Best of our wild blogs: 5 May 15

Resident cuckoos and their host parents: A pictorial guide
Singapore Bird Group

A Dung Story
Saving MacRitchie

Variegated Green Skimmer mating
Bird Ecology Study Group

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Admiralty Park to get new play areas by end-2016

AsiaOne 4 May 15;

SINGAPORE - Visitors to Admiralty Park will get to enjoy new play areas and improved amenities by the end of next year.
The National Parks Board (NParks) said in a statement that the developments to the 27-ha park are based on public feedback gathered in 2012.

One of the features is a slide-themed play areas that for park users of all ages.

"With three slide-themed play areas catering to different age groups, families will be able to bond over play as they go on the slides together," NParks said. Members of the public said in the engagement exercise that they appreciated Admiralty Park for its tranquillity and greenery. The suggestions given include allowing for families to get closer to nature, and to have more recreational spaces in the park.

As a result, the preliminary concept for Admiralty Park revolves around themes of play and nature, NParks said. Slides were chosen as the key feature of the park because of the undulating terrain there.

Amenities such as shelters, toilets and exercise areas will also be improved. A viewing platform will also be built to allow visitors to get closer to and appreciate nature.

NParks assistant chief executive officer of park management and lifestyle, Mr Kong Yit San, said the board is mindful of the need to ensure the nature area remains largely undisturbed during the upgrading.

Assistant CEO of Park Management and Lifestyle at NParks Mr Kong Yit San said: "This project is part of NParks' efforts to enhance our City in a Garden by rejuvenating and injecting greater vibrancy to our parks".

"The park will be developed sensitively to retain the tranquillity of the area, while incorporating park spaces for community and recreational needs", he said.

NParks has called a tender for the construction of the new Admiralty Park. Works are expected to begin in phases, starting from the third quarter of this year. Only affected areas will be closed during upgrading, so visitors can continue to visit the park.

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Malaysia: Sun bear killed in an accident on LPT2

ZARINA ABDULLAH New Straits Times 4 May 15;

DUNGUN: A sun bear was killed after it was knocked down by a car at Km358 of the East Coast Highway2 (LPT2) near an orchard here last night. State Wildlife and National Park Department

Yusoff Shariff said he received a call to inform him about the accident earlier today and a team of officers from the Kuala Terengganu office was sent to the scene.

Yusof said he believed that the sun bear might have lost its way before it strayed at the LPT2 during the incident.

"The team was instructed to bring the carcass to our Research Conservation Centre at Bukit Merak in Besut for a post-mortem," he said today. Yusoff said early this year, two Tapirs were killed at LPT2 after they were hit by passing vehicles.

"However, this is the first time a sun bear was killed," he told NST when contacted.

He said the matter has been reported to the Malaysia Highway Authority.

Read More : http://www.nst.com.my/node/82920

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Climate drives 'new era' in Arctic Ocean

David Shukman BBC 4 May 15;

Changes in the Arctic Ocean are so profound that the region is entering what amounts to "a new era", according to Norwegian scientists.

A switch from a permanent cover of thick ice to a new state where thinner ice vanishes in the summer will have far-reaching implications, they say.

The Norwegian Polar Institute has been mounting an expedition to the Arctic Ocean during the year's coldest months.

Scientists have to brave extreme temperatures and total darkness.

Their aim is to gather data on the condition of the ice as it freezes during the polar winter.

A research vessel, the Lance, has been deployed to an area about 500 miles from the North Pole and allowed to drift with the pack-ice.

The director of the institute, Jan-Gunnar Winther, said that measuring what happens in the winter was vital to improving scenarios for future climate change.

"We have almost no data from the Arctic Ocean in winter - with few exceptions - so this information is very important to be able understand the processes when the ice is freezing in early winter and we'll also stay here when it melts in the summer," he explained.

"A new era has entered, we are going from old ice to young ice, thinner ice and the climate models used today have not captured this new regime or ice situation.

"So knowing how it is today can improve climate models which again improve the projection for global climate change."
Record lows

This research effort comes as US scientists have reported that the maximum extent of Arctic sea-ice was recorded at its lowest winter level since satellite records began.

A major focus of the expedition is to examine the consequences of the Arctic Ocean having less of the so-called multi-year ice - older, tougher floes which have survived for several years - and a greater proportion of younger ice which is thinner.

Among the researchers investigating the impact of this change on the polar biology is Dr Haakon Hop, who is leading a team of biologists working under the ice.

"Typically, there's much less life underneath first year ice - multiyear ice is more complex, with more ridging and typically has more animal life," he said.

"So what has been seen around the Arctic is these animals that live underneath the ice - crustaceans, amphipods, and copepods - the biodiversity has gone down and their abundance and biomass have also gone down in the areas that have been measured.

"That is a very serious concern because these animals are important prey items for sea birds feeding on the ice edge and for the marine animals that feed on them."

Complex response

Another biologist taking part in the expedition, Dr Philipp Assmy, said it was important to understand how some species might benefit from the ocean having less ice cover - as more sunlight would allow plankton to flourish - while others would suffer.

"We know that the organisms living in the ocean will actually increase because there will be more light available for them to grow.
"On the other hand, the organisms living within the sea-ice are likely going to decline as their habitat deteriorates and that will have cascading effects on the large charismatic marine mammals we are all familiar with."

The expedition is attempting to provide a comprehensive assessment of all key aspects of this part of the Arctic Ocean.

Dr Polona Itkin has been deploying tracking devices on the ice-floes so that the movement and thinning of the ice can be observed after the expedition ends in June.

"We would like to understand how the sea ice cover in this part of the Arctic is behaving in, let's call it, the new climate.

"We know something about this ice that has been studied over decades but we think now the ice is different and we would like to see how different, and what does it mean for other components of the climate."

The scientists say that data gathered from the ice itself is invaluable as a way of calibrating measurements taken by satellites and overflights.

But the work comes with risks. One is the sheer struggle of operating in freezing conditions. During our visit to the Lance, the temperature regularly fell to -21C with the wind lowering the feel of the cold to -47C.

Another threat is from polar bears, and one approached the ship while we were on board.

In the darkness of the polar winter, Dr Jennifer King was in a small group working under the Lance's floodlights when a bear guard suddenly spotted one of the animals emerging into the light.

"It was 25m away, standing up on a ridge, looking at us, looking like a majestic king of the Arctic - it was very beautiful but the heart stops."

The bear was scared away with flare guns.

A further danger is from the mobility of the pack-ice. During the course of the expedition, while scientists have been deployed on the ice, cracks or "leads" have frequently appeared in the surface or floes have collided creating pressure ridges.

Several times, we saw equipment being winched back from the ice to avoid the risk of it being lost. And once while filming, one floe was being forced above another and we were called back to the ship for our own safety.

According to Jan-Gunnar Winther, the younger ice more prevalent in the Arctic now is more mobile.

"We know that the ice drift is faster now than it was 100 years ago.

"So with thinner ice and less ice, it's more moved around by the wind and the weather. It's more dynamic now, we know that."
The expedition, known as the Norwegian Young Sea ICE cruise, can be followed at www.npolar.no/nice2015

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Best of our wild blogs: 4 May 15

Registration opens for International Coastal Cleanup Singapore 2015!
News from the International Coastal Cleanup Singapore

Singapore has sea turtles! Dolphins!
wild shores of singapore

Slaty-breasted Rail (Lewinia striata) @ Pasir Ris
Monday Morgue

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PM Lee to meet Malaysian PM Najib for 6th annual consultation

Mergawati Zulfakar The Star/Asia News Network AsiaOne 4 May 15;

SLIGHTLY more than a year ago, Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong boarded a Malaysia Airlines flight to KL International Airport for his annual consultation with Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak in Putrajaya - an act seen by Malaysia as Lee's support to a country still in shock over the MH370 incident.

Lee and Najib have always gotten along well. When Singapore's first prime minister Lee Kuan Yew passed away in March, Najib was there to pay his last respects to Hsien Loong's father.

Singapore appreciated this. The close relations between the two leaders have made bilateral issues at hand a little bit easier to handle in recent years.

The two leaders meet again tomorrow for their sixth annual consultations.

One year is a long time and many issues, old and new, have either reported progress or cropped up along the way.

For example, the Forest City project, which involves major land reclamation work and aims to build luxury homes on man-made islands off southern Johor, has reportedly sparked environmental concerns and fears among local fishermen about their livelihood.

Lee has personally written to Najib asking for clarification on the project last year, after two third-person notes from Singapore on the matter were sent to the Foreign Ministry.

Another letter was handed to Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Wahid Omar when he was in Singapore for a bilateral meeting.

The Star reported the Department of Environment approved the Forest City project's detailed environmental impact assessment in January.

It is understood the EIA report has been submitted to Singapore but the republic has yet to respond until now.

Another issue that Singapore was unhappy about was the announcement of the RM20 vehicle entry permit via the Causeway and Second Link Expressway from Aug 1.

Officials said that Singapore, in implementing any new move involving Malaysia, would normally inform the Federal Government before hand.

"In the VEP case, they just wanted to know first before any announcement is made. They want us to reciprocate the way they do things involving Malaysia," said an official.

Still high on the agenda of the leaders' meeting would be the High Speed Rail (HSR) project and Rapid Transit System (RTS) link between Johor Baru and Singapore.

The HSR will reportedly cost RM40bil and cut rail travel time between Kuala Lumpur and Singapore from six hours to just 90 minutes.

The 330km rail line is expected to be completed by 2020 and will connect two terminus stations (Kuala Lumpur and Singapore) via five transit stops spread out across Negri Sembilan, Malacca and Johor.

In their last meeting, the leaders had announced Bandar Malaysia in Sungai Besi as the site for the country's terminal for the HSR.

On the RTS, Wahid had said in April that an announcement would be made during the leaders' meeting, once both parties had agreed to it.

"Talks between Malaysia and Singapore on the RTS link are still ongoing, including feasibility studies by relevant agencies in both countries," Wahid had said.

Wahid said among the aspects involved in the studies include the project's viability and its impact on both countries, congestion level at the Causeway and ridership of the transportation mode.

"We hope both Malaysia and Singapore will complete the studies and be able to present our findings to the respective prime ministers before the meeting.

"The final outcome whether the RTS trains will run above ground (grate) or via undersea tunnel will all depend on the recommendations of the two governments involved as well as costing," he said.

Johor Baru and Woodlands in Singapore are linked by the 1.056km Johor Causeway completed in 1932. Between 80,000 and 100,000 vehicles use it daily.
The 1.9km long Second Link is a dual three-lane carriageway linking Tanjung Kupang to Tuas in Singapore.

What both countries need is to have the most efficient and cost-effective transport system to benefit them both.

It will be also interesting to see if Singapore, at this meeting, would respond to Najib's proposal to build a friendship bridge to replace the Causeway, as a long-term initiative to enhance connectivity.

Lee has not officially responded to Najib's proposal. Malaysia is keen as the congestion at the two links is getting acute especially during the weekends and public holidays.

It will be interesting if Lee will respond to Malaysia's idea at this consultation.

Malaysia awaiting Singapore nod on rail project and friendship bridge
MERGAWATI ZULFAKAR The Star 5 May 15;

SINGAPORE: Malaysia and Singapore leaders started their sixth retreat yesterday to review current cooperation and explore new initiatives amid the backdrop of the best level of bilateral ties in recent years.

Malaysia’s High Commissioner to Singapore Datuk Husni Zai Yaacob said Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong is expected to announce today the Singapore terminal for the High Speed Rail Project between the republic and Kuala Lumpur.

Malaysia has already announced Bandar Malaysia in Sungai Besi as the country’s terminal during the leaders’ retreat last year.

The HSR will reportedly cost RM40bil and cut rail travel time between Kuala Lumpur and Singa-pore from six hours to just 90 minutes. The 330km rail line is expected to be completed by 2020 with five transit stops spread out across Negri Sembilan, Malacca and Johor.

This year also marks the 50th year of diplomatic relations between Malaysia and Singapore.

The retreat kicked off with Lee hosting a private dinner for Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak and Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor.

During their four-eyed meeting today, the Malaysian-proposed friendship bridge, which is to replace the Causeway, is expected to be discussed.

Najib has proposed for the bridge last year and so far there has been no official response from Lee.

“I believe the bridge is to be discussed but can’t anticipate the outcome of the meeting because it is still in the initial stage.

“This speed train project involves two countries, a lot of issues need to be discussed, so we can expect more details to be announced at the retreat,” Husni added.

Both leaders will witness the signing of an MoU between the National Security Council and Singapore Civil Defence on Co-Operation in Developing Urban Search and Rescue Capabilities and Supplemental Agreement to the Agreement for the Construction and Operation of a Ferry Terminal and the Operation of a Ferry Service between Peninsular Malaysia and Singapore.

He said the connectivity between Johor Baru and Woodland will be better as KTM Berhad is increasing the frequency from four to 16 times.

“Each trip can easily accommodate 300 passengers and it is a popular mode of transportation for Malaysians and Singaporeans,” Husni told reporters here.

Najib is also scheduled to meet the representatives of the Malaysian Association in Singapore and attend a dialogue session with top business leaders and others in Singapore.

Before departing, the Prime Minister will deliver a keynote address at the Economic Society of Singapore annual dinner.

Last year, Singapore was Malaysia’s second largest trading partner globally and largest trading partner among Asean. Total trade between the two countries was recorded at RM194.52bil last year.

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Shedding new light on Singapore's nature areas

Audrey Tan The Straits Times AsiaOne 3 May 15;

Singapore might be known around the world for its towering skyscrapers and shopping malls, but its nature areas are also fast coming under focus. The Smithsonian Institution - a complex of 19 museums and galleries, a zoo and nine research facilities in the United States - has tied up with Nanyang Technological University to advance tropical ecology research in the region. The Sunday Times looks at how this collaboration will throw light on one of the world's least understood habitats.

Singapore might not have hectares of pristine rainforests, or waters that top a scuba diver's bucket list.

But it does have pockets of nature that are thriving.

Researchers recently discovered two snake species new to Singapore - a blackwater mud snake in the Nee Soon Swamp Forest and a smooth slug snake, which had unfortunately ended up as roadkill at Old Upper Thomson Road.

And even though the waters surrounding the island are murky and heavily sedimented, marine biologists have twice - last year and in 2011 - uncovered a Neptune's Cup sponge, a rare creature thought to have been extinct since 1908.

The recent partnership between the Smithsonian Institution in the United States and Nanyang Technological University here aims to use Singapore as a centre for research into the region's biodiversity and how best to protect the many areas that are under threat from human activities.

The tie-up will also provide the scientific community with a regional perspective in understanding data collected from Asian forests and oceans.

"The Smithsonian has been studying plots of forests in the region for the past 20 years. But until now, all the information has gone back to Washington," said Professor Alexander Zehnder, a member of NTU's board of trustees.

"There was no local or regional centre to analyse it critically... NTU will bring this Asian perspective to the network."

The Smithsonian's interim undersecretary for science, Dr John Kress, pointed out that top-notch scientists here and a strong research infrastructure would ensure that good science could be done.

"Partnering with NTU as a portal into Asia, through Singapore, is ideal for us," he said.

The effort will rope in scientists from both sides to carry out research on tropical forest and marine ecology, biodiversity, climate change, genomics, human-environment interactions and environmental change in Asia.

For instance, scientists could learn more about coral reef resilience by studying how urban reefs in an area with heavy maritime traffic, such as Singapore, compare with pristine reefs in countries such as Indonesia.

The data could be used to determine how to make coral reefs more sustainable, said Associate Professor Charles Martin Rubin, the chair of NTU's new Asian School of the Environment.

The school - a research institute that trains students in areas such as ecology, and earth and environmental life sciences - is the Smithsonian's main partner.

The collaboration will also be supported by the Earth Observatory of Singapore, a research centre run by NTU that studies geological phenomena such as earthquakes, and by the Singapore Centre on Environmental Life Sciences Engineering, an NTU facility that looks at microbes, tiny living particles invisible to the naked eye.

The landmark alliance was brokered by NTU's Prof Zehnder, who is also the chair of its Sustainable Earth Office and a visiting professor at its school of biological sciences.

He told The Sunday Times that the partnership had its beginnings in 2012, when he was visiting the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute in Panama, in Latin America.

While there, he learnt about the ForestGEO programme - a network of more than 60 tropical and temperate forest plots in 24 countries being studied for function and diversity.

"The network was working very well, but they had some difficulties getting leading personalities in Asia to run their Asia hub," Prof Zehnder said.

At that time, NTU was also in discussions to set up the Asian School of Environment, which includes an ecology department, he added.

"So the idea to work together was born in Panama city - we can profit from the Smithsonian's know-how in ecology, and they can profit from our position in South-east Asia."

While broad in scope, the research projects will relate more to forest and marine ecology - important areas of study for Singapore, said NTU president Bertil Andersson.

The study of green spaces is important so the Republic can avoid becoming a "desert of houses", he said.

Marine ecology research is critical as well, considering Singapore's vibrant maritime industry.

Noted Prof Andersson: "Singapore, with all its shipping, could change the vegetation in the sea dramatically, and this could have an influence on our economy."

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Sitting just outside marine treasure trove

Audrey Tan The Straits Times AsiaOne 4 may 15;

Two years ago, the Smithsonian Institution launched MarineGEO - the world's first and only global monitoring network of marine sites, which complements its land-based ForestGEO programme.

There are only four active sites under the programme, all of which are located in the Americas.

But a new partnership with Nanyang Technological University could establish more sites in South-east Asia, said Dr Emmett Duffy, director of the Smithsonian's Tennenbaum Marine Observatories Network, which MarineGEO falls under.

"South-east Asia is one of the marine biodiversity hot spots of the world... I think that any sort of global marine biodiversity survey has to have an important partnership with (the region)," he said.

The coral triangle, which Singapore sits just outside of, is considered the world's richest treasure trove of marine life.

Details of the marine sites that will be included under MarineGEO have yet to be worked out, but a number of ongoing projects at NTU's Earth Observatory could dovetail nicely with MarineGEO's work.

Associate Professor Nathalie Goodkin from the observatory, for example, looks at how corals, which can live between 400 and 600 years, serve as indicators of climate change.

Corals record climate similarly to how trees do it, with semi-annual growth rings recorded in their calcium carbonate skeleton.

As corals grow, the ring patterns record a year's growth, and these rings contain varying chemicals that indicate the climatic conditions at the time.

"Corals form density rings that vary between summer and winter, allowing us to count back in time from the surface of a living coral," she explained.

"The bands allow us to look closely at specific periods of time to understand what the environment was like at that time."

Prof Goodkin hopes that as the number of locations being studied in the region increases, scientists will be able to use the data to improve regional climate forecasts and models.

She added: "Much of our research requires a biological interpretation and it is my hope that the partnership with the Smithsonian will increase the number of ecologists working in Singapore and the region.
"The more we can learn about the ecology of reef systems, the more we can interpret from the coral skeletons."

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'Incredible number' of tree species in small area

Audrey Tan The Straits Times AsiaOne 4 May 15;

Bukit Timah Nature Reserve has well over 400 species of trees growing in it, an "incredible number" for an area so small, says Dr Stuart Davies, director of the Smithsonian's forest monitoring programme ForestGEO.

The Forest Global Earth Observatories (ForestGEO) programme is a network of 61 tropical and temperate forest plots in 24 countries, where scientists examine function and diversity.

A 4ha patch of primary rainforest in the 1.64 sq km Bukit Timah forest is one of the sites being studied, along with others in countries such as China, Malaysia and Thailand.

In Singapore, researchers have found that a 1ha plot within Bukit Timah Nature Reserve, possibly the world's most ancient small rainforest reserve, contains more tree species than the whole of North America.

Scientists from the Smithsonian and NTU's National Institute of Education, who have been studying the Bukit Timah plot for the past 23 years, have also found that the trees there are dying faster.

Dr Shawn Lum, a lecturer at the National Institute of Education who has been working with Dr Davies on the Bukit Timah plot, said that in general, the trees in Singapore's forests have a mortality rate about 3 per cent higher than a forest plot in Malaysia, but the trees which do not survive are young specimens.

"Even though the small trees may be dying, they are being replaced by faster-growing smaller trees.

It is interesting that the higher mortality is being offset by higher recruitment," said Dr Lum, who is also president of the Nature Society (Singapore).

The next step is to find out why - a question that researchers will hopefully answer with help from their counterparts in NTU's Asian School of the Environment.

Dr Davies also hopes to tap NTU's expertise at genetic sequencing to study forest ecology. For instance, the seraya tree native to Singapore has a symbiotic relationship with a fungus called ectomycorrhiza, which helps the tree absorb nutrients from the ground.

In return, the tree provides the fungus with food it makes during photosynthesis. But as this fungus does not produce mushrooms often, it is hard to detect its presence - which makes it difficult for researchers to learn more about it.

"With DNA technology, however, we can find this fungus very quickly in the roots or in the soil," said Dr Davies.

Under the new partnership, he is also hoping to study more forest plots, including those in the Central Catchment Nature Reserve.

By doing so, more data can be collected about the mortality of forests here, and how this affects the animals.

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Bukit Batok bug a harmless beetle

Carolyn Khew The Straits Times AsiaOne 3 May 15;

The mystery bug that plagued Bukit Batok residents has been identified as a harmless beetle which does not even bite.

But what caused their sudden outbreak last month remains unclear.

Experts from the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum and the Department of Biological Sciences at the National University of Singapore have found out that the insect is the Ataenius australasiae.

About the size of a rice grain, the black-winged critters were seen in large numbers at three blocks of flats at Batok Batok West Avenue 8 at night, congregating at the lights in the void decks and common corridors. They then simply dropped dead, leaving huge piles of carcasses to clear.

"The sudden outbreak is still a mystery but now that the species is known, we can trace the possible sources. The immediate trigger is usually environmental," said Dr Hwang Wei Song, museum officer at the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum.

Experts identified the beetle after studying its morphology and using DNA sequencing. They then sought the help of entomologist Paul Skelley, who works for the Florida State Collection of Arthropods, to confirm their finding.

Dr Skelley said that these bugs have no "chewing mouth parts" and so cannot bite. But the way their legs hold on to surfaces can cause scratches, which people may think are bites.

"They do not carry any known disease, are not venomous and cannot harm humans," he said. "When numerous, adult beetles are only a nuisance pest."

To prevent future outbreaks, research needs to be done to find out where the beetle grub lives and to "alter the conditions that lead to the great increase in numbers", he added.

"Sometimes, outbreaks are the result of the species recently coming into an area where it has no natural enemies," said Dr Skelley.

Jurong Town Council general manager Ho Thian Poh said that while the town council has combed through open spaces, trees, rooftops and areas surrounding the blocks, it did not detect any breeding grounds.

The beetles were observed to have flown in from across the road towards the open field near the affected blocks.

Corridor and void deck lights facing that open field have since been covered with yellow cellophane paper so as not to attract the insects.

Residents said that they now see far fewer of these insects.

Said 29-year-old Simoh Goh, a financial consultant who lives at Block 170, one of the three affected blocks: "Initially, we were concerned, but we realised they don't bite so they're pretty harmless."

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Investigator with animal welfare group is on a mission to save tigers

Ling Yuanrong The New Paper AsiaOne 4 May 15;

Miss Noelle Seet is a full-time undercover investigator.

But instead of busting drug or prostitution rings, the job of the 35-year-old is to uncover wrongdoings related to animal welfare.

Miss Seet, who is with animal welfare group Animal Concerns Research and Education Society (Acres), went undercover between March and last month to ferret out the alleged sale of tiger body parts at 153 jewellery and antique shops in Singapore.

The body parts were seized after Acres presented their findings to the Agri-Food & Veterinary Authority of Singapore.

Miss Seet, who has been in this line for the past year, admitted that the first few operations she took part in were a little nerve-racking.

For instance, she had to pose as an interested customer and ask the shops about such details as prices. She was unsure if her cover would be blown or if she could gain the trust of the person she had to deal with.

"Although I was the one who was going round to expose people involved in these wrongdoings, I felt like I was the one doing something improper," she told The New Paper on Wednesday.

"After a while, I learnt that I'm on a mission and there's no room for fear," she added.

There are risks, especially when the mission involves exposing crime syndicates who profit from the sale of wildlife, she said. She fears being targeted by these groups in reprisal for undermining their operations.

SAFETY MEASURES

She would not reveal details, but said there are elaborate safety measures taken to counter such risks.

To ensure their safety, Acres investigators also undergo about two to three weeks of training before going undercover. The training is conducted by psychologists and private investigators.

Investigators have to possess certain qualities, including the ability to keep calm and composed in tense situations, in order to be selected for the job.

They have to be able to manage their emotions well, too, said Miss Seet.

"It is important that as investigators, we don't let our feelings control us. But this can sometimes be a challenge, especially when we are presented with so many acts of cruelty against animals."

Indeed, she is particularly perturbed by the conditions in which animals are smuggled.

Miss Seet said that the investigators at Acres are all passionate about improving animal welfare.

And that was the reason she took up the job in the first place.

Despite her passion for effecting change, Miss Seet has also learnt to manage her expectations and has come to accept that change takes time.

"It is not possible to change everything overnight. But I know I am doing something and it all contributes to the final objective of improving the welfare of animals," she said.
More online ads for tiger parts

While fewer physical shops are selling alleged tiger parts, more online advertisements have been popping up.

The trend was announced by the Animal Concerns Research and Education Society (Acres) on Wednesday at a press conference.

The animal welfare group found that four out of 153 shops it surveyed as part of a recent undercover operation were offering tiger parts like the animal's teeth and claws.

This was a drastic drop from 2010, when a similar investigation by Acres revealed that 59 out of 134 shops were selling tiger parts. However, Acres found 14 such advertisements on local platforms like Carousell and Gumtree on Tuesday.

Trade in tigers, including their parts and products, is prohibited in Singapore.

Acres submitted its findings from the recent operation to the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority (AVA), which investigated the four identified shops.

SEIZED

An AVA spokesman told The New Paper on Wednesday that eight pieces of animal parts allegedly from tigers and seals had been seized from three shops.

The items are undergoing forensic analysis to determine their authenticity.

The animal welfare organisation said it will continue to work with AVA to tackle the growing online trade.

Anyone found possessing, selling, offering, advertising, or displaying any endangered species for sale, regardless of authenticity, is liable for a $50,000 fine, a jail term of up to two years for each animal part, or both.

Members of the public are encouraged to contact Acres through its wildlife crime hotline 9783-7782 if they know of any sales of alleged tiger parts.

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Over 10,000 fan out to pick up litter across Singapore

Feng Zengkun The Straits Times AsiaOne 4 May 15;

More than 10,000 volunteers spread out across Singapore yesterday with one mission: to pick up every piece of litter in sight and clean up the country.

Armed with gloves, trash bags and tongs, they got rid of eyesores like cigarette butts, plastic bags, tissue paper and even cardboard packaging from the ground, grass verges and roadside bushes.

Schools and companies led clean-up efforts by students, staff and family members at public spaces such as parks and beaches to support the islandwide housekeeping.

The volunteers - who also included non-government groups, town councils and government agencies - were part of Operation We Clean Up!, a one-day event organised by the Public Hygiene Council, Keep Singapore Beautiful Movement and Singapore Kindness Movement.

The day-long clean-up was the first of its kind and spanned 133 locations. More than 7,000kg of rubbish was collected.

Among the people who braved light rain in Bukit Panjang yesterday morning were father-and- daughter team Kevin and Kezel Ong.

Kezel, seven, had been dismayed by the cigarette butts and other rubbish in the estate, and was singled out by Minister for the Environment and Water Resources Vivian Balakrishnan yesterday for speaking up about the issue at a residents' committee meeting she attended with her father last year.

"Our playground and void deck can get quite dirty, and it makes our neighbourhood ugly," she told The Straits Times.

The country's cleanliness has been on the decline despite an army of more than 52,000 cleaners.

Earlier this year, Emeritus Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong wrote that Singapore would likely become a "garbage city" were it not for its cleaners, after pictures surfaced online of the mess left behind by people who went to a concert at Gardens by the Bay.

Last year, the National Environment Agency issued about 19,000 tickets for littering, almost double the number in 2013.

To show people how much litter can be generated in a single day, general area cleaning was stopped in nearly 70 precincts last Saturday and the cleaners given a rest day.

Before the start of the clean-up session in Bukit Panjang yesterday, Dr Balakrishnan said: "By keeping our neighbourhoods clean, we are sending a signal to everyone that we are proud of our home."

Meanwhile, more than 4,000 cleaners across the 15 People's Action Party town councils were treated to an appreciation lunch yesterday and given a $20 NTUC FairPrice voucher each.

Mr Tan Hock Chye, 54, one of the cleaners, said he appreciated the acknowledgement of their work.

He said: "It's good for encouragement and morale, but it would be even better if more people would learn not to litter everywhere and throw their rubbish away properly."

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