The New Paper that after last year's sightings, 17 wild boars were trapped and put down.

A spokesman said that when wild boars are spotted in an area, they first carry out surveillance. If the situation is assessed to affect public safety, "control operations will be carried out".

These "control operations" are ongoing in the Punggol area, but no wild boar has been caught so far.

Mr Louis Ng, chief executive of Animal Concerns Research & Education Society, noted that the boars may have been flushed out from their jungle habitat, which has been removed to make way for housing in the area.

"The Punggol area has a lot of vegetation, so the wild boars might have been displaced when the area was cleared," he said.

"The boars are caught in the middle when we expand our footprint."

He advised members of the public not to approach them even if they want to take pictures. He added that sudden movements will startle them and that they can get defensive if they are with piglets.

Read more!

Tremors felt in Singapore as earthquake hits Sumatra

People reported feeling tremors in areas including Bukit Panjang, Siglap, Punggol and Toa Payoh.
Channel NewsAsia 2 Jun 16;

SINGAPORE: Tremors were felt across Singapore after a 6.5-magnitude earthquake was recorded off the Indonesian island of Sumatra on Thursday (Jun 2).

The Meteorological Service Singapore (MSS) said the earthquake was detected at 6.56am. The quake's epicentre was about 517km from Singapore, it said, adding that there was no tsunami advisory.

Channel NewsAsia received at least seven reports of tremors felt across Singapore. People reported feeling tremors in areas including Bukit Panjang, Siglap, Punggol and Toa Payoh.

Siglap resident Anya Kothary said she felt tremors in her home on the 13th floor. “The tremors were quite strong and lasted for a few minutes,” she said.

Twitter user Juck, who lives in Punggol, tweeted that he felt a “huge tremor” and that his “whole floor was shaking”. Some Twitter users posted videos of their lights swaying during the tremors.

Tremors were felt in neighbouring Johor as well. Johor resident Monesha Selvagnanam said she felt “strong tremors” in her flat after the earthquake struck.

The Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) said they did not receive any calls for assistance.

The last time tremors were felt in parts of Singapore was in March 2015, when a 7.8-magnitude quake struck southwest Sumatra.

WHAT TO DO IN THE EVENT OF TREMORS

If members of the public are inside a building and feel tremors, police advise them to:

i) Take cover under a sturdy table or furniture
ii) Keep away from items made of glass or any hanging object
iii) Do not use the lift
iv) Do not use any naked light, in case there is a gas leak

Those out in the open should minimise their movement and stay away from buildings, street lights and utility wires, the police said. After the vibrations have stopped, they should:

i) Stay away from any exposed electrical cables, hanging glass objects
ii) Report any gas leakage
iii) Help the injured, call SCDF if the injuries are significant
iv) Report any incidents or issues of law and order to Police
v) Tune in to the radio for updates, according to police

- CNA/cy


‘I thought I was going to faint’: Tremors felt in S’pore
Today Online 2 Jun 16;

SINGAPORE — An earthquake with a magnitude of 6.5 shook buildings and caused momentary panic in the Indonesian port city of Padang on Thursday (June 2). However, there were no immediate reports of damage or injury in that country.

The quake was centred about 155km south of Padang, off the coast of Sumatra island at a depth of about 50km, the United States Geological Survey said. It had originally been reported with a magnitude of 6.2.

Over in Singapore, an alert was issued by the National Environment Agency (NEA) on their MyENV app at 7.38am. “Tremors due to the earthquake were felt in parts of Singapore. There is no tsunami advisory,” the alert said.

Several people around Singapore felt the resulting tremors as the sun came up. In St George’s Lane, Jasmin Rizhwana, 29, was getting ready for work when she too felt the tremors around 7am. “I was going to enter my bedroom when the door to the other room on the opposite side started thumping even though it was closed, like someone was hitting the door. My husband, who was in the toilet, then came out and asked if I felt the tremors,” said the 29-year-old, lives on the 12th floor of her block.

“You could (the flat moving) like you’re going up and down, like you were in a boat. I felt giddy and thought I was going to faint. I went outside and my neighbours also felt it.”

Facebook user Putri, who stays on the 10th floor of her block in Marine Terrace reported feeling tremors at 7.15am. “It lasted around 15 seconds. I was in the kitchen. Suddenly, I felt dizzy. I walked to the living room and saw the lights shaking,” said Ms Putri, who took a video and posted it online.

Noorul Hutha, who lives in Crawford Lane was asleep but was woken up because she could feel the flat moving at 7am. “I thought it was a dream. I went to the hall and saw my parents there, they told me about the earthquake,” she told TODAY.

“There is a hotel opposite where we live and we could see the hotel guests all coming downstairs. I didn’t go down because by the time I got out of my room, (the tremors) had already stopped. We are all fine but it was quite horrifying to wake up to that,” Ms Noorul said, adding that she was often worried that a repeat of the 2004 tsunmai disaster might occur.

Memories are still fresh of that massive 9.15 magnitude undersea quake that triggered an Indian Ocean tsunami which killed more than 200,000 people in a dozen countries. Most of those killed were in the province of Aceh on Sumatra’s northwest tip.

Indonesia is on the the so-called “Pacific Ring of Fire”, a highly seismically active zone, where different plates on the earth’s crust meet and create a large number of earthquakes and volcanoes.


Strong quake rattles Indonesia's Sumatra, no damage reported
Today Online 2 Jun 16;

PADANG, Indonesia - An earthquake with a magnitude of 6.5 shook buildings and caused momentary panic in the Indonesian port city of Padang on Thursday, officials and residents said, but there were no immediate reports of damage or injury.

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center did not issue an alert immediately after the quake and Indonesia's BMK weather agency said there was no threat of a tsunami.

The quake was centered about 155 km (95 miles) south of Padang, off the coast of Sumatra island at a depth of about 50 km (30 miles), the USGS said. It had originally been reported with a magnitude of 6.2.

Memories are still fresh in Indonesia of the massive 9.15 magnitude undersea quake that triggered an Indian Ocean tsunami which killed more than 200,000 people in a dozen countries.

Most of those killed were in the province of Aceh on Sumatra's northwest tip.

A Reuters witness reported initial panic after the latest quake, which struck before dawn and lasted about 30 seconds. Residents rushed out of their homes and into the streets, but with no apparent signs of damage of injury, things quickly returned to normal.

Indonesia straddles the so-called "Pacific Ring of Fire", a highly seismically active zone, where different plates on the earth's crust meet and create a large number of earthquakes and volcanoes. REUTERS


6.5-magnitude quake rattles Indonesia's Sumatra, no damage reported
The 6.5-magnitude earthquake struck off the Indonesian island of Sumatra on Thursday morning, the US Geological Survey reported. There were no immediate reports of damage or injuries.
Channel NewsAsia 2 Jun 16;

SYDNEY: An earthquake with an initial magnitude of 6.5 was recorded off the Indonesian island of Sumatra on Thursday (Jun 2), the US Geological Survey (USGS) reported.

The quake, which had an initial magnitude of 6.2, was centred about 155 kilometres south of Padang at a depth of about 40 kilometres, the USGS said. There were no immediate reports of damage or injury.

The quake took place at 5.56am local time (6.56am, Singapore time), shortly before dawn, when many people would still have been in bed.

A witness reported initial panic after the latest quake, which struck before dawn and lasted about 30 seconds. Residents rushed out of their homes and into the streets, but with no apparent signs of damage of injury, things quickly returned to normal.

There were reports of tremors in neighbouring Singapore.

Electricity cut out in some places after the quake but was restored shortly afterwards, said the journalist, and people were not ordered to evacuate their homes.

Wandono, a senior official from Indonesia's Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency, said the quake did not have the potential to cause a tsunami.

"So far we have not received any reports of damage," added the official.

A few minutes after the quake, Padang's mayor announced over the radio that it had no potential to cause a tsunami.

Phil Cummins, senior seismologist at Geoscience Australia, said the quake was not large enough to trigger a tsunami.

"People would have felt it and there may be some minor damage, but it was offshore and deep so damage would be limited," he told AFP.

There was no immediate indication of whether the quake had caused any casualties or damage. Indonesia experiences frequent seismic and volcanic activity due to its position on the Pacific "Ring of Fire," where tectonic plates collide.

- CNA/Agencies/de/rw

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