Forum: Adapting to urban wildlife requires a collective effort
I appreciate the concerns raised by Mr Kevin Ho about otters at a golf course (Public safety and health of ecosystem at risk from otter population at golf course, April 9).
Smooth-coated otters are a symbol of Singapore's rich biodiversity, which has been nurtured over many decades and celebrated globally.
As we work towards a vision of a 'City in Nature', adjusting to wildlife in our midst does require a collective effort based on wildlife science and community collaboration.
For over a decade, the Otter Working Group, which I volunteer with, has helped the public adjust to otters in our City in Nature. It comprises representatives from government agencies, volunteers, charitable and corporate nature groups, community groups and academics.
We address public safety and discomfort through holistic long-term mitigation strategies in harmony with an ecological balance. These have included combinations of infrastructure barriers, wildlife-sensitive deterrents and community education to enhance wildlife appreciation and an understanding of these approaches.
We are heartened by the collaborations and commitment to sustainable practices by Changi Airport, Gardens by the Bay, numerous schools, universities, private condominiums and landed property estates.
We look forward to continued collaborations to holistically advance Singapore's vision of a City in Nature, to nurture our biodiversity, which enhances wellness and provides a vibrant, green and high-quality living environment for all.
N. Sivasothi
More on this Topic Forum: What readers are saying
Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Straits Times
12 hours ago
- Straits Times
Large blast hits chemical plant in China's Shandong; no report of casualties yet
There were no immediate details of casualties. PHOTO: SCREENGRAB FROM WEIBO Large blast hits chemical plant in China's Shandong; no report of casualties yet - A large explosion took place at a chemical plant in China's eastern province of Shandong on May 27, state media said, but gave no immediate details of casualties, while unverified social media images showed smoke billowing high overhead. Emergency services swung in to begin rescue and treatment efforts after the blast, which came just before noon in the workshop of Shandong Youdao Chemical, broadcaster CCTV said, but gave no further details. Some fled while others ducked for cover as grey smoke blanketed the sky in a video on Chinese social media platform Weibo, while other posts showed shattered glass in nearby villages, where residents said they felt the blast's vibrations. Shandong Youdao Chemical is owned by Himile Group, which also owns listed Himile Mechanical, shares of which were down nearly 4 per cent on May 27 afternoon. Youdao was set up in August 2019 in the Gaomi Renhe chemical park in the provincial city of Weifang, its website says, sprawling across more than 47ha, with more than 300 employees. It develops, produces and sells technology for pesticides, pharmaceuticals and related fine chemical intermediates. Blasts at chemical plants in China in recent years have included one in the north-west region of Ningxia in 2024 and another in the south-eastern province of Jiangxi in 2023. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Straits Times
a day ago
- Straits Times
Forum: Make accessibility the norm for assistance dog users
We thank Mr Ivan Ong for the public support for guide-dog users (Let guide-dog users move with dignity, May 21) and we are deeply encouraged to see growing public support and understanding of guide dogs and assistance dogs. We are also pleased to witness the widening of public access to eventually include mobility assistance dogs and hearing dogs here in Singapore. While the growing empathy towards guide dogs and assistance dogs in Singapore is encouraging, now is the time to turn awareness into action. Guide dogs and assistance dogs are not pets – they are rigorously trained, essential and trusted as they provide their users with independence, safety and dignity. Despite legislation allowing them in public spaces, misconceptions persist. Under the law, guide dog handlers are permitted to enter public spaces like restaurants and malls, and public transport. Yet, we continue to receive regular reports of denial of entry. This also includes hospitals. While we recognise that access to sterile areas like operating theatres or intensive care units may not be feasible, and that is common sense, there is no hygiene risk when it comes to non-clinical areas like lobbies, waiting rooms and pharmacies, with guide dogs and assistance dogs groomed to high standards. While Guide Dogs Singapore and K9Assistance continue to engage in community outreach, we cannot do this alone. Businesses, public agencies and service providers must join in the effort to train staff on how to interact with customers who have guide dogs or assistance dogs, clearly state guide-dog-friendly and assistance-dog-friendly policies at entrances, and call out discriminatory practices when they occur. When cases involving local advocates for guide dogs and assistance dogs are shared publicly, it calls attention to invisible barriers many face daily. We invite more organisations across sectors to collaborate with us to help improve staff training, and foster a culture where accessibility is the norm, not the exception. It is about recognising that guide dog and assistance dog users have the same right to move freely, eat where they choose and live with dignity like everyone else. We deeply appreciate the work of organisations like SG Enable that support the role of guide dogs and assistance dogs in our society. Their support has been instrumental in enabling us to extend the reach and impact of our missions, bringing independence and dignity to persons with disabilities. Vanessa Loh General Manager Guide Dogs Singapore Cassandra Chiu Executive Director K9Assistance More on this Topic Forum: What readers are saying Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Straits Times
2 days ago
- Straits Times
Container ship sinks off India's south coast with hazardous cargo
BENGALURU - A Liberian-flagged container ship with hazardous cargo has sunk off the coast of Kerala in India's south, the navy said on May 25 after rescuing all 24 crew members safely. India's navy said the MSC ELSA 3, listed as a 184m-long freight ship, which was sailing from the Indian port of Vizhinjam to Kochi, ran into trouble on May 24 and issued a distress call. Navy aircraft scrambled to the area and spotted two life rafts, with the container ship listing at a dangerous angle some 38 nautical miles southwest of Kochi. 'All 24 crew members on board were rescued,' India's Ministry of Defence said in a statement, with the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) and a navy patrol boat collecting the sailors, who were from Georgia, Russia, Ukraine and the Philippines. 'The vessel went down with 640 containers, including 13 with hazardous cargo and 12 containing calcium carbide,' the statement said. The Defence Ministry did not specify what was inside the containers it said were hazardous. Calcium carbide is used in the chemical industry, including for fertiliser production and steelmaking. 'Given the sensitive marine ecosystem along Kerala's coast, ICG has activated full pollution response preparedness,' the navy said. The vessel also contained some 370 tonnes of fuel and oil but, while the coast guard had deployed 'detection systems', it said that 'so far, no oil spill has been reported'. AFP Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
