Indonesia: Eight orangutans released in C Kalimantan forest

Antara 1 Aug 19;

Palangka Raya, C Kalimantan (ANTARA) - Palangka Raya, C Kalimantan (ANTARA) - The Borneo Orangutan Survival Foundation (BOSF) and Central Kalimantan Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BKSDA) have released eight orangutans into their natural habitat in Bukit Baka Bukit Raya National Park in Katingan District, Central Kalimantan Province.

The release of these eight orangutans (Pongo pygmaeus) has increased the number of orangutans in the national park's forests, BOSF's CEO Jamartin Sihite revealed in his foundation's press statement that ANTARA received here Thursday.

The number of orangutans being treated at BOSF's rehabilitation center has also increased amid the fact that the availability of forests used as a natural habitat for these endangered animals would immediately reach their maximum capacity, he said.

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Indonesia: East Aceh district head orders probe into killing of elephants

Antara 31 Jul 19;

Banda Aceh, Aceh (ANTARA) - East Aceh District Head, H Hasballah HM Thaib, has ordered a probe into the killing of several elephants in the district.

"This is an environmental crime. We are concerned about the case where several elephants fell prey to the trap, leading to their death," he said on Wednesday.

He pointed out the recent case where a baby elephant and two adult elephants were trapped in the hinterland, which tarnished the image of East Aceh both at the national and international levels.

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Best of our wild blogs: 1 Aug 19

18 Aug (Sun) - Free Guided Walk at Chek Jawa
Adventures with the Naked Hermit Crabs

8 September (Sun) - Spend your school holidays with us at Chek Jawa!
Adventures with the Naked Hermit Crabs

Changi is alive!
wild shores of singapore

Codefish-SG: How to build a Singapore fish library
Celebrating Singapore Shores!

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PUB to carry out fogging, checks as midges multiply near Pandan Reservoir

Channel NewsAsia 1 Aug 19;

SINGAPORE: National water agency PUB will carry out inspections and fogging near Pandan Reservoir to control the rising midge population, it said on Thursday (Aug 1).

"There has been an increase in midges around the HDB blocks near Pandan Reservoir recently due to the hot and wet weather," said PUB in a Facebook post.

Midges, which are commonly mistaken for mosquitos, are small insects which exist in and near water bodies.

"While these midges do not bite or spread diseases, they can be a nuisance when present in large numbers," said PUB.

"PUB has been closely monitoring the situation and has stepped up measures at the reservoir to control the midge population."

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18,000 HDB households to receive free Ikea recycling bins

Today Online 1 Aug 19;

SINGAPORE — Free Ikea recycling bins are being offered to residents in new HDB precincts as part of a new initiative to encourage households to recycle regularly. 

Some 18,000 households living in Build-to-Order (BTO) flats in areas such as MacPherson, Bidadari, Sembawang and Sengkang will be eligible for this scheme, announced by the National Environment Agency (NEA) and Ikea Singapore in a joint statement on Thursday (Aug 1).

Residents will receive a voucher by mail over the next few months, which they can use to redeem their free bin from Ikea’s Tampines or Alexandra branches from Aug 24 onwards.

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Malaysia, Johor: 71 factories operating illegally in Pasir Gudang

REMAR NORDIN The Star 30 Jul 19;

PASIR GUDANG: The Johor government has identified 71 factories that are operating illegally within the Pasir Gudang Municipal Council’s jurisdiction, says a state exco member.

State Local Government, Urban Wellbeing and Environmental Committee chairman Tan Chen Choon said from the figure, eight had been recommended for legal action, 46 had been issued with notices, while two had been shut down.

“The rest of the factories are waiting for action from the Department of Environment.

“Eighteen of the illegal factories are also found to be operating on government-owned land, while four factories, which have the necessary licences, are also found to be operating on government land, ” he said.

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Malaysia working to tighten laws on forest protection, says minister

Michael Taylor Reuters 31 Jul 19;

KUALA LUMPUR (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - Malaysia is working on reforms to its decades-old forestry laws, and will consider suggestions from green activists on how to better protect its rainforests, a minister said on Wednesday.

Earlier this month, hundreds of environmentalists marched on Malaysia’s parliament demanding changes to the constitution and laws to step up punishments for forest-clearing, corruption and pollution.

Organized by environmental group PEKA Malaysia, the demonstrators also called for forest management to be moved to central government control from state level.

Tengku Zulpuri Shah Raja Puji, Malaysia’s deputy minister of water, land and natural resources, told local media this week that discussions on changing the laws had begun, and he hoped new bills would be presented to parliament by early next year.

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Malaysia: Unhealthy API readings recorded in Selangor and Pahang

Mohd Iskandar Ibrahim New Straits Times 1 Aug 19;

KUALA LUMPUR: Unhealthy Air Pollutant Index (API) readings have been recorded in two states in Peninsular as of 3pm today.

Johan Setia in Klang, Selangor recorded API of 110, while Rompin, Pahang at 103, according to the Department of Environment’s website.

Moderate readings were recorded at 62 locations nationwide, while four locations with “good” readings were Sandakan and Tawau, Sabah with API of 37 and 35 respectively; as well as Alor Setar, Kedah (50) and Seberang Perai, Pulau Pinang (49).

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Indonesia: Haze enveloping Pekanbaru compels students to wear face masks

Antara 31 Jul 19;

Pekanbaru, Riau (ANTARA) - Students and teachers in Pekanbaru, Riau Province, were left with no choice but to wear face masks as haze, arising from forest and bush fires, hung over the city since early this week.

"Since Monday, schools have appealed to students to wear face marks, as children are susceptible to smoke emitted from forest fires," Afni Sarianti, a teacher of the Islam Akramunnas Kindergarten, noted here on Wednesday.

The students were explained about the health hazard posed by exposure to haze.

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Best of our wild blogs: 31 Jul 19

Open for registration – Love MacRitchie Walk with NUS Toddycats! on 10 Aug 2019 (Sat)
Love our MacRitchie Forest

Cryptics, Mimics and Camouflage
Hantu Blog

Singapore Raptor Report – Late Spring Migration, April-June 2019
Singapore Bird Group

Night Walk At Ang Mo Kio Garden West (26 Jul 2019)
Beetles@SG BLOG

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4 more die of dengue, 9 deaths in total in 2019: MOH, NEA

Channel NewsAsia 29 Jul 19;

SINGAPORE: Four people have died from dengue in recent weeks, bringing the total number of dengue deaths this year to nine, the Ministry of Health and the National Environment Agency (NEA) said in a joint statement on Monday (Jul 29).

The four men died between Jun 30 and Jul 16, the authorities said.

The first, a 70-year-old man, who died on Jun 30, lived within a previously active dengue cluster at Hougang Avenue 5. The cluster was closed on Jul 12, with four dengue cases reported.

Three others died on Jul 16, the statement added.

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Istana launches series of medallions, featuring oriental pied hornbill and barn owl, to mark 150th anniversary

Ng Huiwen Straits Times 28 Jul 19;

SINGAPORE - The public can get their hands on a series of four souvenir medallions celebrating the Istana's rich diversity of flora and fauna from Sunday (July 28).

Two of the medallions, which are available only in a special 4-in-1 set, depict the beloved oriental pied hornbill and barn owl among tropical fruits and spices, The Singapore Mint said.

Only 100 of the special medallion sets will be available at the National Day Open House on Sunday.

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