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CNA
08-05-2025
- General
- CNA
Singapore's only natural history museum plans expansion as it marks 10th anniversary
SINGAPORE: The Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum (LKCNHM) may soon need to expand amid a growing collection and rising visitor numbers. However, there are no plans to move from the current location within the National University of Singapore, said Associate Professor Darren Yeo, who heads the museum. Instead, the museum intends to enlarge its existing space and adjoining property, he noted. 'Now it's about trying to find the funding to build up the connecting building we have here, once we have more space… that will allow us to expand our temporary exhibitions and allow our gallery to be a bit more dynamic,' added Assoc Prof Yeo. 'If we were able to expand, (we would be able) to have more or bigger exhibition halls." He said more space can be allocated for the museum's growing amount of research and collection from surveys and expeditions conducted with local and regional partners. The biodiversity museum, which turns 10 this year, houses more than a million natural history specimens, including birds, insects and reptiles. It has welcomed more than 650,000 visitors since it was established in 2015. Visitor numbers also hit a record high of over 88,000 last year, a sign of growing public appeal for its exhibits. Assoc Prof Yeo believes the greater exposure of natural history among the public has led to more people visiting the museum. BIRTHDAY CELEBRATIONS The only museum dedicated to natural history in Singapore on Tuesday (May 6) marked its 10th anniversary with two exhibitions and a new book. The book and exhibition were launched by President Tharman Shanmugaratnam and his wife, Ms Jane Ittogi. The book, titled Archipelago Of Islands: Natural And Other Histories Of Singapore, pays tribute to Scottish naturalist William Jack, who described Singapore as an 'Archipelago of Islands' during his visit in 1819. Jeslynn Teo, one of the book's authors, hopes the publication will offer a fresh perspective on Singapore's history. 'Usually, people would think of Singapore as a single mainland city rather than an archipelago. (We are in fact) an archipelago of… 54 islands,' said Teo, an executive at the museum's Biodiversity Histories unit. She added that Singapore consisted of up to 79 islands in the past, but changes over the centuries have resulted in a loss and gain of biodiversity, leading to a total of 54 islands today. The museum is also holding an exhibition, A Decade of Discovery, which will run for a year until May 2026. It showcases the LKCNHM's origins, and its current role in protecting and displaying the natural heritage of Singapore and Southeast Asia. Ms Esther Parn, a gallery and exhibitions manager at LKCNHM, said the museum will also showcase interesting specimens and findings from expeditions conducted over the years as part of the anniversary celebrations. 'We (will) also talk about the RIMBA expedition to Sarawak, so there are some specimens from there as well,' she said, referring to a collaboration between the LKCNHM and the Sarawak Forestry Corporation to document the rich biodiversity of Sarawak and improve wildlife conservation management, among other things. Apart from in-house celebrations to mark 10 years of operations, the LKCNHM has also announced an exhibition to be held in conjunction with Science Centre Singapore. The museum added that this year-end showcase will look at extinctions and dinosaurs over 400 million years of Earth's history. BRINGING SPECIMENS HOME, DIGITALLY The LKCNHM is also expanding its digital collection. The Singapore in Global Natural History Museums Information Facility (SIGNIFY) project is an effort by the museum that created a digital biodiversity archive. Its aim is to digitally reunite the 'thousands upon thousands of natural history specimens' collected from Singapore long ago but are now scattered across the world, said LKCNHM's biodiversity histories lead Martyn Low. SIGNIFY works with natural history museums and repositories globally to digitise historically important specimens from Singapore, document them for the Singapore context and facilitate their research. Mr Low added that the SIGNIFY team works to digitise specimens at high resolution for everyone to freely access online. Many of these specimens were collected by naturalists and explorers across different time periods, when Singapore did not have a museum dedicated to natural history, he said. Mr Low added that they form a very rich part of Singapore's biodiversity history. One such specimen that the project has digitised is the Hope's longhorn beetle, or Remphan hopei. This beetle is the first species of insect from Singapore to be given a scientific name, according to SIGNIFY. A type specimen, or a sample that defines the species, of this beetle is currently located at the Natural History Museum in London. 'If the specimen is in London… only observed in London and studied in London, it is divorced from where it was first collected and where it used to live,' said Mr Low. He explained that if it was digitised and brought back to its original habitat, people can better understand what Singapore's natural history was like. As part of Singapore Art Week 2025, SIGNIFY placed a digital specimen of the beetle at a rainforest area in Bukit Timah, where Mr Low believes it was possibly collected in the past.
Straits Times
06-05-2025
- Science
- Straits Times
Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum celebrates 10th anniversary with exhibition, book
The book was co-authored by a team of researchers from the museum and also commemorates 60 years of Singapore's independence. PHOTO: LIANHE ZAOBAO SINGAPORE – A deep sea expedition to the Indian Ocean and a year-long collaboration with the Science Centre on the region's natural heritage are on the cards for Singapore's one and only natural history museum, as it marks its 10th anniversary. The Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum (LKCNHM), established in 2015, houses artifacts like animal, plant, mineral and fossil specimens collected over two centuries. It also serves as a hub for research on South-east Asia's biodiversity, education and public outreach. 'The Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum is rich in both legacy and youthful vibranc y . Our biodiversity collection traces back to the 1800s ... and continues to grow,' said Professor Darren Yeo, who heads the museum, at its 10th anniversary event on May 6. With over one million specimens in its collection – around double of what it began with a decade ago – he hopes to expand the museum space with a new floor. A new book and a special exhibition to mark LKCNHM's anniversary were also launched at the event by President Tharman Shanmugaratnam, who was accompanied by his wife, Ms Jane Ittogi Shanmugaratnam. The book, titled Archipelago Of Islands: Natural And Other Histories Of Singapore, was co-authored by a team of researchers from the museum and also commemorates 60 years of Singapore's independence. The exhibition, A Decade Of Discovery: Stories From The Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum, will be open to the public from May 7 to May 3, 2026. The exhibition features three general sections on the museum's history, past and present projects it has undertaken, and what the future holds for it. Visitors will get to browse dry and wet specimens of fauna collected from the museum's past expeditions to Christmas Island, Sarawak, Malaysia, and Java, Indonesia, alongside digital and physical repositories of local and regional biodiversity data. 'Some of these artifacts aren't just scientific discoveries. The ones collected from the Christmas Island expedition, for instance, also carry historical significance due to Singapore's relationship to the island, and more importantly, our relationship with Australia,' said senior curator of crustacea and other marine anthropoda Jose Mendoza. Also on display are a collection of 409 species of ants native to Singapore; four novel species of snakehead, a predatory freshwater fish, from Myanmar that were discovered through the aquarium trade and field collections; and a firefly that inspired a local composition performed by the Singapore Symphony Orchestra for Singapore's 56th birthday in 2021. Younger visitors can also enjoy a digital game panel simulating an expedition, where they will be able to sort oceanic fauna into categories and learn more about them. Some of the corals and shells from a vast collection donated by Dr Chuang Shou-Hwa, who headed the zoology department of the then University of Singapore from 1971 to 1977, are also showcased around the room. 'We hope that through this exhibition, people will see that Singapore has natural history and rich biodiversity that is worth protecting,' said lead curator Esther Parn. 'In fact, we just created a new department to explore aquatic sponges – a small handful of which are on display in this exhibition. It hasn't been widely studied, so we're hoping to be able to share our findings with the public soon,' she added. Prof Yeo said: 'The exhibition and book also represent the collaborative efforts of local and regional agencies, museums, universities and more, who have been a part of our journey… It is really something to be proud of, as Singapore's only natural history museum, and being able to drive awareness of biodiversity conservation.' The Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum houses artifacts like animal, plant, mineral and fossil specimens collected over two centuries. PHOTO: LIANHE ZAOBAO Research, with the knowledge and understanding it brings, is the natural extension to the museum's scientific collection, noted Prof Yeo, who specialises in freshwater biodiversity and ecology, aquatic invasions and freshwater decapod crustaceans. His team progressed to the second-phase of its Comprehensive Marine Biodiversity Survey in 2024. A five-year survey in partnership with the NUS Tropical Marine Science Institute and National Parks Boards, it is Singapore's first large-scale initiative to assess and document the diversity of marine life in the waters of the Republic. As for the expedition in the Indian Ocean, a 20-man team from LKCNHM is set to 'explore seamounts, underwater mountains that rise from the seafloor and hold interesting biodiversity' in international waters there towards the end of the year, he added. The museum will also provide inclusive programmes and free admission to underserved groups, thanks to the recent establishment of its 'Gift of Biodiversity Heritage' endowment fund. It will match donations of up to $500,000 under this programme, to benefit charity groups and civic organisations that serve persons with special needs and migrant workers. Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.
Yahoo
27-03-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Rare creature makes remarkable comeback after years of lab breeding: 'This means they are surviving'
The Straits Times recently reported an exciting milestone for conservationists in Singapore. The endangered Singapore freshwater crab (Johora singaporensis) is now reproducing in the wild following reintroduction efforts in 2018. A rare creature, the crab is found only in the Lion City. To support its survival, researchers from the National Parks Board bred the endangered species in a lab before introducing some of the animals in Bukit Batok. Seven years later, the species is showing signs of success, as the crabs have established their own population. "This means they are surviving, even breeding the next generation of crabs in the wild," group director for the National Parks Board's National Biodiversity Centre Dr. Karenne Tun told The Straits Times. The successful reintroduction of the Singapore freshwater crab not only helps to safeguard this species from extinction but also supports the region's biodiversity. Freshwater species like this one are threatened across the globe, as pollution and rising global temperatures impact their habitats. Putting the rare crab's struggle in a larger context, The Straits Times referenced a study recently published in the journal Nature, which found that 25% of all freshwater species are at risk of extinction. "Pollution, dams and water extraction, habitat loss and agriculture were some of the key threats facing such species, the study found," wrote The Straits Times. "Climate change impacts, such as rising temperatures and severe weather events, can also affect these species, the study noted." The reintroduction of the Singapore freshwater crab is a step in the right direction. These organisms play a vital role in sustaining delicate habitats, such as through nutrient cycling to help support the health of the entire ecosystem. "The awareness and protection of these natural freshwater habitats, which might otherwise be out of sight and out of mind," Darren Yeo, associate professor and head of the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum, told The Straits Times, "also benefit other less prominent but equally important species — both freshwater and terrestrial — living in the same area." Should taxpayers help pay to clean up the Great Pacific Garbage Patch? We should pay for all of it We should pay some but not all Corporations should foot the bill Charities should pay for it Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
