Biodiversity for kids during the year end school holidays

Exciting nature activities for kids are lined up for the year end school holidays! Lots of fun ways to discover and enjoy Singapore's biodiversity!

M.A.D. (Make A Difference) for Wild Pigs by Cicada Tree Eco Place

Learn how to make a difference for Wild Pigs! Party with the Pangolins, learn about night animals, butterflies, and forest giants to garden plants. Join events specially for kids from a kids Garden Party to exploring the Chek Jawa boardwalk, Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve and lots more! Many for free.

'Panda' of the mangroves discovered, Neil Humphreys writes on Chek Jawa and more

The ‘Panda’ of Mangroves, Bruguiera hainesii, has been found in the mangroves of Pulau Tekong! Here's more by the person who found them, Koh Kwan Siong of NParks.

Also an article by renowned author Neil Humphreys about his daughter's joy at Chek Jawa, work by volunteers at Pasir Ris, how creativity resulted in a dragonfly habitat and reviews of two upcoming nature books. All in the latest issue of My Green Space Oct-Dec 2012 a newsletter of the National Parks Board.

Northern Expedition of the Mega Marine Survey finds awesome marine life in Singapore

Singapore's first ever comprehensive look at our marine biodiversity has launched a massive Northern Expedition in October. What has the Mega Marine Survey found since it first started in 2010?

Volunteers busy sorting through finds at the Northern Expedition.

Over thirty new records have been found from Singapore and the region, including the Laternula, a species of lantern shells which may have bioactive compounds and chemicals that can aid medical science.

Exotic parrots and fishes; and feather star-crab

These introduced birds are pretty, but what impact do they have on our native wildlife?

These and other fascinating articles have been uploaded on Nature in Singapore of the Raffles Museum of Biodiversity Research.

Singapore crab featured among the world's 100 most threatened lifeforms

A freshwater crab found only in Singapore is featured among the 100 most threatened lifeforms on the planet. Conservationists fear these organisms will be allowed to die out because none of these species provide humans with obvious benefits.

“All the species listed are unique and irreplaceable. If they vanish, no amount of money can bring them back,” said a co-author of the report. Their declines have mainly been caused by humans, but in almost all cases scientists believe their extinction can still be avoided if conservation efforts are specifically focused.

15 Sep (Sat): Prof Leo Tan speaks on "Greening the Red Dot - Creating a Legacy for the future?"

Singapore is a tiny island with more than 5 million people and no natural resources. So what is the value of nature and biodiversity to the socio-economic progress of this red dot? We are often reminded that it is business/finance and technology that drives the economy, not natural history! Is this really the case?

This seminar examines some aspects of the need or otherwise for nature and the environment in keeping our island salubrious and liveable as we chase our economic goals. How important or sustainable are the tiny pockets of natural forest, coastal mangroves, coral reefs and parks for us now and as a legacy for our future generations?

New to science, found in Singapore!

Can you find species new to science in Singapore? Along the boardwalk? YES!

This new species of cricket was found along the Chek Jawa boardwalk! It was named after Chek Jawa too! It is called Svistella chekjawa. More critters new to science and given names associated with Singapore in the latest issue of the Raffles Bulletin of Zoology 60(2): 241–598. 31 August 2012

Biodiversity for kids during the September holidays!

Exciting nature activities for kids are lined up for the September school holidays! Lots of fun ways to discover and enjoy Singapore's biodiversity!

On 1 Sep (Sat), explore Pasir Ris mangrove boardwalk
on the FREE walk by the Naked Hermit Crabs

Learn about wild boar and our night creatures, check out boardwalks at Chek Jawa, Pasir Ris, Sungei Buloh, visit trails at Bukit Brown, MacRitchie, Southern Ridges, and lots of other workshops and activities. Here's highlights of some of the many exciting nature events for kids during the school holidays. Many for free!

Singapore got wildlife meh?

A wonderful video clip for teachers and others to use in raising awareness of Singapore's biodiversity and answering that typical question we often hear.

Lovingly put together by David Tan, Jocelyne Sze and Eunice Soh, it features clips and photos shared by local nature lovers and covers the amazing biodiversity found in Singapore's land and sea.

Singapore Species

It's National Day, and over the past week, the NParks Facebook page has been sharing photos of various animals and plants named after Singapore!

Singapore's living forests, reefs, seashores and more!

What lives in our forests? The latest issue of My Green Space, published by NParks, shares more on this and other fascinating work done for Singapore's biodiversity.

What happens during the quiet orgy in our waters when Singapore's corals mass spawn? Also more about Singapore's first marine expedition and the fabulous new book on Singapore's caterpillars!

Mandai mangroves, giant clams, coral spawning and more

The beautiful Mandai mangroves shows us how we can understand threats to mangroves in Singapore and beyond. We still have Giant clams and efforts are ongoing to conserve them.

Ordinary people helping to survey Mandai mangroves
as part of the Mega Marine Survey

Also, studies of coral spawning in Singapore and venomous fishes on Sentosa's recreational beaches. All this and more can be found in the latest issue of the Raffles Bulletin of Zoology which is a Special Memorial Issue Navjot S. Sodhi (1962–2011)

Secretive squirrel, orchids rediscovered, corals studied and more

We learn more about the elusive shrew-faced squirrel that lives in our forest.

Plus lots more discoveries and studies of Singapore's amazing plants and animals, on land and sea. All in the latest slew of papers on Nature in Singapore of the Raffles Museum of Biodiversity Research.

Launch of Private Lives: Rainforest and the DNA website

Last week, a new book ‘Private Lives: An Exposé of Singapore’s Rainforests’ was launched by the Raffles Museum of Biodiversity Research.

Here's more about the launch from the RMBR News blog.

26 May (Sat): Conserving our Biodiversity Symposium at the Festival of Biodiversity

Come for this Symposium to learn more about the importance of our biodiversity and the volunteer action for nature in Singapore!

Click for larger view

This event is part of the Festival of Biodiversity. There have also been changes to the dates and timing of other talks scheduled for the Festival.

Biodiversity for kids during the June holidays!

Exciting nature activities for kids are lined up for the June school holidays! Lots of fun ways to discover and enjoy Singapore's biodiversity!

Kids can easily spot all kinds of interesting wildlife
from the Pasir Ris mangrove boardwalk.

Here's highlights of some of the many exciting nature events for kids during the school holidays. Many for free!

19 May (Sat): Raffles Museum Children's Open House

Don't miss the very last Open House at the Raffles Museum of Biodiversity Research! A great opportunity for kids and people of all ages to learn more about Singapore's biodiversity and natural history.

Rick Leong enthralls kids at the 2011 Open House.

Join guided tours with a behind-the-scenes look at the museum. Lots of other activities like face painting, make your own museum button, masks and Be a Young Palaeontologist (that's dinosaur specialist!)

Great Grasshoppers of Singapore!

Singapore has some amazing forest grasshoppers! They're not all just brown or green. Some can be quite colourful!

There's now a new eBook on some of these fascinating creatures. It's available for free download!

12 May (Sat): World Migratory Bird Day at Sungei Buloh

With the theme "Migratory birds and people - together through time" this year's World Migratory Bird Day celebrates the continuing relationship between migratory birds and people. Throughout time and across cultures humans have relied on birds, be it to supply food, to deliver messages, or to serve as symbols of power and prestige.

World Migratory Bird Day highlights the need to protect migratory birds and their habitats. It is celebrated world wide on the second weekend each May since 2006.Celebrate migratory bird day at Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve with the rest of the world on 12 May 2012!

Join this community art effort to celebrate our biodiversity!

Show your love for our biodiversity and take part in this community artwork project!

To celebrate our upcoming Festival of Biodiversity, we are creating a mural mosaic of the logo of the festival.

22 Apr: Earth Day in Singapore

Lots of biodiversity activities to celebrate Earth Day in Singapore next week!

What is Earth Day?
There's often much confusion about Earth Day.

26-27 May (Sat-Sun): Festival of Biodiversity 2012

Come for the massive Festival of Biodiversity! The passionate nature community comes together to share the mind-boggling biodiversity from our forests to seashores, even our backyards and parks!

Be bedazzled by butterflies and birds, awed by trees and seagrasses, tickle your curiousity with crabs and colugos. Singapore is wilder that you might imagine. Find out more about our biodiversity and what you can do to make a difference!

Here's some of fun that is planned for the Festival!

New records of civet, crabs and other critters on Nature in Singapore

Exciting biodiversity discoveries! Such as the first confirmed sighting of the Malay civet!

Also new records of crabs, a cicada and observations of animals mimicking ants, about our urban grasshoppers and crickets and more! Some from very accessible areas like Changi and Pasir Ris.

24 Mar (Sat): Launch of new Science Centre guidebook on snails

Who Let the Snails Out! Launch of a new guidebook by Tan Siong Kiat, Chan Sow Yan and Reuben Clements.

Science Centre Singapore proudly presents the latest addition to its substantial 46-guidebook series on local flora and fauna! Introducing "A Guide to Snails and other Non-marine Molluscs of Singapore!"

28 Apr (Sat): Semakau Mini Documentary contest

Here's your chance to film Pulau Semakau's biodiversity and win attractive prizes.

Nature Society (Singapore) is hosting an all-day event at Pulau Semakau on 28 Apr (Sat) for "Through Green Lenses: A Semakau Mini-documentary/Film Making Contest 2012"

Biodiversity for kids during the March holidays!

Exciting nature activities for kids are lined up for the March school holidays! Lots of fun ways to discover and enjoy Singapore's biodiversity!

Kids having a closer look at Mama wild boar and her piglet
during the free Chek Jawa boardwalk tour by the Naked Hermit Crabs.

Here's highlights of some of the many exciting nature events for kids during the March school holidays. Many for free!

Mega Marine Survey digs up 100 species!

The Mega Marine Survey has uncovered 100 species, some are new to Singapore or to science, even though the project is only one-third through!

This was highlighted in a Straits Times article today by Grace Chua. Among the featured creatures is this anemone found deep into the mudflats of Lim Chu Kang. This bumpy, warty sea anemone so new to science, it does not even have a scientific name yet. The volunteers have fondly nicknamed it Bill and it has seen at other locations in Singapore too.

4 Feb (Sat): Celebrate World Wetlands Day at Sungei Buloh

Singapore has wonderful wetlands to celebrate on World Wetlands Day, 2 Feb! Mangroves, freshwater swamps and streams and more! In 2012, theme is wetland tourism. This cartoon charmingly illustrates some of the issues of tourism.

Click on image for larger view.
From the Ramsar website.

In Singapore, Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve celebrates World Wetlands Day with special events on 4 Feb (Sat) including talks on mangroves, food tasting and displays of fishes and other mangrove creatures!

Kids! Send your artwork on nature and trees!

Join the Trees for Life Art Competition 2012! Share your love for nature and win prizes!

Click on image for larger view of poster.

Calling all preschool, primary and secondary school students! Paint your love for trees and nature and stand to win attractive prizes including an Apple iPad 2. The best paintings will be showcased to thousands of visitors at the prestigious Singapore Garden Festival 2012 and at various public libraries.

More details on the NParks Heritage Trees page.

Closing date: 9 March 2012.

Enquiries: nparks_urban_gardening@nparks.gov.sg or 62739043.

Tigers on Ubin, birds that sew, extinct orchid rediscovered and more!

Yes, there are Tigers at Ubin! Tiger butterflies that is! Developed with the advice of Khew Sin Khoon from Butterfly Circle, Butterfly Hill on Pulau Ubin boasts a wide variety of beautiful butts.

Read about this and about birds that sew up leaves, rare and new plant discoveries and more in the latest issues of My Green Space Issue 12 Vol 1/2012 a magazine of the National Parks Board.