Best of our wild blogs: 9 Jan 18

Smile, Singapore got crocodile!
Celebrating Singapore Shores!

Ridge Walk – five Friday evening briskwalks along the Southern Ridges (Jan – May 2018)
Toddycats!

Soxy sea creatures: Cnidarian edition
wild shores of singapore

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Cars stalled, commuters stranded as flash floods hit eastern Singapore

Today Online 8 Jan 18;

SINGAPORE — It was mayhem on Monday (Jan 8) morning as road users and commuters were caught out by flash floods, and rain poured so abundantly that the amount in four hours was about half of what the island typically gets in average monthly rainfall in January.

And it was brought on in part by an out-of-ordinary weather event that does not usually happen during the North-east Monsoon.

As rain battered down and flood waters gushed from overwhelmed drainage systems, lane markings disappeared and roads turned into waterways. Photos and videos went viral online, showing scenes of partially submerged vehicles stuck in flood waters, and people wading through waters that reached above their knees.

A woman had to abandon her Mercedes Benz after it stalled in rising flood waters, while a group of commuters balanced themselves gingerly atop the slim bench of a bus stop. A passenger in a moving bus clutched tightly to the railing, as a small pool of flood water ebbed and flowed through the bus door.

Two people were sent to hospital after a tree fell on them in Toa Payoh. And at one housing block in Tampines, rainwater cascaded like a "waterfall" in a lift.

A number of buses had to skip bus stops along the flooded roads, SBS Transit said.

At a media briefing later in the evening, national water agency PUB reported that eight out of the nine places hit by flash floods in the eastern parts of Singapore are low-lying areas where drainage improvement work is ongoing, and they are due to be completed latest by the first quarter of next year.

It cautioned the public not to "risk" their personal safety by stepping or driving into flooded areas, but to take an alternative route or wait for the water levels to subside. They should also check for updates and advance warnings on the agency's mobile application and Facebook page, or via radio broadcasts.

However, it was too little too late for those who were trapped in the morning, as they were using their mobile devices more to capture photos and videos.

The heavy downpour, which lasted between 6.20am and 10.25am, was the result of the prevailing North-east Monsoon, aggravated by an unexpected Sumatra squall — sudden thunderstorm lines that developed over the Straits of Malacca, PUB said.

CHANGE IN WIND DIRECTION

It is not so common for squalls to occur here during the North-east Monsoon season because winds are blowing from the north-east direction. Sumatra squalls usually happen during the South-west Monsoon between March and November. A change in wind direction on Monday caused the squall to move east towards Singapore, a Meteorological Service Singapore spokesperson said.

Many of the places whipped by the storm were in the eastern parts of the island, with the heaviest rainfall recorded along Kim Chuan Road near Paya Lebar.

PUB is investigating why flash floods occurred at one of the nine locations: Tampines Avenue 12.

Mr Yeo Keng Soon, director of the catchment and waterways department in PUB, said that this place was not considered to be low-lying and there is no drainage improvement work there. Preliminary checks did not show any form of obstruction in the drains as well.

Mr Choy Wai Kwong, chief engineer from the same department, said that rainwater might have gushed down quickly from an adjacent slope, which temporarily exceeded the drain's capacity.

For the other eight locations, Mr Yeo said that when drainage improvement works are done, the flash flood "situation" would improve should rainfall of similar intensity fall on these areas again. Drains would be able to discharge more water in a shorter period of time.

The areas affected by flash floods on Monday included Tampines Road, the junction of Bedok Road and New Upper Changi Road, and the junction of Upper Changi Road and Bedok North Ave 4.

These places have a history of being prone to flooding, or are subject to tidal influence, PUB said, adding that the heaviest rainfall of 118.8mm at Kim Chuan Road amounted to roughly half of Singapore's average monthly rainfall in January.

Data from the Meteorological Service Singapore showed that rain was heaviest over the northern and eastern parts of the island on Monday. Areas that recorded more than 100mm of total rainfall in the morning included Ang Mo Kio (118.0mm), Bishan (110.7mm) and Hougang (108.0mm).

BUS CABINS 'FLOODED'

Of the buses plying the roads, 12 from SBS Transit (services 9 and 10) were affected by the flash floods.

Ms Tammy Tan, the transport operator's senior vice-president of corporate communications, said: "As water levels rose, the cabins of these buses became flooded, some with ankle-high water, as they travelled along Upper Changi Road and Paya Lebar Road. Officers from the Singapore Civil Defence Force were on hand to guide our buses to safely pass through the affected areas."

Buses also had to skip eight bus stops along the affected roads, she added. No buses were stalled and no passengers were injured, but as a precautionary measure, vehicles caught in the floods were called back for checks at workshops.

When TODAY visited Upper Changi Road and Jalan Greja off Bedok Road, which were among the worst-hit, things had returned to normal at about 5.30pm. Residents said that the flood waters were mostly confined to the streets and did not enter their homes, or entered just a small part of their driveways.

Businessman Alex Lo, 55, who lives along Jalan Greja, said that he noticed the flooding on the stretch at about 9am. When he looked out of his window on the second floor of his house, he saw a car stranded on the street.

Mr Lo, who has lived in the area for more than a decade, has "never seen flooding like this". The waters fully subsided about an hour later at 10.15am.

At the Upper Changi Road area, the owner of a gold-coloured Mercedes Benz — who did not wish to be identified — returned to retrieve her car at around 6.30pm. When it still refused to start, she had to call a tow sevice.

The driver's trying experience made its rounds earlier on social media, when she was captured pushing the stalled car through flood waters along the road there. She eventually left it at a nearby landed housing estate.

While it may seem like calls for tow services could have spiked on Monday, those contacted by TODAY said that this was not the case. A spokesperson for Island Recovery Services, one of the biggest operators here with more than 40 tow trucks, disclosed that there were "not many cases", but it did not give any figures.

At BH Auto Services, its operations director Eric Cheong said that the firm towed a car out of mud after it was stuck on a grass patch in the Dempsey Hill area due to the heavy rain.

People's Vehicle Service responded to just one case of a vehicle stalled in floodwaters along Sims Avenue. "It could move a bit and we towed back the vehicle to the workshop," its representative said.

SURGE IN FARES FOR PRIVATE-HIRE CARS

Uber driver Ivan Foo, 38, who was driving near the flood-hit areas such as Changi North, Simei and Tampines, told TODAY that demand for rides was "high" between 7am and 10am, and bookings were back-to-back.

Fares also surged due to strong demand. For instance, a booking from Bedok Court condominium near Tanah Merah MRT Station to Elias Road in Pasir Ris went up to about S$22, which is 2.5 times the usual fares, Mr Foo said.

Elsewhere, demand for private-hire cars was also high because of the heavy rain. Mr Chris Koh, 50, who is also with Uber, said that he was booked to go from Bukit Timah into the city, and fares on his UberExec mid-tier luxury sedan surged about 1.9 times the usual prices.

Several of his friends driving in eastern Singapore reported fare surges of up to three times the normal fares, Mr Koh added.

In the next few days, thundery showers are expected over many areas in the afternoon, but PUB said that it is difficult to predict if flash floods would occur again. This would depend on factors such as how fast moving the rain is.

Looking at historical data, the highest daily total rainfall ever recorded in January was 238.2mm at Pulau Ubin on Jan 30 in 2011, the Meteorological Service Singapore said.

Over the decades, flood-prone areas in Singapore have been reduced from more than 3,000 hectares in the 1970s to about 30 hectares today. ADDITIONAL REPORTING BY LOUISA TANG, SIAU MING EN, KENNETH CHENG


Flooding situation will ‘definitely improve’ when drainage works are completed: PUB
Monica Kotwani Channel NewsAsia 8 Jan 18;

SINGAPORE: Flash flooding of the intensity seen on Monday morning (Jan 8) will be better managed, once ongoing drainage improvement works are completed by the first quarter of 2019, said national water agency PUB on Monday (Jan 8).

“You can be very sure that when drainage improvement works are completed, the situation will definitely be improved,” said Mr Yeo Keng Soon, director of PUB's Catchment and Waterways Department following flash floods that affected many parts of eastern Singapore in the morning.

“The drains will be able to discharge more water in a shorter period of time (when works are completed)," he added. "(But) whether an area will be flood-free, we cannot promise that.”

During an evening media briefing, Mr Yeo said that drains in eastern Singapore were “overwhelmed” by the intense rain that fell on Monday morning, reiterating what PUB had said earlier in the day that about half of Singapore's average monthly rainfall in January fell in just four hours in the Kim Chuan Road area.

Preliminary investigations showed that the drains were running at 100 per cent efficiency, and there were no obstructions in the drains to have contributed to the flash floods.

“The drains were serving their intended purpose and function this morning,” said Mr Yeo. "But based on that kind of rainfall, it overwhelmed our drain design capacity.”

According to the National Environment Agency, the rain falling over eastern Singapore was due to the prevailing northeast monsoon, aggravated by the development of a Sumatra squall over the Straits of Malacca which moved eastwards due to changing wind direction.

A Meteorological Service spokesperson who was at the briefing explained that it is less common for a Sumatra squall to form in January, as it is typically seen between March and November.

PUB added that the tide level could have aggravated the situation at the nine locations where flooding was reported. Four of those locations lead to Bedok Canal and are subject to tidal influence.

PUB explained that during high tide, seawater can flow into the canal, but water levels are manageable without heavy rainfall. With a mid-tide level this morning, it could have aggravated the flooding at locations near Bedok Canal.

Eight of the locations where flooding occurred are where three main improvement works are ongoing, said PUB. The works are slated to be completed between the third quarter of this year and the first quarter of 2019.

With the exception of Tampines Avenue 12, the rest are low-lying areas. PUB said flooding in Tampines Avenue 12 could have been due to a "high slope" in the area which possibly caused rainwater to rush down fast enough to beat the threshold capacity of the drain.

MORE RAIN EXPECTED BUT HARD TO PREDICT INTENSITY

NEA said that while Singapore can expect more rain in the next few days, it is hard to predict the intensity of rainfall.

Meanwhile, PUB said it has measures in place to deal with a possible deluge, such as having contractors on standby to pump out water, should there be flooding in areas such as basement car parks. It has also been drawing on staff from its other divisions to standby for potential flooding during this period.

While it urged members of the public to be patient until drainage works are completed, PUB said they should also take precautions and keep themselves informed through the various platforms such as on radio and on PUB’s MyWaters mobile app.

It urged pedestrians to wait until floodwaters recede before venturing out, and for motorists to avoid flooded areas as their vehicles may stall once water levels reach a certain level.

Source: CNA/gs


Half of January's average monthly rainfall fell over Kim Chuan Road within 4 hours
Channel NewsAsia 8 Jan 18;

SINGAPORE: In just four hours on Monday morning (Jan 8), about half of Singapore's average monthly rainfall in January fell in the Kim Chuan Road area in Bartley, according to national water agency PUB.

In a news release, PUB said widespread rain fell over Singapore due to the prevailing northeast monsoon, aggravated by the development of a Sumatra squall over the Straits of Malacca which moved eastwards.

The heaviest rainfall of 118.8mm was recorded at the Kim Chuan Road rain gauge between 6.20am to 10.25am - that's about half of Singapore's average monthly rainfall in January, PUB said.

It added that rainfall in the area peaked between 8am and 8.30am, with an intensity of 56mm per hour.

Flash floods due to "intense rain" were reported in nine locations in eastern Singapore.

The first flash flood occurred at 8.30am and all of the floods - which lasted between 15 minutes and an hour each - had subsided by 10.30am, according to PUB.

The agency said its officers were immediately deployed to the flooded locations to investigate and provide assistance.

Of these locations, Tampines Road and Arumugam Road have a history of flooding due to "localised conditions", PUB said.

Meanwhile, four other locations - Jalan Nipah, Bedok Road/New Upper Changi Road, Upper Changi Road/Bedok North Avenue 4 as well as Bedok Road/Upper Changi Road - lead to Bedok Canal and are subject to tidal influences, the agency explained.

There are already ongoing drainage improvement works to improve flood protection for these locations, while PUB is carrying out further investigations for Tampines Ave 12, it added.


The agency urged members of the public to exercise caution and avoid stepping into or driving into flooded areas.

It also encouraged people to stay tuned to updates on radio broadcasts and on PUB's Facebook page or mobile app for flood updates during the monsoon season.

Source: CNA/mz

'Worst flash floods in 30 years': Bedok resident
Dawn Ang Channel NewsAsia 8 Jan 18;

SINGAPORE: Some residents in the eastern parts of Singapore woke up to more than Monday blues on Monday (Jan 8) - some had to face murky brown water, coming right up to their doorsteps.

"The water came into the driveway, up to the front of my car," said retiree Mr Lim, who lives along a stretch of terrace houses along Jalan Greja. The low-lying residential area in Bedok was one of those affected by the flash floods on Monday.

“I’ve lived here for over 30 years. This is the worst flash flood we have experienced,” said the 67-year-old.

Floods were reported at nine areas in total - including Tampines, Sims Avenue and Upper Changi Road - said national water agency PUB.

PUB also sent out alerts on social media, warning that there was "high flood risk" at several waterways such as Bedok Canal, Sungei Kallang and Sungei Tongkang.

Channel NewsAsia visited the private estates next to Bedok Canal shortly after the PUB alerts came in. While the flash floods had subsided, there were signs of water damage.

Mr Lim was in the midst of clearing up debris from fallen potted plants outside his house. He said water at the walkway outside his house came up to 20cm, submerging some of his smaller plants.

He said that the last time flash floods occurred here was eight to nine years ago.

Businessman Alex Lo said he thought it was just another rainy Monday morning until his wife alerted him that flood waters were gathering outside. “(I was) so worried that the water level would rise further,” his wife Corinne said.

The Los live in a corner terrace along Jalan Greja, three streets down from Jalan Nipah which was flooded. Drainage in the area is connected to Bedok Canal and is subject to tidal influence, PUB said.

Mr Lo said water levels peaked at around 9.30am, making it impossible for cars to drive through to get to Bedok Road.

“One driver was unfortunately caught in the high waters. He had a tough time climbing out of his car,” recounted Mr Lo. The driver had to call a tow company to take the stalled car away, he added.

“I can’t imagine if it was during high tide. The flash flood would have been worse,” said Mr Lo.

A couple of Jalan Greja residents noted that construction works are ongoing at the canal behind their estate. PUB said in a statement on Monday that drainage improvement works are already underway to improve flood protection for the various locations which were hit by flash floods.

The agency also said the flooding was caused by intense rain and that half of Singapore's average monthly rainfall in January fell on Kim Chuan Road in Bartley in the span of four hours.

Source: CNA/da

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Indonesia: Thousands corals re-planted in Gili Nanggu

Antara 8 Jan 18;

Illustration. Foreign tourists plant coral reefs along with tour guides at Sanur Beach, Bali. (ANTARA/Nyoman Budhiana) ()

W. Lombok, W. Nusa Tenggara (ANTARA News) - The Maritime and Fishery Ministry`s Marine and Coastal Resources Management Agency (BPSPL) has worked with locals to replant thousands of corals in Gili Nanggu island, an official stated here on Sunday.

Barmawi, the BSPL chairman for Bali and West Nusa Tenggara said that more than a thousand corals had been planted since 2013 to 2015 period.

"We have worked with the local government, and the locals to transplant the coral reefs in the waters around Gili Nanggu," he noted.

Although the program has been performed by the agency since 2013, the monitoring and evaluation processes were started last year.

During the replanting process, the agency had sunk five concrete platforms to the seabed. Each platform, he stated, has some 56 baby corals or commonly called as planula.

According to the evaluation conducted in 2017, some 80 percent of the entire coral replanted have flourished, Barmawi stressed.

He further explained, the coral transplantation program is aimed to restore the marine ecosystem in Gili Nanggu. The island was once damaged because of the fishermen had used bombs and potassium to generate abundant groupers and snappers.

Gili Nanggu now is part of Gita Nada conservation zone, along with the two islands of Gili Tangkong and Gili Sudak.

"Apart of restoring the marine ecosystem, the coral transplantation program is aimed to educate the locals and the tourists (on the conservation program conducted in the island)," he emphasized.

The healthy marine ecosystem, Barmawi said, will be beneficial by the fishermen, because the corals will provide nutrition for the fishes.

Hence, due to its abundant groupers and snappers, Gili Nanggu has been dubbed as one of the fish "banks" in the province, and one of the primary sources of coral fishes in the country.

Reported by Awaludin
(Uu. KR-GNT/a014)
Editor: Heru Purwanto

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Most sea turtles now female in north Great Barrier Reef

AFP Yahoo News 9 Jan 18;

Miami (AFP) - The vast majority of green sea turtles in the northern Great Barrier Reef are now female because of warmer temperatures due to climate change, which influences their sex during incubation, researchers said Monday.

The population of about 200,000 nesting females in the area along the east coast of Queensland, Australia, is one of the largest in the world, and could crash without more males, according to the report in the journal Current Biology.

The temperature at which eggs incubate determines the sex of the eggs. Warmer nests, which are dug into beaches, mean more females. Just a few degrees can mean the difference between a balanced and skewed sex ratio.

"With average global temperature predicted to increase 4.7 Fahrenheit (2.6 Celsius) by 2100, many sea turtle populations are in danger of high egg mortality and female-only offspring production," said the report.

Since figuring out the sex of buried eggs is too difficult, researchers decided to catch sea turtles and use genetic tests to find out where they'd come from.

They worked in an area where two different populations of green sea turtles (Chelonia mydas) forage -- one from a warmer area and the other from a cooler area.

After collecting 411 for analysis and release, they found a "moderate female sex bias" in turtles from beaches in the cooler, southern Great Barrier Reef, where about 65-69 percent were female.

But those in the warmer, northern Great Barrier Reef were "extremely female-biased," at 99.1 percent female among juveniles and 99.8 percent for those between juveniles and adults.

A total of 86.8 percent of adult-sized turtles from the area were female.

The trend of producing more females in warm areas has been ongoing for more than two decades, according to lead author Michael Jensen, from the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

The study "provides a new understanding of what these populations are dealing with," he said.

"Knowing what the sex ratios in the adult breeding population are today and what they might look like five, 10 and 20 years from now when these young turtles grow up and become adults is going to be incredibly valuable."

Experts say there are strategies that could help, including erecting shady tents over beaches where turtles nest to keep them cool.

Green sea turtles are considered endangered throughout much of the world, under siege from coastal debris, loss of habitat, fishing nets and pollution, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature.

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Best of our wild blogs: 8 Jan 18

Registration now open for Chek Jawa intertidal walks in February 2018
Celebrating Singapore Shores!

21st January 2018 (Sunday): Herp Walk @Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve
Herpetological Society of Singapore

The Singapore Jays
Butterflies of Singapore

Blue Carpenter Bee (Xylocopa caerulea) @ Henderson Waves
Monday Morgue

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Hybrid cars zooming ahead in Singapore, fuelled by rebates

Christopher Tan Straits Times 7 Jan 18;

SINGAPORE - Close to one-fifth of Singapore's taxi fleet is made up of petrol-electric hybrid models - up from zero just 10 years ago - and experts say the trend has a positive, if small, impact on air quality.

According to Land Transport Authority statistics, there were close to 4,000 hybrid taxis on the road as at the end of November last year, making up about 17 per cent of the cab population. In 2008, there was not a single hybrid taxi here.

Petrol-electric hybrids, which are powered by a petrol engine paired with one or more electric motors, have grown in popularity with the general motoring public, too.

There are now around 20,000 hybrid passenger cars here, making up more than 3 per cent of the population - four times what it was in 2012.

An emissions-based taxation scheme has fuelled the trend because it accorded for up to $30,000 and $45,000 in rebates for hybrid cars and taxis, respectively.

The same scheme has made diesel passenger cars more popular. The cohort has grown by more than twentyfold since 2012 to reach nearly 15,000 units as at last November, or 2.5 per cent of the population.

Since taxis clock more than three times the mileage of an average passenger car, observers reckon the migration from diesel to hybrid would contribute to cleaner air.

Asian Clean Fuels Association director Clarence Woo said: "This is definitely good news. The World Health Organisation has classified particulate matter - which diesel engines produce more of - as carcinogenic. And diesel emissions on the whole are also carcinogenic. So, here, we are really killing two birds with one stone."

Diesel proponents have pointed out that diesel engines produce less carbon dioxide. And that they produce more torque, making diesel vehicles more driveable in the city.

Mr Woo, however, said hybrids are just as efficient, adding that petrol engines have also improved in the power department.

Mr Neo Nam Heng, chairman of diversified motor group Prime, said almost all his taxis are now hybrid.

Prime Taxi, which has around 700 cabs, was the first to roll out hybrid models back in 2009. Mr Neo said: "A diesel Hyundai Sonata averages around 8 cents per km. A Toyota Prius (hybrid) matches that.

"The other thing is, taxi drivers can go to any of the 100-plus petrol stations to fill up. They don't need to drive all the way back to their own depots to buy diesel. Again, this saves time and fuel."

Hybrid opponents point to the cost of battery replacement as a deterrent. Authorised Toyota dealer Borneo Motors charges $5,200 to replace a Prius hybrid battery.

Mr Neo said: "We bring in our batteries. And we supply to others, at $2,200 each.

"And don't forget, a hybrid taxi is not liable for annual diesel tax."

The tax was $5,100 a year, reduced to $4,250 from last February.

The popularity of hybrids may wane from this year, though.

This is because the stricter Vehicular Emissions Scheme accords smaller rebates for such vehicles.

For instance, the Toyota Prius now falls in the Neutral band, attracting no rebate - down from a rebate of $30,000. The scheme is also likely to make it more punitive to buy a diesel car.

Singapore University of Social Sciences transport researcher Walter Theseira said: "Diesel used to be the preferred choice for high-intensity light vehicle use because of superior fuel economy and durability.

"But now scientific evidence suggests the pollution gap between diesel and petrol is large and may not narrow much in the real world.

"Hybrids which offer superior fuel economy fill the gap. Their durability has also been proven in fleet use across the world."

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Energy security also requires electricity to be affordable

Recent news and commentary over the past few months on energy security have focused on the diversification of energy resources but there are other important factors to consider, says an expert from the Singapore University of Social Sciences.
Chang Youngho Channel NewsAsia 8 Jan 18;

SINGAPORE: Along with sustainability, energy security is another household term which anyone can say something about.

In news reports and commentary, energy security typically refers to the availability of energy resources.

The inaugural Singapore-International Energy Agency Forum held on the sidelines of the Singapore International Energy Week last October presented an increasing concern on energy security in the ASEAN as one of four insights.

The forum identified a surge in importing energy resources and costs due to a lack of availability of energy resources in the region as a key challenge, a combined effect of decreasing domestic supply of and increasing demand for energy resources.

In a similar vein, a recent commentary by KPMG on Channel NewsAsia interpreted energy security as increasing energy supply by utilising solar photovoltaic technologies and building up access to liquefied natural gas.

Diversification of energy resources and supply sources make up a frequently cited definition in the discussion of energy security.

But the discipline of economics defines energy security as “an adequate and reliable supply of energy resources at a reasonable price”.

It seems energy security has many connected dimensions and failing in any one criteria suggests our energy security may be at threat.

AFFORDABILITY

Narrowly defining energy security as national access to energy resources might assure us that Singapore has the means to import or grow its own sources of energy on the surface.

Sufficient wealth to import energy resources like natural gas, petroleum, crude oil and coal for a resource-scarce country like Singapore is indeed a critical prerequisite.

But there are other conditions that must be fulfilled in the translation pathway to ensuring Singapore can confidently and sustainably harness energy to grow our economy and power Singaporeans’ day-to-day electricity needs.

Recent news that electricity tariffs will increase by an average of 6.3 per cent or 1.26 cents per kWh from Jan 1 to Mar 31, 2018 compared with the previous quarter illustrates the importance of ensuring affordability to households and businesses, even as energy sources are readily available at a national level.

SP Group attributed the increase to "the higher cost of natural gas for electricity generation, which increased by 14 per cent compared to the previous quarter".

If the fuel to power our economy gets more expensive, it may dampen economic growth and increase our cost of living. In such a scenario, it is hard to argue that we have energy security.

COSTS OF DELIVERING ENERGY

Affordability aside, even if we have reserves of energy resources on Singapore soil, we must also have the proven technologies to harness and deliver energy to the end-user.

About ten years ago, the discovery of large reserves of shale rock formations in the US spurred excitement about the prospects in achieving the country’s goal of energy self-sufficiency. But the boom in shale was only realised after the wider adoption of fracking that allowed for the extraction of deeply buried shale reserves.

China in comparison, hasn’t been able to afford the expensive fracking technology to exploit its shale reserves and continues to rely on energy imports. Today, it remains the world’s largest net importer of petroleum and is currently the largest foreign buyer of US oil.

These two examples illustrate an important question: Recent advancements in the field of energy has allowed countries to harness previously unknown and untapped sources of energy but are countries like Singapore applying these technologies widely enough?

I would argue that it was only when Singapore recently moved to proliferate solar photovoltaic cells and testbeds that we can truly say we are one step closer to leveraging solar energy and ensuring our energy security.

Funding by the Government for urban solutions and sustainability through energy research and develop under the Research, Innovation and Enterprise 2020 plan may also provide a much needed boost.

POLITICISATION

One factor we have taken for granted in Singapore is public trust and acceptance in the way our energy needs are being met.

The story elsewhere can be different, especially in countries where debates on nuclear plants and “dirty coal” make energy security a politically charged issue.

Despite many years since the Fukushima nuclear disaster, many Japanese citizens have lost faith in nuclear safety regulation and a majority favours phasing out nuclear power. Pressing energy needs combined with fresh impetus to meet Paris Agreement obligations have put additional pressure to double down on efforts to rev up otherwise idle nuclear reactors.

In Europe, although coal can generate greater energy compared to oil and natural gas, many countries shun coal given its negative environmental impact, a charge led by strong climate change lobby groups.

Closer to home, in some larger Southeast Asia countries, the need to build extensive distribution networks across the country to deliver natural gas has led to the Myanmar government taking back large tracts of land.

Similarly, recent years have seen the Laos government clearing land near the Mekong to build dams for hydropower.

Both exercises have encountered resistance from affected residents in the area.

As Singapore matures into a developed country, who is to say that Singaporeans will not become more environmentally conscious? A party to the Paris Agreement, Singapore may be more keenly aware of our carbon footprint, which may see some Singaporeans demanding for clean energy.

And in a small country, where the built-up environment is dense, will residents accept living near the next power plant?

BETTER MEASURE OF ENERGY SECURITY

It seems we need a better, more comprehensive set of measures if we are to more credibly ascertain Singapore’s energy security.

Apart from availability of resources, we must also consider whether we have suitable technologies that can extract and deliver electricity in a manner that is cost- and carbon-efficient to households and businesses.

Singapore should therefore work on developing applicable energy technologies and making energy resources more affordable to households and business, even as it strives to increase our national access to energy resources.

Dr Chang Youngho is a senior lecturer at the School of Business at the Singapore University of Social Sciences.

Source: CNA/sl

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Malaysia: Sabah still trying to get Indonesia's help on rhino breeding programme

AVILA GERALDINE New Straits Times 7 Jan 18;

KOTA KINABALU: Talks are underway to get the Indonesian government on board in initiating a breeding programme for rhinoceros to ensure their survival, Sabah Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun said today.

He said the state government has been working on the matter for some time but so far, both parties have yet to come to an agreement.

“We (state government) have always been talking to them (Indonesian government). I think what is needed actually is to get things done. But so far, we have not succeeded.

“There are matters that needed to be considered, which we probably have not met but suffice to say talks are always ongoing,” he said when met at the opening of Camaca Gelato Concept Café here, today.

Sabah is currently facing extinction of Sumatran rhinoceros species with only two known individuals – a female nicknamed Iman and male nicknamed Kertam - currently surviving at the Tabin Wildlife Reserve in Lahad Datu.

In Dec last year, Iman, the country’s last female Sumatran rhinoceros, was diagnosed with tumour in her uterus.

Although, Iman’s condition was improving on Dec 25, the rhino still suffers from vaginal discharge.

“There have been a lot of suggestion and theories to treat Iman but none succeeded. We have got in touch with some of the best experts in the treatment of rhino but sad to say we have yet to find cure.

“Iman is the only female left and to me, that is even more difficult. We have to think twice before engaging treatments, which have not been proven yet,” said Masidi.

Iman was the last wild rhino found in Malaysia. She was captured in Danum Valley and transported to Tabin Wildlife in Lahad Datu in March 2014.

Despite being diagnosed with severe fibroids in the uterus, she still produced eggs for the in-vitro fertilisation attempts.

The country lost another female rhino, Puntung, last year. Puntung was euthanised on June 4 after suffering three months from skin cancer.

Meanwhile, on the effort to upgrade pangolin status to a totally protected species, Masidi said works on the legal aspect are still ongoing.

“For me, I want it to be done immediately but Sabah Wildlife Department needs some time to prepare the necessary laws and whatever required for the proposal to upgrade (pangolin status),” he said.

Currently, pangolin is protected under Part 1 Schedule 2 of Sabah Wildlife Conservation Enactment, which allows hunting with permits.

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Indonesia: 'World's ugliest pig' spotted in Indonesia

Agence France-Presse Jakarta Post 7 Jan 18;

Rare images of the "world's ugliest pig" have been captured in Indonesia, researchers said Friday, offering a window into a little-known species believed to be on the brink of extinction.

The number of endangered Javan warty pigs -- males are distinguished by large warts on their faces -- has plunged since the early 1980s due to hunting and forest habitat loss, according to the UK-based Chester Zoo.

British and Indonesian researchers laid camera traps in the forests of the Southeast Asian nation's Java island in the hopes of capturing images of the elusive creature.

Their goal was to get a clearer sense of population levels and find ways to boost conservation of a "highly threatened species".

"It was even feared that many, if not all, populations had become extinct until their existence was confirmed by the zoo's cameras," the zoo said as it released the images.

The research "could eventually be used to establish new protection laws for the species as, currently, they are not protected by Indonesian law", it added.

The pigs -- which are only found on Java -- are similar in size to European wild boars but are more slender and have longer heads, the zoo said.

"Males have three pairs of enormous warts on their faces," said Johanna Rode-Margono, Chester Zoo's Southeast Asia field program coordinator.

"It is these characteristics that have led to them being affectionately labelled as 'the world's ugliest pig' but, certainly to us and our researchers, they are rather beautiful and impressive."

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Indonesia: Rare Rafflesia Gadutensis completely blooms in Bengkulu

Antara 8 Jan 18;

Bengkulu (ANTARA News) - An endemic Rafflesia gadutensis flower has completely bloomed at Boven Lais conservation forest in North Bengkulu district, Bengkulu province, an environmentalist said here on Sunday.

"The flower is still blossoming perfectly since Saturday (Jan 6), and the view is breathtaking," Riki Septian, the coordinator of Bengkulu Utara Care for Rare Blooms Community (KPPL) said.

After the ranger found the blooming flower, local tourists have packed the conservation zone since Saturday.

Most of the tourists were seen taking pictures with the rare Rafflesia gadutensis, which has been dubbed as the largest flower in the world.

Septian said, for the tourists who want to see the Rafflesia flower, they have to be assisted by the rangers during the trekking, and viewing activities.

The rangers, he explained, need to guide the tourists, because the flower which was found near the Palak Siring Kemumu waterfall is situated within the conservation area.

Therefore, the ranger needs to ensure any visits made by the local would cause no harm to the flower and its habitat, Septian remarked.

"All visitors should be guided by the rangers, in order to ensure that the flower`s young buds would continue to flourish normally," he stressed.

In order to see the rare blooming "corpse" flower, people need to take five-minutes trekking, by following the concrete stairs in the conservation forest.

After stepping the stairs, the visitors need to take the left side, in order to see the protected flower.

"People are still able to enjoy seeing the rare blooming flower for the next three days," he noted.

Apart from Rafflesia gadutensis, the Boven Lais conservation forest is a home for other Rafflesia species, such as Rafflesia arnoldii and Rafflesia kemumu, the new endemic bloom found in Bengkulu.

First discovered by W. Meijer in Ulu Gadut, West Sumatra in 1984, the Rafflesia gadutensis is distinct to other species, because of its special "white-dots" pattern and the smaller petal size for only 40-60 centimeter in diameter, while the average Rafflesia would extend to some 100 cm in diameter.

As a jungle parasite, the Rafflesia flower has no trunks, roots, or leaves.

Apart from its gigantic size, the bloom also gains popularity worldwide due to its strong "corpse" odor.

Reported by Helti Marini Sipayung
(Uu. KR-GNT/a014)
Editor: Heru Purwanto

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Best of our wild blogs: 7 Jan 18

Registration open for the Battle of Pasir Panjang Commemorative Walk – Sun 11 Feb 2018
Toddycats!

Raptor Migration ( Autumn) along Henderson Waves
Singapore Bird Group

Earthfest2018 x TDE
The Dorsal Effect

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Singaporean environmentalist clinches Nat Geo grant to study dog disease in Nepal

LOW YOUJIN Today Online 7 Jan 18;

SINGAPORE — A Singaporean environmentalist and freelance photojournalist has received a US$10,000 (S$13,269) National Geographic Explorer grant, which will allow her to research on a deadly and highly contagious disease affecting dogs in the Himalayas.

Ms Debby Ng, 35, will be heading to Nepal from May to June to study whether domestic dogs in Nepal Himalaya, a large number of which are free-roaming, have been exposed to the Canine Distemper Virus (CDV).

The CDV is a viral disease that affects a wide variety of animal families, including domesticated and wild animals.

Ms Ng was given the grant in late-September last year but she only shared the news on her Facebook page on Monday (Jan 1). “I wanted to make sure it was all real,” she wrote in the Facebook post. Over the past months, she has been busy preparing and assembling a team for her study.

While she will only have two months in spring to complete her research, she said: “Field work is all about working with the time Nature gives you!”

Speaking to TODAY, Ms Ng said a veterinarian will be accompanying her, alongside two or three research assistants to help with interviewing locals and collecting blood samples from dogs.

A recent graduate from the University of Tasmania with a Bachelor of Science (Zoology and Geography), Ms Ng will be using the findings from her study to pursue her Honours.

Ms Ng is no stranger to the mountainous region or the dogs that inhabit the area either. She is also the co-founder of the Himalayan Mutt Project, a non-profit organisation that helps vaccinate and neuter domestic dogs in impoverished villages in Nepal.

Explaining the significance of the study, Ms Ng said that such free-roaming dogs have been recognised by wildlife researchers as a “source of infection for several disease outbreaks affecting wild carnivores, in all continents except Antarctica” since they have a higher tendency to interact with wildlife and pass diseases on.

It is currently unknown what diseases wild animals carry, some of them can spill over into domestic dogs, and then into the livestock that they mingle with, and then people. Photo: Bikash Gürung

In 1994, dogs infected with CDV were responsible for wiping out close to 30 per cent of the lion population in the Serengeti National Park in northern Tanzania.

Humans are not spared from the impact of the virus. It can be passed to livestock, which would in turn affect communities dependent on them through loss of income when their livestock die from the virus.

Ms Ng said the grant would cover all the field and laboratory costs for the intended duration of the study. “Utilised wisely and efficiently, it can profoundly improve our understanding of how diseases are transmitted across a landscape,” she said.

When asked why she chose to focus her work in Nepal, she said: “I have a passion for working with communities who want to protect their environment. The communities I work with...are very eager to resolve the problem with dogs.”

She added: “(Nepal) is a global tourist destination, and brings joy and even meaning to life for many people...This is a precious landscape to us all, but most importantly to the people of Nepal.”

Turning her attention to Singapore, she said she welcomed the recent announcement by the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority of Singapore on a nationwide sterilisation effort. “There was a soft sigh (of relief) in my heart. It is a wonderful breakthrough,” she said.

Having carried out sterilisation of dogs in Nepal for more than three years, she noted that over there, “healthy but unwanted dogs are hung, drowned, shot, and poisoned”.

Even if culled humanely with drugs, routine mass euthanasia is a heavy economic burden on society. “The cost of one euthanasia dose can neuter two dogs,” she said. “The alternative to not killing them is turning them to a life on the streets or wilderness areas where they get into fights with other dogs.”


CLARIFICATION: In an earlier version of this story, we reported that Ms Debby Ng is a recent Honours graduate from the University of Tasmania with a Bachelor of Science (Zoology and Geography). Ms Ng has clarified that she is a recent graduate from the University of Tasmania with a Bachelor of Science (Zoology and Geography), and will be using the findings from her study to pursue her Honours.


Singaporean wins US$10,000 grant from National Geographic to study dog disease in Nepal
Jose Hong Straits Times 6 Jan 18;

SINGAPORE - Freelance photojournalist Debby Ng has won a US$10,000 (S$13,300) grant from The National Geographic Society to save wildlife in Nepal, by studying dogs there.

The grant adds to the anti-rabies work she began there in 2014.

Ms Ng, 35, told The Straits Times that the National Geographic Society Early Career Grant will allow her to research canine distemper virus in the Himalayas.

The virus is a deadly and highly contagious disease that threatens dogs and the fragile ecosystems there.

Many dogs in the region are not feral and are taken care of by local villagers. However, they roam freely across the countryside and can introduce diseases to people, other canines, and wild animals.

"Dogs have been identified as a source of canine distemper virus outbreaks that have affected wild carnivores around the world. These include wild foxes, wolves, giant pandas and red pandas. In 1994 canine distemper virus killed 30 per cent of the lions in Serengeti National Park," said Ms Ng.

"Learning how the dogs are moving in the environment and what diseases they are carrying can help us understand the likelihood of disease, and allow us to implement conservation measures to protect wildlife, people, and other domestic animals like sheep."

The grant, which was awarded last September, will pay for a month of field work in Nepal's Upper Manang District, where she and her team will interview villagers about dogs in the area from this May. They will also observe how the canines live and collect blood samples.

"Upper Manang is home to a wide variety of wildlife. Carnivores like Himalayan wolves, Pallas' cat, jackals, red foxes, snow leopards, bears and wolverines are known to occur here, so our study is very relevant in this area," said Ms Ng.

Separately, she will continue the Himalayan Mutt Project, her anti-rabies work that neuters and vaccinates dogs in Nepal. According to her calculations, it has prevented thousands of unwanted puppies from being born and becoming carriers of rabies, which a 2015 study said kills up to 100 Nepalese yearly.

National Geographic's Jill Spear said: "Debby's project will add to our body of knowledge on disease ecology of domestic dogs, and how that affects wildlife in Nepal."

Ms Spear, who is the programme officer for Ms Ng's grant, said: "By filling this knowledge gap, the project can have a positive impact on both the wildlife and people in Nepal."

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