Latest news with #NParks
Straits Times
10 hours ago
- Science
- Straits Times
First fungi survey in Southern Islands in over a century yields species new to S'pore
The National Parks Board said the findings showed that even though the islands are small, they are rich in biodiversity. PHOTO: JONATHAN TAN First fungi survey in Southern Islands in over a century yields species new to S'pore SINGAPORE – The rounded fungus the colour of a dried up leaf is easy to miss on the earthen trail, especially at first glance. But it did not go unnoticed by keen-eyed researchers embarking on the first fungi survey of Singapore's Southern Islands in over a century, who later identified it as a specimen of the horse dung fungus. It turned out to be a new record not just for the isles fringing the mainland's southern coast, but the whole of Singapore. The last of such surveys was conducted in the 1910s on Pulau Blakang Mati, now known as Sentosa. It was one of the key findings of the Southern Islands Biodiversity Survey, released by the National Parks Board (NParks) on May 31, the first day of the two-day Festival of Biodiversity held at the National Library Building. The event – an annual celebration of the community's efforts to conserve Singapore's natural heritage – was attended by newly minted National Development Minister Chee Hong Tat. NParks is an agency under his ministry. Speaking at the festival, Mr Chee said the survey was the largest of its kind in the Southern Islands, and offers valuable insights into local species and ecosystems. This could help guide conservation and management efforts for both land and sea habitats. 'The findings are remarkable... (and) highlight the rich and diverse biodiversity that depend on these habitats,' he said. The terrestrial and marine habitats of 17 islands and one patch reef – Cyrene Reef – were surveyed during the study. The horse dung fungus – so called for its resemblance to horse droppings – was spotted on Lazarus Island and Pulau Tekukor during the survey led by NParks from January 2020 to March 2022. The horse dung fungus was spotted on Lazarus Island and Pulau Tekukor. PHOTO: LUA HOCK KEONG A total of 44 native animal species that were previously unrecorded in the Southern Islands were documented. These include the white-throated needletail, a fast-flying bird, and a mollusc called the money cowrie, which was sighted at Cyrene Reef near Tuas after two decades. The money cowrie was sighted at Cyrene Reef near Tuas after two decades. PHOTO: JONATHAN TAN A locally critically endangered climber plant (Paramignya scandens var. ridleyi) was also spotted for the first time on Lazarus Island during the survey in 2020. In total, the survey compiled more than 9,000 records for the flora database, which includes plants, macroalgae and fungi, and over 20,000 fauna records. It also recorded 18 critically endangered and 38 endangered animal species on the Southern Islands. These include insects like the banded swallowtail butterfly, reptiles such as the Gimlett's reed snake and hawksbill turtle, birds like the great-billed heron and ruddy kingfisher, and marine life such as the knobbly sea star and Neptune's cup sponge. Great-billed herons, which are critically endangered, sighted at Pulau Jong. PHOTO: JONATHAN TAN Value of research NParks said the findings showed that even though the islands are small, they are rich in biodiversity. For example, they were found to support 172 native bird species, which constitute 40 per cent of Singapore's avian biodiversity. The release of the survey findings, which comes ahead of World Ocean Day celebrated worldwide on June 8, also shed light on the biodiversity of the marine realm. Researchers found that the islands are home to 26 out of 35 species of true mangroves, and nine out of 12 local seagrass species. Two under-studied islands – Pulau Berkas and Pulau Salu – were also found during the survey to be host to various seagrass species. These observations are the first records of seagrass in these areas. Tape seagrass and spoon seagrass were found on both islands. Needle seagrass was recorded on Pulau Berkas and sickle seagrass on Pulau Salu. Two under-studied islands – Pulau Berkas and Pulau Salu – were also found during the survey to be host to various seagrass species, like the tape seagrass (above). PHOTO: RACHEL MARK Gaining a better understanding of seagrass distribution around the area can guide policies on their protection, management and restoration, said the NParks, adding that this ensures the long-term conservation of these important ecosystems. Apart from guiding future research and monitoring changes in the natural environment, the survey findings also aid in identifying conservation priorities, NParks added. For example, information collected during the survey contributed to plans for Singapore's second marine park. Then National Development Minister Desmond Lee had in May 2024 announced plans to designate the southern part of Lazarus Island and the reef off Kusu Island as the Republic's second marine park. The first is the Sisters' Islands Marine Park . During the event, Mr Chee also announced the establishment of the Singapore Species Specialist Group under the ambit of the International Union for Conservation of Nature – one of the world's largest environmental networks. The group comprises more than 100 experts and specialists from academia, nature community and government. Mr Chee said the group will regularly review the conservation status of local species. Mr Chee Hong Tat, Minister for National Development, speaking at the Festival of Biodiversity 2025 at the National Library Building on May 31. ST PHOTO: LIM YAOHUI Speaking to The Straits Times, Dr Karenne Tun, group director of the National Biodiversity Centre at NParks, said insights gleaned during such surveys will also support biodiversity research and conservation efforts across the broader South-east Asian region. She said when researchers rediscovered the Neptune's cup sponge – a species once thought extinct – in Singapore and Cambodia, scientists began to map where it might still exist and what habitats it prefers. The marine creature – a major food source for the critically endangered hawksbill turtle – was rediscovered in 2011 in Singapore's waters. Key areas for turtle conservation, including nesting grounds in nearby countries like Malaysia and Indonesia, can be identified since researchers know where these sponges thrive. 'So all this information provides the basis of making local conservation plans and decisions... It also helps other countries understand their own environment and come up with their own conservation plans,' Dr Tun said. Field work and data collection on the southern islands was done by more than 40 researchers, students and academics from NParks, the National University of Singapore, and Nanyang Technological University, as well as other volunteers. The findings will be released in two phases. The first comprising 16 chapters is available in an e-publication accessible on the NParks' website at The second phase, covering the remaining three chapters on terrestrial plants, other insects and the conclusion, will be released by the end of 2025. Ms Lisa Lim, a primary school science teacher, has been volunteering her time conducting intertidal surveys for more than a decade. She told ST that being part of the Southern Islands biodiversity survey gave volunteers rare access to offshore islands usually closed to the public. She said many may assume that there is little marine life in these places because they are inaccessible. She said she hopes the findings will raise public awareness to stave off land reclamation in these areas, as these hidden ecosystems are thriving and worth protecting. 'It's as rich, if not richer. Because there is less disturbance and lesser human impact, which is the worst thing,' she added. Elisha Tushara is a correspondent at The Straits Times, specialising in Singapore's education landscape. Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.
AsiaOne
14 hours ago
- General
- AsiaOne
In a first, NParks trials use of dead bird effigies to prevent crows from congregating, Singapore News
SINGAPORE - Hanging upside-down from a tree branch, the full-feathered "crow" was limp, its eyes devoid of any signs of life. The dead bird, however, is not real, but just a plastic effigy. It is part of an ongoing trial by the National Parks Board (NParks) to prevent murders of house crows (Corvus splendens), considered an invasive species here, from congregating in large groups. Such effigies have been tested overseas in places such as the US with some success, and NParks is testing them out here for the first time as a tool to disperse these birds. In response to queries from The Straits Times, Mr How Choon Beng, NParks' group director of wildlife management, said: "The effigies are placed at roost sites and positioned to resemble dead crows. The aim is to create a perception of danger and encourage the roosting crows to disperse to other locations." The realistic decoys were first deployed in Singapore in late 2023, with each effigy deployed at a site for about two weeks on average, NParks said. Since 2023, a total of 15 effigies have been put up across eight locations that are heavily populated with crows, or experience higher volumes of disturbances by crows. NParks shared that it received an average of nearly 7,000 cases of crow-related feedback annually from 2023 to 2024, relating to issues such as noise, sightings, attacks, feeding and soiling. The board did not reveal the exact locations of the set-ups, but The Straits Times had observed one effigy deployed on a tree outside Katong V mall in April. "This is a plastic crow. Please do not be alarmed," read a sign next to the tree where the effigy had been deployed. That effigy was taken down on April 24. As data collection is still ongoing, NParks said it was unable to provide further details. Trials of these crow effigies come after news of these birds flying at and pecking passers-by. Between February and March 2023, there were reports of crow attacks in Bishan and Serangoon, with some 10 passers-by getting hit or having crows swoop right by them in a 20-minute span near Block 110 Bishan Street 12. Another crow attack at Block 485B Tampines Avenue 9 in July 2024 led to the removal of 77 crow nests from a stretch of trees in Tampines. There were also cases of crows attacking humans outside Orchard Central mall in October 2024. Two birds attacked about 10 individuals in the span of an hour, ST observed, with one victim sustaining a bleeding earlobe. A 2008 scientific paper by the National Wildlife Research Centre of the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) Wildlife Services had cited an earlier paper that suggested that dead crows, when hung on fences or from trees near fields, "can be effective for months". That study had also suggested that "crows readily associate death and danger with places where their brethren have died". The USDA researchers then sought to test out their hypothesis that effigies could be an effective tool in dispersing crows. Each effigy was suspended upside down from a prominent branch near the top of a centrally located roost tree. Ahead of the winters of 2005 and 2006, the researchers installed effigies of dead crows in wooded areas of Lancaster in Pennsylvania, the US, where up to 40,000 crows would roost together. The first effigies were put up in November 2005, and by January of the following year, the crows had split into smaller roosting aggregations. Prior to the return of winter in October 2006, the researchers installed the effigies again, and observed that the area was used only sparingly by crows throughout the second winter. The researchers concluded that this tactic was effective in dispersing large numbers of crows at large roost sites away from the effigies. However, they also noted that crows are observant and wary of changes in their environment. Some crows occasionally returned to roost sites at night when the effigies were not as visible. House crows are common residents in cities and towns, and thrive in urban environments. In Singapore, these black birds can often be found at food centres and rubbish bins scavenging for leftover food. Their cawing and droppings can bring about inconvenience and unsanitary conditions when gathering and roosting, especially near residential areas. During the fledgling season between May and June, adult house crows get extra protective and may attack humans who come close to their young. The fledgling season is the period when young birds develop their ability to fly. Nature Society Singapore's bird group told ST previously that house crows pose a threat to local biodiversity as they are known to prey on the Malaysian plover, a critically endangered bird native to the Republic. Vice-president of research and conservation group Bird Society Singapore Movin Nyanasengeran noted that the practice of deploying crow effigies is common enough that one can buy such decoys easily online. "It will probably be effective, at least initially. Crows are, however, very intelligent, so it's tough to say if it will remain effective over time... but it is definitely preferable over shooting or poisoning the birds, and is unlikely to lead to any detrimental impacts on its welfare," added the PhD student, who studies bird species distributions at NUS. He added that it is difficult to predict when the crows would eventually learn that the decoys are harmless and do not indicate danger, before returning to roost. [[nid:709377]] The crow effigies add to a suite of measures already being implemented to manage crow populations in Singapore. These include removing nests and sources of food, modifying their habitats to make them less conducive for roosting and trapping the birds. "NParks adopts a holistic and science-based approach to managing pest bird species... (and) conducts studies to understand the ecology of the birds, such as their roosting patterns and movements," said NParks' Mr How. Those who wish to provide feedback on crows in their neighbourhoods can contact NParks' Animal and Veterinary Service on 1800-476-1600 or submit an online feedback form at How to control crow populations Avoid feeding crows. Under the Wildlife Act, offenders can be fined up to $5,000 for their first offence of feeding any wild animal, including crows, and up to $10,000 for subsequent offences. Mr How said NParks also monitors feedback on illegal bird feeding and undertakes active enforcement, which includes physical surveillance and the deployment of CCTV cameras at identified feeding hotspots. Fruits in trees planted in landed property should be harvested or covered with an opaque material. This is because crows are omnivores and feed on insects, fruits, vegetables, rubbish and carcasses. hose living in houses near hotspots where crows roost should remove water sources in their yards, as they may present a stable drinking source for the birds. Pet owners should remove unfinished food and spills if they feed their pets outdoors. Ideally, pets should be fed indoors. Residents of landed property can consider playing recordings of crow distress calls multiple times a day, or stringing up shiny metal pieces, such as CDs, to reflect sunlight and disperse roosting crows. However, this method may not be effective for long, as crows are intelligent birds. This article was first published in The Straits Times. Permission required for reproduction.
AsiaOne
15 hours ago
- General
- AsiaOne
In a first, NParks trials use of dead bird effigies to prevent crows from congregating
SINGAPORE - Hanging upside-down from a tree branch, the full-feathered "crow" was limp, its eyes devoid of any signs of life. The dead bird, however, is not real, but just a plastic effigy. It is part of an ongoing trial by the National Parks Board (NParks) to prevent murders of house crows (Corvus splendens), considered an invasive species here, from congregating in large groups. Such effigies have been tested overseas in places such as the US with some success, and NParks is testing them out here for the first time as a tool to disperse these birds. In response to queries from The Straits Times, Mr How Choon Beng, NParks' group director of wildlife management, said: "The effigies are placed at roost sites and positioned to resemble dead crows. The aim is to create a perception of danger and encourage the roosting crows to disperse to other locations." The realistic decoys were first deployed in Singapore in late 2023, with each effigy deployed at a site for about two weeks on average, NParks said. Since 2023, a total of 15 effigies have been put up across eight locations that are heavily populated with crows, or experience higher volumes of disturbances by crows. NParks shared that it received an average of nearly 7,000 cases of crow-related feedback annually from 2023 to 2024, relating to issues such as noise, sightings, attacks, feeding and soiling. The board did not reveal the exact locations of the set-ups, but The Straits Times had observed one effigy deployed on a tree outside Katong V mall in April. "This is a plastic crow. Please do not be alarmed," read a sign next to the tree where the effigy had been deployed. That effigy was taken down on April 24. As data collection is still ongoing, NParks said it was unable to provide further details. Trials of these crow effigies come after news of these birds flying at and pecking passers-by. Between February and March 2023, there were reports of crow attacks in Bishan and Serangoon, with some 10 passers-by getting hit or having crows swoop right by them in a 20-minute span near Block 110 Bishan Street 12. Another crow attack at Block 485B Tampines Avenue 9 in July 2024 led to the removal of 77 crow nests from a stretch of trees in Tampines. There were also cases of crows attacking humans outside Orchard Central mall in October 2024. Two birds attacked about 10 individuals in the span of an hour, ST observed, with one victim sustaining a bleeding earlobe. A 2008 scientific paper by the National Wildlife Research Centre of the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) Wildlife Services had cited an earlier paper that suggested that dead crows, when hung on fences or from trees near fields, "can be effective for months". That study had also suggested that "crows readily associate death and danger with places where their brethren have died". The USDA researchers then sought to test out their hypothesis that effigies could be an effective tool in dispersing crows. Each effigy was suspended upside down from a prominent branch near the top of a centrally located roost tree. Ahead of the winters of 2005 and 2006, the researchers installed effigies of dead crows in wooded areas of Lancaster in Pennsylvania, the US, where up to 40,000 crows would roost together. The first effigies were put up in November 2005, and by January of the following year, the crows had split into smaller roosting aggregations. Prior to the return of winter in October 2006, the researchers installed the effigies again, and observed that the area was used only sparingly by crows throughout the second winter. The researchers concluded that this tactic was effective in dispersing large numbers of crows at large roost sites away from the effigies. However, they also noted that crows are observant and wary of changes in their environment. Some crows occasionally returned to roost sites at night when the effigies were not as visible. House crows are common residents in cities and towns, and thrive in urban environments. In Singapore, these black birds can often be found at food centres and rubbish bins scavenging for leftover food. Their cawing and droppings can bring about inconvenience and unsanitary conditions when gathering and roosting, especially near residential areas. During the fledgling season between May and June, adult house crows get extra protective and may attack humans who come close to their young. The fledgling season is the period when young birds develop their ability to fly. Nature Society Singapore's bird group told ST previously that house crows pose a threat to local biodiversity as they are known to prey on the Malaysian plover, a critically endangered bird native to the Republic. Vice-president of research and conservation group Bird Society Singapore Movin Nyanasengeran noted that the practice of deploying crow effigies is common enough that one can buy such decoys easily online. "It will probably be effective, at least initially. Crows are, however, very intelligent, so it's tough to say if it will remain effective over time... but it is definitely preferable over shooting or poisoning the birds, and is unlikely to lead to any detrimental impacts on its welfare," added the PhD student, who studies bird species distributions at NUS. He added that it is difficult to predict when the crows would eventually learn that the decoys are harmless and do not indicate danger, before returning to roost. [[nid:709377]] The crow effigies add to a suite of measures already being implemented to manage crow populations in Singapore. These include removing nests and sources of food, modifying their habitats to make them less conducive for roosting and trapping the birds. "NParks adopts a holistic and science-based approach to managing pest bird species... (and) conducts studies to understand the ecology of the birds, such as their roosting patterns and movements," said NParks' Mr How. Those who wish to provide feedback on crows in their neighbourhoods can contact NParks' Animal and Veterinary Service on 1800-476-1600 or submit an online feedback form at How to control crow populations Avoid feeding crows. Under the Wildlife Act, offenders can be fined up to $5,000 for their first offence of feeding any wild animal, including crows, and up to $10,000 for subsequent offences. Mr How said NParks also monitors feedback on illegal bird feeding and undertakes active enforcement, which includes physical surveillance and the deployment of CCTV cameras at identified feeding hotspots. Fruits in trees planted in landed property should be harvested or covered with an opaque material. This is because crows are omnivores and feed on insects, fruits, vegetables, rubbish and carcasses. hose living in houses near hotspots where crows roost should remove water sources in their yards, as they may present a stable drinking source for the birds. Pet owners should remove unfinished food and spills if they feed their pets outdoors. Ideally, pets should be fed indoors. Residents of landed property can consider playing recordings of crow distress calls multiple times a day, or stringing up shiny metal pieces, such as CDs, to reflect sunlight and disperse roosting crows. However, this method may not be effective for long, as crows are intelligent birds. This article was first published in The Straits Times. Permission required for reproduction.
Malay Mail
15 hours ago
- General
- Malay Mail
Singapore's National Parks Board hangs fake crows to spook the real ones after dive-bombing attacks
SINGAPORE, May 31 — In trees across Singapore, plastic crows are playing dead — and it's all part of a bold new strategy to outsmart some of the smartest birds around. According to The Straits Times, these lifeless-looking decoys, strung upside down from branches, are part of a National Parks Board (NParks) trial aimed at shooing off house crows, a highly intelligent and invasive species known for their noisy gatherings and the occasional aerial ambush on unsuspecting pedestrians. 'The effigies are placed at roost sites and positioned to resemble dead crows,' How Choon Beng, NParks' group director of wildlife management, reportedly said. 'The aim is to create a perception of danger and encourage the roosting crows to disperse to other locations.' It might sound like a scene from a Hitchcock film, but it's rooted in science. Studies from the United States have shown that crows, unnerved by the sight of one of their own hanging lifeless, tend to scatter — sometimes for good. Back in 2005, researchers from the US Department of Agriculture's Wildlife Services tried the same trick in Pennsylvania, where up to 40,000 crows once roosted. By suspending crow effigies from tree branches, they managed to break up the massive gatherings over two winters. The tactic worked well — at least for a while. In Singapore, NParks has deployed 15 plastic crows at eight known trouble spots since late 2023. The effigies typically hang around for about two weeks at a time. One was spotted in April outside Katong V mall, complete with a sign that reassured passers-by: 'This is a plastic crow. Please do not be alarmed.' It's a response to growing public frustration. NParks received nearly 7,000 crow-related complaints annually in 2023 and 2024, with gripes ranging from screeching wake-up calls to full-on bird attacks. One of the most notorious incidents occurred in Bishan in early 2023, when at least 10 people were harassed by dive-bombing crows in under 20 minutes. Crow aggression typically spikes during fledgling season between May and June, when adult birds become fiercely protective of their young. It's also when the calls for intervention grow louder. Effigies are NParks' latest addition to a broader, science-based game plan. Other measures include nest removal, food source management, habitat tweaks, and, in some cases, trapping.
New Paper
18 hours ago
- General
- New Paper
New stamp series showcases critically endangered native coastal plants in Singapore
The sea trumpet tree and queen coralbead vine are among four species featured in a new set of stamps that showcase critically endangered native coastal plants. The stamp series - the result of a tie-up between Singapore Post (SingPost) and the National Parks Board (NParks) - aims to shine a light on Singapore's unique natural heritage and the urgent need for conservation, the two agencies said in a joint statement on May 30. The series also comes just in time for the Festival of Biodiversity, which will be held at the Plaza in the National Library Building, from May 31 to June 1, the statement added. The stamps, valued at between 52 cents and $2 each, can be bought at all post offices, on the SingPost website, and philatelic stores from May 30. They will also be sold at the festival. Apart from the sea trumpet and queen coralbead, the stamps feature the Ormocarpum cochinchinense tree and Ficus stricta, a type of strangling fig tree. The four plant species are recognisable by their striking ornamental flowers, fruits and foliage, and are part of the NParks' Species Recovery Programme, which aims to secure the long-term survival of rare and endangered native flora. The latest series is titled Critically Endangered Flora Of Singapore - Flora Of Coastal Forests, and is the last of three stamp series to showcase endangered plant species in Singapore. The 2024 series highlighted the critically endangered native flora of Singapore's tropical lowland rainforests, which include the two-fold velvet bean climber, tiger's betel, the squirrel's jack and the Kadsura scandens. All four plants can be found in the Bukit Timah Nature Reserve and Central Catchment Nature Reserve, said NParks. In 2023, four critically endangered native floral species from Singapore's swamp forests were featured on stamps: the lipstick plant, Singapore Kopsia, red Salak, and Fagraea splendens. They were found or rediscovered in the Nee Soon Swamp Forest, which is the only remaining primary freshwater swamp forest in Singapore.
