The walk with OtterWatch really taught us a great deal about how we should co-exist with nature, particularly the smooth-coated otters found here in Singapore. The otters are highly social mammals that are spotted in the mangroves, mudflats and coastal areas, where they forage for clams, fish and other small animals.
What to do when you encounter otters? 1) DO NOT touch, chase or corner them. Observe them from a distance of at least 10 metres away. 2) DO NOT talk loudly or use flash photography. 3) DO NOT feed the otters. 4) DO NOT litter or leave sharp objects in the water. DO NOT block the exit ways of otter homes. 5) DO keep your dog on a tight leash. Your dog might chase them or frighten them.
OtterWatch also taught us how we could help the otters by diverting traffic if we see otters attempting to cross a human sidewalk. Most incidents of humans clashing with otters are always caused by accidents.
NParks has also identified some ways private property owners can keep otters out of their homes:
Diagram courtesy of NParks
The next time we see an otter, before blaming them for their tyranny, we should start establishing boundaries with each other to avoid confrontations with them.
The Kranji Mudflats is a place that was only accessible via permission from the police coast guard for research purposes. For the purpose of this trip, booties are highly recommended.
Lester from the Nature Society guided us along for the trip. The gate to the mudflats stood in front of an abandoned warehouse that was infested with mosquitoes. The mudflats are littered with marine debris, and we had to watch our step. Unfortunately, I lost all the photos for this trip, but you can view some of them from the other posts!
Picture courtsy of NParks
We learned that the Nature Society did research and data collection on invertebrates such as Horseshoe Crabs as not many others were willing to do so.
Of course, the highlight of the trip was Horseshoe Crabs! But we did see many other species of invertebrates, ranging from crabs, snails, flatworms, and more. We also learned that despite its’ namesake, the Horseshoe Crab is not even an actual crab and is more closely related to arachnids.
Horseshoe Crabs are farmed for their eggs as a delicacy in Thailand. Their blood is also used to determine the efficacy of vaccines in the past. When people were dying of injection fevers, in the 20th century, scientists had no idea what was causing all these deaths. Until the discovery of endotoxins. It so happens that the Horseshoe Crab’s blue blood can detect traces of these endotoxins, thus making vaccines safer to use.
Lester told us that over time, the number of Horseshoe Crabs has declined. It is thus important to study the Kranji Mudflats and their residents, to understand what is going on with our ecosystem.
I invited my family members to Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve during the Hari Raya Haji public holiday for a hike and at the same time, got them exposed to some of the biodiversity in Singapore’s wetlands. Unfortunately, I totally forgot to take a photograph of us, but we did encounter a lot of wildlife during the trip.
Lesser Dog-Faced Bats (Cynopterus Brachyotis)
We started our trek at the entrance located at Neo Chiew Crescent. We were immediately greeted by bats on the roof of the visitor centre. I could be wrong, but I think they are the commonly sighted Lesser Dog-Faced Bats, a frugivore. They can be identified by their whitish wing bones.
Estuarine Crocodile
It seems like the population of Salt-water Crocodiles in Singapore are on the rise. We start to see them more often than not. Just a few kilometres from the entrance along the Migratory Bird path, one of them is seen here – just chilling in plain sight.
Mangroves are one of the more hardy trees you can find in the wetlands that can tolerate salt water conditions. They contain a salt filtration and complex root system that helps with salt immersion and wave action. I just learned that scientists call them halophytes.
Sometimes, you can find plants that past settlers used to plant here – such as Yam. Tis’ the only plant I could identify. But I could be wrong. So, if there is a food shortage, you know where to find some yams. They are those with broad arrow-shaped leaves.
Common Land SnailUnknown White SpiderBlack Forest GrasshopperCricket (Nisitrus Vittatus)Golden Orb Weaver (Male)Golden Orb Weaver (Female)Unknown Cross Spider
There is a crazy amount of creepy crawlies to be found at Sungei Buloh. Here is a photo dump of some of the residents that I managed to take a picture of.
This butterfly is very commonly seen in Singapore. But what is its’ name? Can someone tell me? Huge termite mound? This flower attracts a host of wasps. I’m not sure what type of plant this is from and I don’t know what kind of wasps are attracted to these fallen flowers.
Water Monitors are very common here. We saw them everywhere we went.
What is this pretty-looking bug? Red Stink Bug (don’t pick one up)
We managed to get a nice view from a watchtower.
At the bridge on our way back, we saw another crocodile just chilling under some shade.
At the entrance/exit, there is a pond where you can catch a glimpse of some snakeheads, chiclids, gouramis and dragonflies.
And with that, we concluded our trip. We also saw some birds on the trip and a large sea eagle, but I did not manage to get nice pictures of them. Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve is one of my favourite nature spots to visit. There is always so many things to see.
If you are an avian enthusiast, the migratory bird season is from September to April. We did not see alot of them this time round, as it is past the season.
The walk to our meeting point at Chestnut Point was a stretch along rows of condominiums. The transition from urban to wild was like entering an entirely different universe. Are we still in Singapore? Traversing through the underpass to our starting point felt like a doorway to another world. Who would have thought that nature could exist alongside towering blocks of concretes and a busy highway as well?
A peloton of cyclists crowd Chestnut Point, some resting from the steep ascent to the park’s entrance from civilization. After a some time, I met up with the group. It was a small and cosy group consisting of three others, our guide, Kripa, our facilitator, Stefanie and fellow BFF participant, Abishek. The walk began with an introduction to some of the flora in Chestnut Park.
Image: Simpoh Air (Dillenia Suffruticosa) – The leaves are used to wrap foods like Tempeh.
Image: Walking Figs – These plants are commonly found in Singapore’s secondary forests
Our guide, Kripa also shared with us that many of the plants like the Oil Palm, Durian, and even Ginger are plants left behind by people who used to live in kampungs back in the 1900s. As we moved further into the forest it became more apparent that the amount of biodiversity here is far more diverse than I could imagine.
Image: Wasp Figs – These figs are home to specific species of fig wasps. Fig wasp females dig their way into figs like these to lay their eggs. As they do so, they lose their wings in the process. The fig wasp males are usually the first to hatch and live inside these figs and mate with females that enter the figs. Only certain species of wasps choose to breed in certain species of figs.Image: Fungi grow on decomposing bio-material.
If our guide, Kripa hadn’t pointed it out to us, we would have completely missed the Colugo having its’ daytime nap. Perfectly camouflaged atop a tree, the Colugo hung on, completely still. It was pointed out to us that the Colugo was aware of our presence, as its’ eyes were still opened. Upon seeing this, it made me wonder how many nature trails I have walked and how many animals have passed me by, unnoticed.
Image: Sundah or MalayanColugo (Galeopterus Variegatus) – The colugo or flying lemur is a nocturnal animal that is usually found clinging on to tree trunks and hanging on tree branches. Image: Unidentified spider having a feast. I saw a lot of different spiders but did not have the right tools to take good pictures. Please recommend a macro rig I can try out!Image: Woolly Aphid? I’m not too sure. But this hairy thing caught my eye when it started moving.
We approached a narrow bridge built across a small stream. The view was picturesque; a small flowing stream dressed with dense vegetation and leaf litter.
We come upon a clearing in the forest where a log had rotted, and fungi were growing atop it. Kripa our guide explained to us that the forest is like a network, and it sends information throughout this “interconnectedness” tells the fungus where something has died, so that it knows where and when to start sprouting.
Image: Unidentified fungus.
We approach the mid-point of our trip, a drain canal, fenced.
Image: A scene from IT. This is where Singapore’s version of Pennywise, The Clown lives. Image: Unidentified Ginger plant. I swear I could have taken a better picture. These Ginger plants are probably the same ones that the locals who once lived here use to propagate. Image: Off the beaten path. Image: Snail.
We took a less traveled shortcut and cut our way through some vegetation to arrive on the road back to civilization. Here, we found a second Colugo. This one was of a slightly duller color, and we presumed that it is a female of the species.
Image: Sundah or MalayanColugo (Galeopterus Variegatus) – Female Colugos tend to be larger and greyish in colour. The males are more brightly colored reddish-brown. Image: Assassin Bug (Cosmolestes Picticeps) – One of Singapore’s native species of Assassin Bugs. This family of insects is so-named because of their method of hunting by stabbing their prey. Image: Greater Racket-Tailed Drongo(Dicurus Paradiseus) – These birds are found near Plantain Squirrels and Long-Tailed Macaques to look for insects that fall off while the animals are foraging.
As we neared the end of the trail, we were greeted by a family of Long-Tailed Macaques. Surprisingly despite being the second most successful primate in South-East Asia, first being Homo Sapiens, it is still listed as Vulnerable under IUCN’s (International Union for Conservation of Nature) list. This is probably due to the fact that they are only found in secondary forests like these, and in South-East Asia, these forests are in decline. In Singapore particularly, only about 2.9% of the country’s land area consists of areas like these.
This fact alone is an indicator that we should create more awareness for our last vestiges of wildlife in Singapore. Singapore is doing a great job integrating with nature, with the surrounding condominiums doing trails around the condominium filled with dense vegetation. But with that, we city dwellers do have to learn to be more tolerant of our wild animal counterparts.
Image: Long-Tailed Macaque (Macaca Fascicularis) – The only commonly sighted monkey species in Singapore.
Returning back to civilisation was a breath of fresh air. It was like every nature walk I have been to, returning from a whole new other world. And this world is right under our noses too. I hope this entry gives people a glimpse into the wild side of Singapore. Maybe, this will encourage more Singaporeans to find a day or two to head down to a park or nature trail near you to experience Singapore’s greener side, and at the same time, be more respectful to its’ inhabitants.
Hello everyone! My name is Rayiant and I got to know about the BFF Biodiversity Challenge from a friend I met on a social group chat. She is none other than Shu En, who is also one of the facilitators for BFF. I was initially expressing interest in taking part in one of the intertidal walks conducted by Biogirl MJ and brought this up in a group chat that Shu En and I shared. Thereafter, I was introduced and encouraged to take part in the BFF Biodiversity Challenge 2022. Without much consideration, I signed up.
I always had an interest in learning about plants and animals since I was a child. I was mad about looking up on the scientific names of living beings of all shapes and sizes and learning about their appearances and behaviours. This interest was amplified when I got my hands on my first encyclopedia. There was just so much information about the natural world outside the comforts of my home to comprehend, and I am only now starting to scratch the surface. As I grew older, I developed other interests that outgrew my interest for ecology and biology. I was mad about dinosaurs, space, technology and everything in between.
Today, I still collect copies of visual encyclopedias, particularly the ones by DK Smithsonian. As a designer, I feel that knowledge in any form fuels creativity. Knowledge is the spark to grand ideas. I felt that the BFF Biodiversity Challenge allowed people opportunities to be in touch with nature, and learn more about Singapore’s not so hidden natural landscapes.
My spirit animal is the Green Sea Turtle (Chelonia Mydas). I resonate with how the Green Sea Turtle is always in a serene and composed state. It is always just lying in a clearing or just busy foraging.
Picture of a Green Sea Turtle chilling during a dive trip at Bali, Lembongan.
I think part of Singapore’s biodiversity also lies in what’s beneath its’ shores. I encourage people to do learn scuba diving if they really want to see more of Singapore’s hidden gems. Pulau hantu is a great place to see the wide array of sea critters that live in Singapore waters. There is always something new in each and every dive!
I’m looking forward to meeting some of you during the BFF Challenges! Hope we can learn more about the biodiversity in Singapore and learn to appreciate the natural world more through this experience!
BFF Biodiversity Challenge 2022 