Use human guides, not smart phones, for nature rambles

Straits Times Forum 28 Oct 09;

I REFER to yesterday's report, "Nature lessons in the palm of your hand".

Organising a "high-tech nature ramble" at Sungei Buloh Wetlands Reserve is not the best way to teach students about nature. A smart phone is fun, engaging and even interactive, but the pedagogical value of any IT gadget must be considered carefully before it is adopted.

I do not doubt that smart phones are a hit with school children. However, to inculcate a love for nature, human presence and interaction are much more effective. In the first place, I doubt that a machine can impart enthusiasm, excitement and respect for flora and fauna like an impassioned human guide or teacher.

Besides, when embarking on nature walks, much more than mere content knowledge need to be imparted. Young students must learn how to handle the delicate natural exhibits, how not to startle the animals, how not to accidentally damage the fragile organisms and how to minimise noise and other pollution.

On-the-spot human demonstration and instruction are vital.

A large group of 100 children is also not an ideal way to conduct a nature ramble, and 100 smart phones emitting all kinds of sounds and signals will surely distress the birds and other inhabitants.

At a visitor centre, or at school before the excursion, the use of laptops and computers for background research is a good idea. Where a real-life walk in the park is not possible, IT gadgets also open up a world of possibilities. However, in many areas of education, few things can replace the human touch.

Sabrina Wong (Ms)

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Best of our wild blogs: 27 Oct 09

Job opportunity: Programme and Outreach Officer with Nature Society from ecotax

Nature is Changing: Copenhagen and beyond – what does it mean for Asia? from Pulau Hantu

Specimens make their mark at the ASEAN Wetland Management Training Course from Raffles Museum News

Flight pattern of birds in fright
from Bird Ecology Study Group

The Resident Salty
from Life's Indulgences

Palm Civet Cat
from Ubin

Poachers and their cruel traps
from Ubin

Night Dive @ Mainland Singapore
from colourful clouds

Blog Log, 25 October 2009: Pipefish, et al
from Pulau Hantu and experimental home

Monkey population in Bukit Panjang growing too fast
from The Lazy Lizard's Tales

Comfort behaviour of the Spotted Wood Owl
from Bird Ecology Study Group

Orange-bellied Flowerpecker feeding on nectar
from Bird Ecology Study Group

Carbon Forum Asia 2009
from Green Business Times

What a good conservation organization looks like
from Southern Fried Science

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Nature lessons in the palm of your hand

Straits Times 27 Oct 09;

Smartphones let Radin Mas Primary pupils have fun learning about Sungei Buloh

SMARTPHONES have changed the way schools run nature trips for their students.

Armed with such phones, students can now roam Sungei Buloh Wetlands Reserve's 'intelligent' wireless trails and learn about the flora and fauna there.

Yesterday, about 100 Primary 6 pupils from Radin Mas Primary School worked in pairs, using hand-held smart technology to receive photos of plant and animal life, sound clips and to answer quizzes on the go.

Their partner in this: the mobile network coverage in the wetlands.

No more lugging around of laptops. No more jostling to peer at the screen with each laptop being shared by five students. No more being confined to the wetlands' visitor centre, beyond which Wi-Fi coverage does not extend.

And definitely no more carrying of workbooks that get sodden on the go.

When Radin Mas' pupils hit the trail yesterday, they had with them their phones and a sheet of paper containing a series of 'colour codes'.

All they had to do was use the smartphone's camera to snap a picture of a code, which triggered a download and display of multimedia content - say of a particular tree - into their phones. They then went in search of such trees in the wetlands. They also answered quizzes sent to their phones by their teachers.

Teachers are able to pre-programme questions beforehand, and even mark the pupils' answers in real time during the outing.

Until now, students using laptops that are part of a conventional Ultra Mobile Personal Computer learning system had to stay within range of a Wi-Fi network, thus limiting their mobility.

Radin Mas Primary is among many schools now tapping the power of smartphones to turn learning into an engaging experience in the classroom and outdoors.

Its high-tech nature ramble yesterday cost $18 a pupil; the school picked up $10 of the tab, with the rest coming from the pupil's Edusave account.

Seven schools have signed up for the educational programme, which was developed last month by Zenitent, an enrichment programme vendor.

Radin Mas teacher Cindy Cheng, 33, said her pupils were excited by the use of mobile technology as it was engaging and interactive.

One pupil, Joey Ong, said she enjoyed the trip and would be 'ecstatic if all excursions were like that. The phone was easy to use and convenient'.

Zenitent operations manager Ivy Woo said its wireless learning system can be implemented in many settings. It has used this at HortPark, also to the delight of pupils, who found it a change from traditional learning.

LESTER KOK

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Worst of haze over due to onset of monsoon season: NEA

Joanne Chen, Channel NewsAsia 26 Oct 09;

SINGAPORE: The worst of the haze appears to be over. The National Environment Agency (NEA) said Singapore is unlikely to be affected by transboundary haze from late November onwards.

In a statement, NEA added that during the Inter-Monsoon period between now and November, the ASEAN region is likely to experience wet weather, interspersed with brief dry periods.

The increase in rainfall is expected to help subdue hotspot activities in Sumatra and Borneo.

But sporadic increases in hotspot activities could still be expected during drier periods. And depending on the wind direction, smoke from the forest fires could blow towards Singapore.

However, NEA noted that the onset of the Northeast Monsoon in late November is expected to bring about the start of the traditional rainy season in the region. And hotspot activities are expected to remain subdued during this period. - CNA/vm

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Lightning activity in Singapore at its peak now

Chances of being struck this month and next are higher than usual
Carolyn Quek, Straits Times 27 Oct 09;

IT IS lightning season.

These bolts of electricity are splitting the skies every other day, compared with about once a week in the off season.

This means the chances of people being struck this month and the next are higher than usual - and Singapore already sees one of the highest rates of lightning activity in the world.

Figures from the National Environment Agency (NEA) show 0.35 death recorded for every one million people here between 2000 and 2003, higher than Britain's 0.2 but lower than the United States' 0.6 figure.

Besides this month and the next, lightning and thunderstorms are also prevalent in April and May, with at least 18 thundery days each month.

But deaths here are higher in April and November, notes the NEA. Latest figures are not available.

Golfer Soh Lye Huat, a 57-year-old garment company owner, is the latest person to be struck by lightning here; he was wrapping up an 18-hole game at the Tanah Merah Country Club on Sunday when he was hit.

Mr Soh is in a coma in hospital. His heart stopped after he was struck, but a pulse returned just as he reached the hospital, said a Singapore Civil Defence Force spokesman.

Mr Soh's national serviceman son Jeffrey, 22, said: 'He's not conscious yet, but we're hoping for the best.'

His family members, including his mother and sister, are keeping vigil at the hospital.

Tanah Merah Country Club general manager Roy Higgs said the Meteorological Services usually alerts the club 30 to 60 minutes in advance of lightning activity, which gives the club time to get its golfers off the greens.

The NEA said that data gathered by the Met Services at 9am on Sunday indicated that thunderstorms would occur in western and southern Singapore in the late morning and early afternoon that day.

It was only at 10.10am that the weatherman spotted a thunderstorm brewing in the Tanah Merah area in the east, accompanied by lightning. It sent a text message five minutes later to the club.

But it was by then too late for Mr Soh.

Professor Liew Ah Choy of the National University of Singapore's Electrical and Computer Engineering Department explained that the Met Services gathers data on lightning activity in two ways, both of which involve the use of radar.

One method uses a weather radar, which tracks cloud formation and density. The data gathered is studied, after which an assessment is made on the likelihood of lightning activity.

The other method uses radar to detect and track lightning strikes.

Neither system is foolproof, he said.

'It's just like predicting whether it will rain tomorrow,' he said.

Lightning mostly strikes the ground harmlessly, but if it hits humans, it can kill with an average of 200,000 amps of electricity - enough to power half a million 100-watt light bulbs.

Direct hits are usually fatal. The sheer force of electricity going through the body disrupts the heart's rhythm or stops it completely.

Burns are typical injuries.

In an indirect hit or 'side flash', lightning hits the person standing near the point where the current enters the ground, spreads and then dissipates.

'So if you are in the path of the spread of voltages, you will get a voltage difference across your legs and become a conductor for the current,' said Prof Liew.

Emergency room doctor Malcolm Mahadevan, who has seen his share of those struck by lightning in his 20 years of practice, said those who make it to hospital are unlikely to have taken a direct strike.

The senior consultant at the National University Hospital said: 'Someone who's been struck by lightning may appear lifeless but may actually - with quick and early resuscitation - be brought back to life.'

Tips on avoiding lightning strikes

# Seek shelter in a building or car.

# If you are in an open area, take cover in a low-lying area such as a ravine or under a thick growth of small trees in a forest.

# Head for shore if you are in open water.

# Do not ride on a bicycle, motorcycle or golf cart.

# If you are on a golf course and there are no shelters nearby, put down your clubs, take off your spiked shoes and crouch into a ball on the ground.

# Do not use the telephone, electric and electronic equipment.

# Do not stand under tall trees.

# Keep away from wire fences or metal objects.

NATIONAL ENVIRONMENT AGENCY

Golfer in coma after being struck by lightning
Amelia Tan, Straits Times 26 Oct 09;

A GOLFER was struck by lightning at the Tanah Merah Country Club yesterday morning, just as he neared the end of an 18-hole game.

The skies had only just turned a little dark and the club had contacted the Meteorological Services to check whether lightning was likely when the 57-year-old was hit.

Mr Soh Lye Huat, a garment company owner, is now in a coma in intensive care at Changi General Hospital.

His son Jeffrey, a 22-year-old national serviceman, said his dad played golf at the Changi Coast Road course once a week with a regular group of three friends and that he was with them yesterday.

Tanah Merah Country Club general manager Roy Higgs said the Met Services usually sends a text message to the on-duty club employee when possible lightning activity is brewing.

The message is usually sent from half an hour to an hour before the club sounds its sirens and makes an announcement over its public address system for all players to clear the greens.

Marshalls also go on patrol to ensure that players leave the course; they generally have to stay off it for 45 minutes.

Mr Higgs said that by the time the Met Services sent the text message at about 10.15am yesterday - after club employees had called it about some dark clouds - the accident had already happened.

The text message instructed the club to clear players off the courses between 10.30am and 11.15am.

When asked, a National Environment Agency spokesman said the Met Services had detected a localised thunderstorm near the Tanah Merah area only at 10.10am and had assessed that lightning would likely hit the area. It sent out a lightning alert five minutes after this.

Data gathered at 9am had indicated that thunderstorms would occur only in western and southern Singapore, not the east, later in the morning and early afternoon.

After Mr Soh was struck, one of his friends, helped by two marshalls, gave him mouth-to-mouth resuscitation before the ambulance came, said Mr Higgs.

A Singapore Civil Defence Force spokesman said that when paramedics arrived, Mr Soh was unconscious.

Mr Higgs explained that country clubs had two ways of getting information on possible lighting activity: They either install their own lightning detection equipment or, like Tanah Merah Country Club, get updates from the Met Services.

Mr Higgs said this was the first time someone had been struck by lightning at its Changi Coast Road course since the club opened in 1982; its other course in Tampines, so far free of lightning mishaps, opened in the mid-1980s.

The younger Mr Soh said: 'My dad is stable, but we are still very worried. We are trying to get more information to find out what happened.'

The family, including his mother and 20-year-old undergraduate sister, is keeping vigil.

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Diving tragedy: Diver was honing his skills

He was using a rebreather which recycles air and allows diver to stay down longer
Kimberly Spykerman & Teh Joo Lin, Straits Times 27 Oct 09;

THE diver who died over the weekend while in Malaysia was undergoing specialised training when he ran into difficulty.

Dr Marcus Lim, 37, was using a device called a rebreather and breathing a mix of gases called trimix - nitrogen, oxygen and helium - his widow, Madam Christy Toh, told The Straits Times.

Dr Lim, the Singapore National Eye Centre's registrar, had been diving with 13 others at the Seven Skies wreck - a popular dive site off Pulau Aur on the east coast of Peninsular Malaysia.

The trip was meant for experienced divers to hone their technical skills. Dr Lim, who was trained in the use of a rebreather, and two others were on the course, aided by an instructor.

What happened during the dive is still unclear.

One of the divers on the trip said he resurfaced around 9am to find Dr Lim already unconscious on the boat and receiving cardio-pulmonary resuscitation. The group headed back to shore after gathering the other divers still in the water, and Dr Lim was then taken to a hospital in the town of Mersing, where he was later pronounced dead.

Contacted last night, Madam Toh, 34, herself a diver, said she did not have all the details of the tragedy, and thus did not want to say more.

Using rebreathers requires advanced training.

Unlike the conventional apparatus used by most divers, which expels exhaled air directly into the water, rebreathers recycle this air by removing carbon dioxide and replacing oxygen that has already been consumed.

This process gives rebreathers two main advantages over conventional gear.

First, oxygen wastage is cut, allowing divers to stay underwater for a longer period.

Second, because the air is not expelled into the water, few or no bubbles are created.

For recreational divers, this means marine creatures which are scared off by bubbles can be approached more closely - for taking photographs, for instance.

Military divers use rebreathers because the lack of tell-tale bubbles helps them avoid detection.

Dive instructors say there are few rebreather divers in Singapore, because the equipment and training are expensive.

Dr Lim's friends say he was eager to learn how to use the device because of his love of underwater photography. He had been using a rebreather for over a year without incident.

Said Madam Toh: 'He just wanted to keep learning more, and he was always doing the next thing.'

She said her husband had been looking forward to the birth of their second son next month. 'He loved his family... he was a wonderful father.' The couple have a three-year-old son.

She added that he was planning to go on a dive trip to Antarctica next year.

Diving instructor Leon Boey, 30, who got to know Dr Lim through a course he taught in August, called him an 'all-round nice guy' who had a 'very nice smile'.

The divers who were with Dr Lim have returned to Singapore. His body was flown home on Sunday night.

'Underwater panic' common in mishaps
Straits Times 27 Oct 09;

AT LEAST 10 Singapore residents have died while diving since 2000, based on previous news reports.

The mishaps occurred in dive spots off Singapore, Malaysia and Australia.

The causes were seldom reported, though the cases included that of a man who was found to have used faulty diving equipment and a woman who was hit by the dive boat's propeller.

Seven of the 10 victims were aged between 22 and 30. Another two were aged 50 and 54. The latest diving casualty, Dr Marcus Lim, was 37.

More often than not, divers suffer from what diving instructor Eugene Sim, 41, terms 'underwater panic'. This might cause them to resurface too quickly and result in a lung expansion injury, which could be fatal.

'Sometimes water gets into their eyes, or they swallow too much water because they can't breathe properly. Then, they just think about fresh air and shoot up to the surface. It's the worst thing to do,' he added.

It is crucial that new divers get adequate training in a controlled environment, such as a swimming pool, before heading out to sea, he said.

Mr Sim, who runs Dive Atlantis Centre, stressed the importance of having diving equipment that fits well so as to minimise any risks of panicking in the water.

Veteran dive operator Stephen Beng, 39, reminded those interested in diving to shop for courses that train them well in the fundamentals of the sport.

'Diving is not an extreme sport but it requires proper training and proper health and fitness,' said the former president of the Singapore Underwater Federation.

'Accidents happen when things are overlooked and taken for granted, and choices are made in a hurry,' he added.

TEH JOO LIN

Doctor who died 'was never reckless'
Esther Ng, Today Online 27 Oct 09;

Barely 20 minutes into the first dive of his advanced diving course, Dr Marcus Lim (picture)- described as a fit, experienced and careful diver by his diving buddies - somehow ran into difficulties on Saturday morning in the South China Sea.

"He knew his limits, he knew his equipment - he was never reckless," said Mr Jean-Robert Strele, 46, who did not accompany Dr Lim on the trip.

A colleague who did, Dr Jay Siak, 28, told MediaCorp that the boat crew hauled Dr Lim, who lost consciousness when he surfaced, back to the boat.

They immediately tried to resuscitate him before rushing him to the nearest hospital, which was hours away in Mersing.

"We could not revive him despite four hours of CPR," Dr Siak said.

Mr Gideon Liew, a diving instructor, said it was difficult to pinpoint the cause of death in diving incidents, which are usually "compounded by many events".

Said Mr Liew: "It could be equipment malfunction; not responding to stress correctly; simple things like not breathing properly through the regulator; environmental factors like strong current; no visibility in the water; or an undiscovered medical condition."

Yesterday, friends and relatives, who had gathered at Dr Lim's home, were struggling to come to terms with the inexplicable death of the 37-year-old opthalmologist.

His widow, Ms Christy Toh, 34, recalled how Dr Lim had chosen the name for their second son, who is due next month. Dr Lim had even bought a bicycle for the unborn child.

"He was not known to do things by half-measures," said Ms Toh, who described her Penang-born husband as an energetic and sporty person, whose pursuits included polo and wildlife photography.

On weekends, the Lims and their three-year-old son, Jaden, would spend the afternoon at the Polo Club. At times, Dr Lim would also go blading and cycling at the East Coast Park.

A friend, Ms Heather Lim, recalled how Dr Lim had inspired her to take up diving three years ago.

"Thanks to Marcus, I love diving. I couldn't stop crying when I heard the news. He was such a lovely person," she said.

Dr Siak, who had known Dr Lim for two years through work, likened Dr Lim to a "big brother".

"Marcus was a passionate diver and photographer. He was quite a diving buddy," he added.

According to Dr Siak, Dr Lim was preparing for a diving trip to Antarctica in February next year and was taking a number of courses to improve his diving skills - one of which turned out to be fatal.

More details surface about diving incident involving eye-doctor
Dylan Loh, Channel NewsAsia 26 Oct 09;

SINGAPORE: Friends of the Singapore National Eye Centre specialist who died in a diving accident on Saturday said he was feeling well before the accident.

One of the divers who tried to resuscitate Dr Marcus Lim recounted the tragedy.

Dr Lim was passionate about photography and he was able to combine this with his love of diving to stunning effect.

On Saturday, he was diving near a shipwreck in the South China Sea. He was honing his skills in preparation for a diving expedition to Antarctica in 2010.

A friend who was there said Dr Lim, who was feeling well before the dive and went down with a group of three others under calm sea conditions, experienced some difficulties after 23 minutes underwater. He was brought to the surface and lost consciousness.

Jay Siak, dive buddy of Dr Lim, said: "CPR was commenced, and the boat set sail for the nearest hospital which is Mersing Hospital. But despite four hours of CPR, we could not revive him."

The keen sportsman and Liverpool Football Club fan was described by family and friends as level-headed and a loving father.

Heather Lim, a friend of Dr Lim, said: "When we first heard the news, I was completely devastated - just sat up on my bed and started crying. Such a great loss. Such a lovely person."

Dr Lim leaves behind a three-year old son, Jayden, and his pregnant wife Christy who declined to be filmed. Their baby boy is due to be born next month and Dr Lim had already chosen his name - Tristan. - CNA/vm

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More cars, so public transport trips down

But minister expects expanding rail network to win over commuters
Christopher Tan, Straits Times 27 Oct 09;

THE Government's push to get more people onto buses and trains has hit a speed bump.

Motorists are not giving up their cars, going by data from the 2008 Household Interview Travel Survey.

In fact, public transport's share of the total number of trips made during the morning peak period shrank to 59 per cent last year from 63 per cent in 2004 and 67 per cent in 1997.

The stark and persistent retreat is because of a substantial rise in the number of cars on the road, and also because they are being used more frequently.

Transport Minister Raymond Lim, who last year set the target of raising public transport's share of trips to 70 per cent by 2020, released the data yesterday at the 2nd World Roads Conference.

He noted that while public transport journeys increased by 16 per cent, car journeys jumped 31 per cent.

'The heavier car usage has led to an overall drop in the public transport mode share last year,' said the minister.

Between 2004 and last year, car numbers grew by 32 per cent to 550,500.

Despite the setback, Mr Lim said yesterday he was hopeful the long-term goal was still achievable, in part by reducing the vehicle growth rate.

The allowable annual growth rate was halved this year to 1.5 per cent, 'and we will assess this again in 2012 to see if a further reduction is necessary'.

Dr Lim Wee Kiak, head of the Government Parliamentary Committee for Transport, believes transport planners should have been more aggressive in reducing the supply of certificates of entitlement (COEs) when premiums started falling three years ago.

He said: 'They have an inflexible system. They tend to stick to the growth rate once they have announced it. I think they should be a bit like how the Ministry of National Development releases land - according to demand and the economy.'

The other strategy highlighted by Minister Lim: Expanding the rail network.

He cited the north-east corridor as an example of an area which 'bucked the trend' and saw its share of public transport trips go up noticeably. This was down to the North-East MRT Line.

When the line opened in mid-2003, ridership was 170,000 a day. It has more than doubled to almost 380,000 now.

As such, public transport's share of trips in the sector rose from 52 per cent in 2004 to 55 per cent last year - the only region to see an improvement.

Mr Lim said new MRT lines - such as the Downtown, Eastern Region and Thomson lines - should have a similar effect elsewhere. In total, the Government has committed $40 billion to double the rail network to 280km by 2020.

'If we proceed with what we have announced...we should be able to make progress in reversing the trend,' he said.

The survey, which involved 10,500 households, also found that an average of 11 million trips were made daily last year - up 24 per cent from 2004 and much closer to the 2020 projection of 14.3 million daily trips.

Observers were confident of having 70 per cent of morning trips made by public transport in just over 10 years.

Public Transport Council chairman Gerard Ee said: 'I am optimistic because by 2020, we will have the same rail density as New York today. Even if we don't meet the target, we will get pretty close to it.'

Dr Lim said meeting the target may also depend on 'the disincentives of driving, such as congestion and high ERP and parking charges'.

'But I hope it won't be because of that,' he said, but rather because 'buses and trains are faster, more convenient and less crowded than they are today.'

Associate Professor Anthony Chin of the National University of Singapore's economics department noted that the fact that 'COE prices are rising during this (economic) doldrum shows people are willing to pay for speed and convenience'.

He said: 'If someone lives in Changi and works in Clementi, and commuting by public transport takes 11/2 hours, and a car takes 20 minutes, you don't need a PhD to know which mode he will pick.'

This is another target transport planners have in their sights - to complete 80 per cent of public transport trips door-to-door in under an hour by 2015 - up from 71 per cent today.

Additional reporting by Maria Almenoar


Uneasy riders

Measures so far fail to get Singaporeans to switch to buses, trains
Leong Wee Keat, Today Online 27 Oct 09;

SINGAPORE - The anecdotes - of more crowded trains, of drivers not willing to pay higher Electronic Road Pricing (ERP) - had suggested that the target was on track, and the numbers - of rising revenue and ridership - seemed to back this up.

Yet, public transport has continued its slide in popularity in Singapore, indicating that Transport Minister Raymond Lim's goal to get Singaporeans to accept a bus or train as their "other car" still hinges on the key factor of connectivity and convenience.

Which means, say analysts, it will take a few years - when major infrastructural works such as the Circle Line are fully operational - before more of the commuting population switches from private to public transport.

Public transport as a predominant mode of transport fell to 59 per cent last year, down from 63 per cent in 2004 and 67 per cent in 1997, according to the 2008 Household Interview Travel Survey released yesterday.

Heavier car usage was the cause, Mr Lim said yesterday. While public transport journeys grew by 16 per cent between 2004 and 2008, car journeys surged by 31 per cent.

The figures surprised some analysts, 18 months after the launch of a land transport masterplan that boasted initiatives such as the expansion of bus lanes and more frequent train services.

But population expansion seems to have played a bigger role in ridership numbers. The survey of 10,500 households - conducted between July last year and March this year, to measure peak-hour travel - had some wondering if ERP was not working as it should be.

But the Land Transport Authority (LTA) said, traffic speeds within the Central Business District (CBD) have been restored to the optimal range of 20 to 30kmh, and while peak-hour traffic volume grew by 25 per cent islandwide, there was only a 15-per-cent increase in traffic volumes in the CBD.

While car usage rose commensurate with the 32-per-cent growth in vehicle population between 2004 and 2008, this was a much better situation than in the past; between 1997 and 2004, a 10-per-cent growth in car population led to a 23-per-cent growth in car journeys.

"The slower growth is likely due to more off-peak cars and more households owning more than one car," said LTA.

Time needed and more measures, possibly?

More starkly put, the fall in public transport's share of the travel pie was due to the lack of major infrastructural improvements in the sector, as the population of vehicles and people continued to grow between 2004 and 2008.

The Circle Line will be fully ready in 2011, for instance, while the 40km Downtown Line will be completed from 2013 onward. With only five stations now, ridership on the Circle Line for August was in the low 30,000s, compared to the 45,000 to 55,000 expected.

National University of Singapore transport economist Anthony Chin said his students' recent study of 350 motorists also found that some 35 per cent of drivers are willing to switch to public transport only if bus arrivals are more reliable.

There have been improvements in this area. For example, the expansion of normal bus lanes and full-day bus lanes have boosted bus speeds for the services on such routes, by up to 8 and 13 per cent respectively.

But the reactions of motorists like Jerome Ang, who bought a car in 2005, are common. He now has to take a bus to Braddell or Toa Payoh MRT stations to catch a train. "If stations are within walking distance, I would consider giving up (driving)," said the 28-year-old.

Analysts suggested that the vehicle growth rate could be tweaked further if dangling carrots does not work.

On this, the Transport Minister said yesterday the Government would assess whether a further reduction of the 1.5-per-cent growth rate is necessary in 2012. The previous 3-per-cent growth rate was halved earlier this year.

Asked if it would be difficult to reach the target of increasing the share of public transport to 70 per cent, Mr Lim said: "Most of the strategies are there. I think if we implement them and the expansion of the rail network, all these will make an impact."

Would the Government speed up the construction of the rail infrastructure? "We're going as fast as we can," he said.

Read more!

Singapore's first "Zero Energy Building" launched

Wang Eng Eng, Channel NewsAsia 26 Oct 09;

SINGAPORE: The inaugural Singapore Green Building week started on Monday with the launch of Singapore's first "Zero Energy Building".

National Development Minister Mah Bow Tan said the three-storey office building showcases how it can be up to 50 per cent more energy efficient.

It cost some S$11 million to retrofit, but the building is expected to generate as much electricity as it consumes in a year.

The government aims to get 80 per cent of all buildings on Green Mark certification by 2030.

Known as the zero energy building, the structure along Braddell Road has been retrofitted to ensure it is self-sufficient in meeting its electricity needs.

It has various green features which act as a test bed for clean energy technologies before they are introduced into the industry.

To help beat the heat, the visitor's centre has plants on its walls which help reduce external wall temperatures by up to 12 degrees Celsius while a solar chimney sucks out the warm air from the room.

Contraptions help shade the building from the sun and bounce natural light into the interiors.

The solar panels help generate enough electricity to supply power to 45 four- room HDB flats for a year.

While it might cost five per cent more to retrofit existing buildings with green design and technologies, experts said the pay back is not as long as some might expect.

John Keung, CEO, Building and Construction Authority, said: "For a typical existing building if you go for a green mark certification, the expected pay back period is two to six years, depending on your design and what you want to put in there. So it's still quite cost effective."

Mr Mah said: "The government will have to educate, put in incentives and we may also eventually have to make it mandatory to have some legislation in place. But through a combination of these factors, hopefully through education and incentives, we will be able to move people along."

Cash incentives are already in place under the Green Mark certification scheme to encourage buildings to go green. - CNA/vm

'Zero energy' building launched
Producing as much energy as it uses, it will be a test-bed for 'green' technologies here
Gabriel Chen, Straits Times 27 Oct 09;

SINGAPORE'S first building that can produce as much power as it uses - zero energy, in industry jargon - opened with much fanfare yesterday.

The landmark building in Braddell Road employs ground-breaking design features while also harnessing the sun's energy to replenish the energy it uses for air-conditioning and other uses.

Its opening is a huge step forward for the local building industry. It will serve as a test-bed for green technology that can later be incorporated in standard construction projects, while students and designers can study first-hand the nuts and bolts of energy efficiency and 'green' building.

National Development Minister Mah Bow Tan said the opening of the building 'marks a key milestone in Singapore's building and construction history'.

The building was an existing structure that was retrofitted in an $11 million project in the Building and Construction Authority (BCA) Academy grounds opposite ComfortDelGro. The BCA joined forces with the National University of Singapore, the Solar Energy Research Institute of Singapore and private sector partners to convert the old three-storey workshop.

A massive array of solar panels covering 1,540sqm - bigger than an Olympic-sized swimming pool and the biggest such installation here - was placed on the roof to generate energy to run the lights, office equipment and air-conditioning.

The building, which houses offices, classrooms and a resource centre, has been designed to tap on natural ventilation, to reduce the amount of heat transmitted, and to cut down on the amount of power spent on artificial lighting.

It marks a brave new world for the construction industry, which will see many of the techniques used as having potential applications for many existing buildings that will be striving to achieve Green Mark certification. This is a benchmarking scheme incorporating global standards in environmental design and performance.

The Government hopes to put the Green Mark stamp on at least 80per cent of buildings here by 2030, and has devised a slew of measures, including cash incentives, for building owners to help meet this goal.

'Everybody knows that green technology is the next wave ahead,' said Mr Steven Choo, chief executive of the Real Estate Developers' Association of Singapore. 'We have people and companies working on this green movement, but we should consolidate our position further and evolve relevant green standards for the tropical climate.'

Mr Mah told the opening ceremony that at least eight out of every 10 buildings in Singapore will be energy efficient and environmentally friendly within 20 years.

Property developers gave the thumbs-up to the building, calling it extremely relevant and valuable for the building sector. City Developments spokesman Gerry De Silva said the building's development serves as 'a befitting green building model from which the industry can learn and draw inspiration'.

This week is also the inaugural Singapore Green Building Week organised by the BCA. It is staging activities to highlight the importance of green buildings.

The public can visit the new zero energy building after making an appointment with the BCA.

A testbed to try green solutions
If successful, technology can be applied to other buildings
Today Online 27 Oct 09;

SINGAPORE - This is officially Singapore's greenest building - and it is now open to visitors who want to experience the island's green future up close.

At first glance, the three-storey building along Braddell Road might not catch attention. But the building, retrofitted at a cost of $11 million by the Building and Construction Authority (BCA), is the first in Singapore and South-east Asia to be classified as a "zero-energy" building. This means it is completely self-sufficient in meeting its electricity needs.

Launched by Minister for National Development Mah Bow Tan yesterday, it will house classrooms, a library and multipurpose hall and offices.

BCA's chief executive, Dr John Keung, said the purpose of the building is essentially to act as a testbed, "to try out all these different green building technologies so that, if successful, they can be applied to all our other buildings".

Solar panels on the roof top and windows - with a combined area bigger than an Olympic-sized swimming pool - generate enough electricity in a year to power 45 four-room housing board flats for a year.

Light pipes help to reflect sunlight into the building from the rooftop, so that less artificial light is needed on the top floor. Vertical greenery on the external walls help lower temperatures by as much as 12°C.

And natural ventilation is used to help cut the amount of energy used for air-conditioning by some 40 per cent.

Some of the cost of retrofitting the building will be offset by the $84,000 a year in savings on utility bills that is expected.

Dr Keung said the cost of fitting out an existing building with green features, is 5 per cent more than the cost of just basic retrofitting to an existing building.

"For a typical existing building, if you go for Green Mark Certification, the expected pay back period is two to six years, depending on your design and what you want to put in."

Cash incentives are in place under the Green Mark certification scheme, to encourage buildings to go green. 938LIVE

QUICK FACTS

- Its solar photovoltaic panels generate enough energy to power 45 four-room HDB flats for a year.

- It is up to 50-per-cent more energy efficient than a building (without lifts) of similar layout.

- The estimated electricity savings are $84,000 a year.

Singapore's first zero energy building launched
It costs $11m to retrofit and is the first building of its kind in SE Asia
Joyce Hooi and Uma Shankari, Business Times 27 Oct 09;

(SINGAPORE) The republic's first zero energy building (ZEB) was launched by National Development Minister Mah Bow Tan yesterday at the start of Singapore Green Building Week.

The ZEB, within the Building and Construction Authority's BCA Academy, costs $11 million to retrofit and is the first building of its kind in South-east Asia.

It does not need any external energy supply. The roof is fitted with about 1,540 square metres of solar panels that generate about 207,000 kilowatt hours of electricity a year - enough to power 45 four-room HDB apartments.

The ZEB is estimated to be about 40-50 per cent more efficient than a normal office building of a similar layout, and all things being equal, is expected to save $84,000 in electricity costs.

BCA chief executive John Keung estimates that retrofitting a building to qualify for the Platinum Green Mark award would cost a 5 per cent premium on average.

BCA is using the ZEB as a testing ground for various kinds of efficient devices such as single coil twin-fan ventilation systems and mirror ducts.

The refinement of these technologies is geared towards meeting the target set out in the Singapore Sustainable Blueprint, which aims to have 80 per cent of all buildings in Singapore achieve at least the basic Green Mark Certification by 2030.

'The greening of buildings provides a new growth opportunity for our construction industry,' Mr Mah said.

'We have an existing stock of over 210 million sq m of building floor area. The retrofitting of existing buildings for greater energy efficiency will involve several steps: First, auditing the buildings to identify the key inefficient areas; second, upgrading to newer and more energy-efficient equipment; and third, ensuring that building operations are run in an energy-efficient manner.'

Besides investment in new technologies, the move to green buildings also presents an opportunity to invest in new manpower capabilities, Mr Mah said. Singapore needs to build up a 'green collar' work force of 18,000-20,000 specialists within the next decade to develop, design, construct, operate and maintain the green buildings, he said.

The inaugural Singapore Green Building Week is part of BCA's roadmap to expand and share Singapore's green building initiatives with overseas specialists and industry leaders.

The event will be anchored by the three-day International Green Building Conference, which kicks off tomorrow. The conference is expected to draw around 1,000 delegates from more than 20 countries.

Experts meet to share sustainable building ideas
Today Online 27 Oct 09;

The first Singapore Green Building Week, which kicked off with the launch of the zero-energy building, will be anchored by a three-day international conference.

At the meet, leading local professionals and world experts will share their experience in greening the built-up environment.

The purpose of the week is to highlight the Republic's achievements in developing a sustainable city in the tropics.

The Singapore Sustainable Blueprint, launched in April, is targetting to have 80 per cent of all buildings here with at least the basic Green Mark Certification by 2030 - meaning that eight in 10 buildings would be energy efficient and environmentally-friendly.

"The Government will have to educate, put in incentives, and we may also eventually have to make it mandatory to have some legislation in place. Through a combination of these factors ... we will be able to move people along," said National Development Minister Mah Bow Tan to reporters. 938LIVE

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NTU solar car in top 10 of global race

Straits Times 27 Oct 09;

A SOLAR car built by Singapore university students is currently in the top 10 in an ongoing international race.

The World Solar Challenge in Australia, which was flagged off on Sunday from Darwin, is expected to end on Thursday.

The Tokai Challenger, by Japan's Tokai University, is currently leading the race. Nanyang Technological University's (NTU) Nanyang Venture II is in 10th place as of early yesterday.

It is Singapore's only entry and is racing against more than 30 solar cars from countries such as the United States, Malaysia and the Netherlands.

The competition has been challenging, said team leader Debbie Phua, a fourth- year mechanical and aerospace engineering (MAE) student, whose role is to manage the energy usage of the car. 'It is an experience of a lifetime.'

The NTU team is made up of 23 people, comprising undergraduates, alumni and staff members from the School of MAE and the School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering.

Four drivers take turns to drive the car, while the remaining teammates follow in regular vehicles. Team members camp by the road at night when the race is stopped each day.

This is NTU's first time taking part in this race. It came fourth out of eight participants in the Shell Eco-marathon held in May in Germany with the Nanyang Venture I.

Work on Nanyang Venture II started in 2006, when a group of final-year students expressed their interest to compete in the race. The car was completed this year.

Shedding light on the solar car

NAME: Nanyang Venture II

SIZE: 5m long, 1.8m wide

BODY: Lightweight, aerodynamic shell made of carbon fibre woven cloth with a surface covered with solar cells. A Perspex canopy ensures clear vision. The frame of the car is aluminium. It takes one occupant.

MIRRORS: The rear and side view mirrors are placed inside the canopy to reduce aerodynamic drag.

SOLAR CELLS: The cells absorb energy from the sun's rays and are capable of producing 1.2 kilowatts of power at peak condition. The power is extracted and stored for use in the car's battery.

The car can achieve a top speed of about 95 kmh.

World solar car race begins in Australia
Yahoo News 25 Oct 09;

SYDNEY (AFP) - A 3,000-kilometre (1,860-mile) solar car race across Australia's desert heartland began in the northern city of Darwin Sunday, organisers said.

The cars left Darwin in hot and humid weather at about 8:30 am (2300 GMT Saturday) on the journey that is expected to end mid-week in the South Australian city of Adelaide.

"We had 32 vehicles start this morning," Mike Drewer, a spokesman for the World Solar Challenge, told AFP, adding that weather conditions were good for solar cars.

"The first away was Aurora 101 from Australia, having set the fastest speed time trial (of 91.83 kilometres per hour) yesterday."

It was followed by the Dutch car Nuna5, which posted a time of 85.49 kilometres per hour.

The Nuna team has won the last four solar challenge races in 2007, 2005, 2003 and 2001 but had to rebuild its new car before the start of this race after a testing accident in Darwin.

The third car to start was Germany's HS Bochum BoCruiser, which trialled at 82.52 kilometres per hour.

The solar cars race for nine hours each day, stopping at a certain cut-off time each night and camping by the side of the road, wherever they are at that moment.

"We would expect the fastest vehicles are capable of doing, depending on weather conditions, about 800 kilometres per day," Drewer said. "The fastest ones could be approaching Adelaide by Wednesday night, Thursday."

Event director Chris Selwood said picking a winner would be difficult.

"We won't really see the technology and ingenuity until the cars are scrutineered in Darwin and a lot of things can happen on the journey south," Selwood said ahead of the race.

The race is being run in tandem with the Eco Challenge, which involves production and prototype eco-friendly vehicles that are, or soon will be, available to the public.

Drawing bright ideas from solar-car race
Tom Simko for the Straits Times 28 Oct 09;

ON SUNDAY in Darwin, 35 solar cars from around the world crossed the start line of the World Solar Challenge (WSC). By Friday, they would have raced 3,000km to Adelaide, powered only by sunlight. Which team claims the chequered flag will depend on more than just technology.

The Nanyang Venture II from Singapore's Nanyang Technological University (NTU) will be among the sleek wing- shaped vehicles racing through the desert.

Most solar cars are made from lightweight, ultrastrong materials such as carbon fibre, Kevlar, aluminium and titanium. The internal chassis of the Nanyang Venture II, for instance, is made of aluminium with holes drilled in it to reduce the weight.

Compact suspension systems can handle the roughest roads, and hydraulic disc brakes made for bicycles provide enough stopping power. As with most teams, NTU's uses special tyres that have an exceptionally low rolling resistance.

The use of advanced materials and simple components can keep the weight of the solar car down to 300kg - about a fifth that of a conventional car.

Solar cars are shaped like wings to minimise air resistance. In some designs, only a canopy for the driver breaks the streamlined surface. Computer programs for designing aircraft are used to develop the most aerodynamic shape, and some designs had been tested in wind tunnels.

Solar cells on these cars convert between 14 per cent and 28 per cent of the sunlight falling on them into electricity. The best and most expensive cells were designed for satellites. The electricity from the cells is stored in a battery pack and drawn off as needed to run the car.

Over the years, battery packs have evolved from simple and heavy lead-acid car batteries to more sophisticated lithium-polymer and lithium-ion systems like those in laptops. Some of the most efficient electric motors ever designed are used to run the cars. The best ones are built partly into the wheels.

But a team cannot win a race just because it bought the best technology. It also needs a creative race strategy.

'As with any race, a good race strategy is vital to getting ahead of the competition,' notes the NTU team on its website. 'For the WSC, race modelling is not only about the car, but is also about the weather conditions (such as solar intensity at the different times of the day), the terrain as well as the ability to get regular, reliable weather forecasts.'

A well-designed car will run at the speed limit during the middle of the day while still having extra energy from the solar panel to store in the batteries. This 'banked' energy is used later in the day and the next morning when the sun is low in the sky. It would also be needed when clouds block the sun.

Winning a race hinges on careful energy management. If the car travels at an unsustainable speed, a team might end up stuck at the side of the road the next day recharging the batteries.

If a storm is rolling in, should a team risk draining the batteries by trying to outrace it to stay under clear skies? Races have been won and lost on such decisions.

Are solar cars the way of the future? Probably not, for they are too expensive and cramped to appeal to most people. However, like the space programme, these vehicles provide an opportunity to demonstrate cutting-edge ideas. Consider how the WSC has evolved over the years.

The first WSC, held in 1987, was won by a futuristic car from General Motors. Other automotive companies have since participated in the event, including Honda, Ford Australia and Toyota.

The carmakers have used the race to test advanced technologies that have since been incorporated into their electric and hybrid cars. These include the advanced motor and battery systems as well as the same approaches to tyres and aerodynamics.

Such successful crossover of technology has led to a new race - the Eco Challenge. It features highly efficient production vehicles, mostly from automakers, powered by electricity, alternative fuels, petrol, diesel or hybrid systems. This event runs in parallel with the WSC over the same route, starting only a day ahead of the solar cars. Together, the two races form the Global Green Challenge.

In a way, the WSC has come full circle. The earliest solar vehicles pioneered some of the technology used by the fuel- efficient cars of the Eco Challenge. Likewise, the latest solar vehicles will inspire further advances in the automotive industry.

The writer is a Canada-based science journalist.

Japanese car wins World Solar Challenge in Australia
Yahoo News 28 Oct 09;

SYDNEY (AFP) – A Japanese sun-powered car won the World Solar Challenge on Wednesday after averaging speeds of more than 100 kilometres (62 miles) per hour in a four-day race through Australia's desert Outback.

Organisers said the Tokai Challenger crossed the finish line in Adelaide, South Australia, at 3:39 pm local time, after 29 hours and 49 minutes' racing following Sunday's departure from the northern city of Darwin.

The futuristic Tokai put in a near-flawless run with only one flat tyre on the 3,000 kilometre race. Its nearest rivals were more than two hours behind and were due to battle it out for second place on Thursday.

The team, from Tokai University, averaged 100.54 kilometres per hour to snap a four-race winning streak by the Netherlands' Nuon outfit. It is the first Japanese victory since Honda Dream II in 1993.

The World Solar Challenge, aimed at promoting environmentally friendly solar technology, started in 1987 and runs every two years.

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Singapore firm registered to trade carbon credits

Today Online 27 Oct 09;

SINGAPORE - More than 90 Designated National Authorities (DNA) representatives from around the world are here for three days to share views and experiences on the clean development mechanism (CDM).

Under the Kyoto Protocol, the mechanism allows greenhouse gas emission reductions from projects implemented in some countries like Singapore, to be used to offset emissions of developed countries such as Japan and the European Union.

CDM projects in Singapore can apply to the United Nations for emission reduction credits which are tradable. And currently, one CDM project here has been successfully registered: A Thermal Energy Recovery plant by Bee Joo Industries, together with The Kansai Electric Power Company, Japan.

The UN's CDM executive board is assessing six other Singapore CDM projects. To encourage local companies to develop such projects, the National Environment Agency (NEA) provides a CDM Documentation Grant of up to 50 per cent of the qualifying costs - or up to $100,000 - to develop the documentation needed.

As Singapore's DNA, the NEA will support with a Letter of Approval the registration of a project that meets the Republic's sustainable development criteria.

The UN has estimated that CDM projects can potentially achieve worldwide emission reductions of more than one billion tonnes by the end of 2012.

The DNA Forum here will, for the first time, include a full day dedicated to networking and exchanges with the private sector.

The NEA will share information about the potential of carbon dioxide reduction from improving energy efficiency in the buildings sector, for example.

Under the blueprint for Singapore's sustainable development, Singapore aims to achieve 35-per-cent reduction in energy intensity (consumption per dollar GDP) in 2030, from 2005 levels.

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Many meetings on environmental matters in Singapore this week

Business Times 27 Oct 09;

ENVIRONMENTAL matters will be the focus of several forums in Singapore this week.

Two of these began yesterday - the Carbon Forum Asia trade fair and conference, which ran parallel to the UNFCCC Clean Development Mechanism Designated National Authority Forum. And Singapore will host three other regional meetings on the environment later this week.

Asean environment ministers will meet on Thursday to talk about sustainable cities, water resources management, the coastal and marine environment, nature conservation and bio-diversity and climate change.

They will be joined by the environment ministers from China, South Korea and Japan on Friday to discuss collaborative environmental activities and projects.

At the third meeting, also on Friday, Asean environment ministers will review the Asean Agreement on Transboundary Haze Pollution. They will also discuss outcomes from a sub-regional forum on the prevention and mitigation of land and forest fires, to be held on Wednesday.

At yesterday's opening of the Carbon Forum Asia trade fair and conference, Senior Minister of State for Trade and Industry S Iswaran spoke of how Singapore has been gearing up to 'participate actively in this dynamic new sector'.

There has been an 'influx of new entrants in the carbon space' in the past two years, he said, with companies such as carbon project developer Caspervandertak Consulting and UK carbon management consultancy The Carbon Neutral Company setting up offices here.

Plans to launch the Singapore Mercantile Exchange at year-end are now on-track too, Mr Iswaran said. The commodities futures exchange will offer carbon trading.

Singapore hosts Asean haze forum
my paper, AsiaOne 27 Oct 09;

INDONESIAN provincial governors will be meeting in Singapore for the first time with five Asean government representatives for a forum tomorrow to discuss how to fight the haze problem.

The inaugural haze forum will also let global environmental groups and private firms - like Conservation International and the World Wide Fund for Nature - explore projects that they can work with governments to further prevent land and forest fires in the region.

The forum was conceived in August this year at a meeting here for environment ministers from Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand.

All five countries are affected by haze problems.

The Asean environment ministers and their representatives are also meeting on Thursday to review the Asean Agreement on Transboundary Haze Pollution.

The agreement has been in force since 2003 to manage pollution arising
from burning forested land.

So far, eight of the 10 Asean countries, except the Philippines and Indonesia, have signed it.

Also on the agenda for the environment ministers: the establishment of an Asean working group on climate change
that Thailand will chair.

They are expected to adopt a resolution to address environmental sustainability and climate-change issues as well.

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Endangered Sumatran Tiger Dies in Indonesia After Caught in Trap

Nurdin Hasan Jakarta Globe 26 Oct 09;

Banda Aceh. A Sumatran tiger injured after being ensnared in a trap set by villagers in Aceh died on Monday as veterinarians prepared to amputate one of the highly endangered animal’s legs.

The chief of Aceh’s Natural Resources Conservation Agency, Abubakar Chek Mat, said that the 5-year-old female tiger was in a weak condition after it was captured by villagers in a remote part of southern Aceh on Wednesday.

“It was in critical condition when it was brought to Banda Aceh last Saturday,” Abubakar told the Jakarta Globe. “Its front and back legs were badly injured.”

On Monday, the animal was taken to Syiah Kuala University’s Veterinary School for treatment.

Veterinarians at the school are conducting an autopsy on the rare tiger, Abubakar said.

The tiger, one of fewer than 150 Sumatran tigers left in the wild, according to a survey conducted two years ago, was a target of local residents angered because it had been threatening their cattle.

Abubakar acknowledged the complaints and said his agency had dispatched an animal trainer to the area to monitor the situation and assist villagers in coping with tiger problems.

He said that illegal logging was at the root of the problem because the disappearing forest cover destroyed the natural habitat of tigers and other wild animals, including the endangered Sumatran elephant.

“The conflict between men and animals comes because the forests have been turned into plantations and the tigers and elephants come to residential areas looking for food,” Abubakar said.

Abubakar urged concerted action to find a solution. “People and businesses must commit to protect the forest,” he said. “The Forestry Agency must be strict and stop allowing illegal logging to continue in Aceh.”

The conservation agency is currently holding two other tigers captured by villagers in the province, although both are in good condition and have been with the agency for a long time, Abubakar said.

“I’m still waiting for word from the Aceh governor about what will we do with them,” he said. “If we let them go back to the jungle, most likely they won’t be able to adapt.”

Endangered tiger dies in Indonesia: official
Yahoo News 27 Oct 09;

BANDA ACEH, Indonesia (AFP) – A Sumatran tiger trapped by villagers in western Indonesia died on Monday as it was about to have surgery to amputate an injured foot, a wildlife official said.

Provincial conservation agency head Abubakar Chek Mat said the tiger was "very weak," after being trapped in Jambo Apha village in South Aceh regency .

"Villagers trapped it last Wednesday after it ate several of their farm animals. They brought the tiger to us and our doctors were treating it and it seemed to be recovering," he told AFP.

"We took it to a hospital today to amputate its right foot. We laid it on the operating table and it suddenly died."

Around a dozen critically endangered Sumatra tigers have been killed by villagers in Indonesia this year.

Human-animal conflicts are a rising problem in the massive archipelago as forests are destroyed for timber or to make way for palm oil, forcing animals such as elephants and tigers into closer contact with people.

Only about 500 Sumatran tigers are believed to remain in the wild.

"Illegal logging has led to the depletion of forests, which are the tigers' habitat. They are forced to go to the villages to find food," Mat said.

Sumatran tiger dies after surgery
The Jakarta Post 26 Oct 09;

A female Sumatran tiger died on Monday shortly after a surgery to treat a severe leg wound.

Veterinarians from the Syiah Kuala University in the Aceh capital of Banda Aceh told Antara the carnivore was too weak to undergo the surgery, which was conducted on an operational car belonging to the provincial natural resources conservation center.

"It was very weak, making it impossible for us to amputate its wounded foot. But to save its front leg was not possible either," said Munawar Kholis, veterinarian of the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS).

The tiger was taken to Banda Aceh on Saturday after it was captured by local residents in Jambo Apha village in South Aceh regency with a serious wound to her right foot after it was caught in a pig trap.

Forest conservation experts estimate the population of protected Sumatran tiger in Aceh has dropped to only about 150.

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