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Yahoo
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Medallions with Singapore Botanic Gardens' iconic landmarks launched to mark milestone-filled year
SINGAPORE - Collectors can now get their hands on three intricately designed commemorative medallions marking several key milestones in 2025 for the Singapore Botanic Gardens. Launched by the Singapore Mint as part of a special collaboration with the Gardens, the medallions feature its three iconic landmarks - the Bandstand, the Singapore Herbarium, and the Burkin Hall at the National Orchid Garden. Each medallion, available in both gold and silver, commemorates one of its landmark anniversaries, the National Parks Board said in a statement. These are the 10th anniversary of Gardens' inception as a Unesco World Heritage Site, the 30th anniversary of the National Orchid Garden, and the 150th anniversary of the Singapore Herbarium and Library of Botany and Horticulture. The medallions are sold individually and in three-in-one collector sets, and can be purchased at all Singapore Mint retail outlets and on Light shows, performances and other festivities For the first time, visitors can enjoy a nightly light show at the Gardens and watch the Swan Lake and Tanglin Gate bathed in multi-coloured light. The light show will take place between 7.30pm and 10pm, from July 19 to Aug 10. It will be complemented by light installations at the Bandstand, Clock Tower at Orchid Plaza, and Palm Court near Nassim Visitor Services Centre. The light-up is part of the 10th edition of the Singapore Botanic Gardens Heritage Festival held from July 19 to 27 and featuring over 40 free activities for visitors. Other festival highlights include musical performances, outdoor movie screenings, guided tours and hands-on workshops. Visitors can step into the shoes of scientists, with a workshop allowing them to conduct practical laboratory tasks, such as DNA extraction using bananas and cell staining with onion roots. This allows them to take a glimpse into the plant conservation work that happens behind the scenes in the Gardens. The Gardens has also released the second edition of Gardens of Perpetual Summer, a publication that traces its history and legacy since its establishment in 1859. The first edition was published in 2009 to mark its 150th anniversary. The book can be purchased at the Gardens Shop and online. The annual orchid show This year marks the 30th anniversary of the National Orchid Garden, which will play host to the Singapore Garden Festival (SGF) Orchid Show from July 19 to 27. The show, organised by NParks and the Orchid Society of South-east Asia (OSSEA), will feature an orchid competition with 75 categories. The public can view all competition entries, including the winning orchids across all categories, at Burkill Hall and Tropical Montane Orchidetum at the National Orchid Garden. Singapore residents can enjoy free entry during the Orchid Show and go on free guided tours, which are available daily. Interested members of the public can visit this website for more information. Source: The Straits Times © SPH Media Limited. Permission required for reproduction Discover how to enjoy other premium articles here
Straits Times
05-07-2025
- Straits Times
Fewer people caught venturing off designated trails in nature spaces: NParks
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox A cyclist was in a restricted area of the Central Catchment Nature Reserve when he was hit on June 15. SINGAPORE - Hikers and bikers caught straying off designated trails in nature spaces have become rarer in recent years, the National Parks Board (NParks) told The Straits Times. The number of such cases that the board has taken enforcement action against has fallen from about 430 cases in 2021, when the Covid-19 pandemic restrictions hampered travel , to roughly 85 in 2024, said NParks' group director of conservation Lim Liang Jim. The risk of such activities surfaced in June after a man was hit by a bullet slug while cycling with his friends along a popular unofficial cycling route in an area closed off to the public in the Central Catchment Nature Reserve. Mr Lim said enforcement action is taken against visitors who disregard signs and opt to go off-trail, the bulk of whom are handed fines and warnings. Only a handful are prosecuted in court. The latest case to conclude involved a man who was fined $11,000 in 2021 for taking a dog into a nature reserve, trespassing into an area at Upper Peirce Reservoir and other offences. However, enforcement only reveals the tip of the iceberg, noted nature guides and consultants, when recalling their encounters with such trespassers during wildlife surveys. Nature guide Ivan Kwan of Nature Adventures SG said that as part of his work conducting nocturnal fauna surveys, he has encountered 'quite a few groups' within Windsor Nature Park, even though walking in the park is prohibited after 7pm. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. 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Other hotspots include Rifle Range Nature Park, Bukit Timah Nature Reserve and Chestnut Nature Park. Even with the decline in cases, every errant visitor runs the risk of endangering themselves and causing lasting damage to their surroundings and the wildlife that live there. Mr Lim said visitors who stray from designated trails risk injuring themselves by getting lost, falling down and encountering wildlife like hornets. He also noted that getting help in such situations can be hampered due to the difficulty of pinpointing their exact locations. In 2021, a man hiking an unmarked trail was trapped in a ditch for about 90 minutes after misjudging its depth, and officers from the Singapore Civil Defence Force had to trek about 2km to locate him. Wandering off the beaten path can take a toll on the untouched spaces enjoyed by thrill-seekers. Said Mr Lim: 'Going off-trail may cause damage to the forest floor beside the paths or trails. 'Human activity in these areas can also affect animal movement, or result in trampling of plant saplings, some of which could be endangered species.' Singapore Wildcat Action Group co-director Vilma D'Rozario, who has bumped into cyclists in restricted zones during biodiversity surveys, said bikers riding off-trail, usually at high speed, run the risk of running over wildlife and killing them. The cyclists she encountered turned back after they were instructed to leave, but some have been known to return to these areas when 'they feel the coast is clear', she added. She said: 'The nature reserve is 'on reserve'; for a reason – to protect our precious biodiversity, several species of which, like the leopard cat, are critically endangered.' While wandering off the trail is acceptable in some countries, Singapore's green spaces are too small to accommodate 'free for all' usage, said founder of nature outreach group Untamed Paths Dennis Chan. Conservationists suggested that more intensive education efforts and employing community rangers could help deter people from straying. Mrs Shamla Subaraj, who runs Strix Wildlife Consultancy, said: 'Given the recent incidents and safety concerns, more signage noting the risks of entering these nature areas after a stipulated time is needed.' Both she and Dr D'Rozario called for park rangers to patrol the nature reserves, with the option of citizen conservationists joining these patrols as a volunteer. Alternatively, a middle ground could be found for undeterred thrill-seekers in unofficial routes that do not harm wildlife, suggested Mr Chan. He said: 'For those popular 'off trail' routes, perhaps NParks can consider opening it seasonally or running guided nature walks from time to time, like how they do with Chek Jawa Wetlands. 'A more grassroots approach would be to directly engage the different communities that tend to go off-trail and perhaps explore alternative routes or options for these groups.' Those caught straying off designated trails in nature reserves can be fined up to $2,000.
Straits Times
04-07-2025
- General
- Straits Times
NParks responds to Bukit Panjang resident who wanted 'justice and kindness' for trapped crows
NParks responds to Bukit Panjang resident who wanted 'justice and kindness' for trapped crows The National Parks Board (NParks) has responded to concerns from a Bukit Panjang resident over a crow trap it set up. Stomper Maddy had spotted birds in the trap at Block 401 Fajar Road on June 23 at about 8.30am, and said they were "suffering". Maddy said she believes the crows "have a right to live in this world", adding: "I hope Stomp can bring justice and kindness to these birds." In response to a Stomp query, Mr How Choon Beng, NParks' group director of wildlife management, explained that house crows (Corvus splendens) are a non-native and invasive species that pose a threat to native biodiversity. He said: "NParks adopts a holistic and science-based approach to managing pest bird species, comprising measures such as food source reduction, habitat modification, and population control. "NParks conducts studies to understand the ecology of the birds, such as their roosting patterns and movements. As part of the measures to manage the crow population in the area, crow nests are regularly removed, and crows are also trapped and removed." The crow trap that the Stomper saw was deployed in mid-June. "The cage used for trapping has a sheltered section to provide shade, and a bowl of water is placed within for the birds," Mr How added. "Crows that have been trapped are also retrieved from the traps daily by the end of the day." To reduce population growth of crows, NParks advises against feeding crows and to ensure food scraps are properly disposed of. Feeding wild animals is an offence under the Wildlife Act. First-time offenders can be fined up to $5,000, and up to $10,000 for subsequent offences. Mr How said NParks monitors feedback on illegal bird feeding and undertakes active enforcement, which includes physical surveillance and the deployment of CCTV cameras at identified feeding hotspots. "Managing the crow population requires the efforts of multiple agencies and town councils," he shared. "This includes reducing human-generated food sources, such as by tackling high-rise littering and managing waste at food establishments and bin centres. "NParks also reaches out to members of the community such as students through outreach talks in schools, and the elderly via the 'Our Avian Neighbours' initiative which aims to raise awareness among the elderly on the negative impacts of bird feeding. "Under this initiative, which was launched in July 2023, NParks collaborates with Active Ageing Centres to organise engagement sessions comprising a talk on common urban birds and the negative impacts of bird feeding, and these messages are emphasised through educational games, and the distribution of collaterals." Click here to contribute a story or submit it to our WhatsApp Get more of Stomp's latest updates by following us on:
The Star
28-06-2025
- The Star
Kitten reportedly put in container now adopted, probe underway
A kitten that was allegedly stuffed into a plastic container and rolled around in Tuas has been adopted, the National Parks Board (NParks) said. In an updated statement yesterday, the board said it is 'investigating the incident thoroughly, and appropriate action will be taken if any wrongdoing is established'. 'We have visited the premises and are in contact with the relevant persons. We were informed that the cat has since been adopted, and we will be checking on its well-being,' said NParks' group director for enforcement and investigation Jessica Kwok in a statement. 'We thank SPCA Singapore for alerting us to this case.' The incident took place in a workers' canteen at Tech Park Crescent in Tuas on the night of March 26, between 9.45pm and 10.30pm, the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) said in a June 23 Facebook post on the incident. An informant, a colleague of the suspected abuser, told SPCA that the kitten had been placed inside a plastic container and rolled around repeatedly. SPCA's inspectors conducted an unannounced inspection on April 1, during which they were told that the cat had since been released as it was a community animal, the organisation added in the Facebook post. SPCA was also told that the worker involved was given a stern warning. However, a manager there declined to show any CCTV footage or facilitate further investigation, said SPCA, prompting it to refer the matter to the Animal and Veterinary Service – a cluster within NParks. In a statement on Thursday, NParks said it had been alerted to the incident and was looking into the matter. According to SPCA's statistics, 220 of 453 reported animal abuse cases in 2024 involved cats, making them the most frequently abused animal species in Singapore. The types of abuse include physical harm, inhumane trapping, hit-and-run incidents, intentional injury or killing, the use of aversive training methods and abandonment. — The Straits Times/ANN
CNA
27-06-2025
- Science
- CNA
NUS Prof Veera Sekaran and NTU's Dr Shawn Lum on code of practice for pruning tropical trees
The National Parks Board and the Landscape Industry Association Singapore will develop the first code of practice for pruning tropical trees in urban environments. It is hoped that the new guidelines will make the trees less susceptible to pests and diseases. A first draft of the code is expected to be published by mid-2026. Professor Veera Sekaran from the NUS College of Design and Engineering, and Dr Shawn Lum, a senior lecturer at the NTU Asian School of the Environment, shared more about current industry best practices and how the new guidelines will be tailored for tropical trees.
