Singapore, as we know it, is a busy city known for its fast growth. Our beautiful island is known as a financial hub in our region as well as a shopping paradise. Little is known, however, about the natural parts of Singapore, and the treasures that our little red dot holds.
Here are 5 such places:
Mandai Mangroves
The Mandai Mangroves is a 15.4 hectare area in the northwestern part of Singapore. Even though it is a small area on our island, it has been a hot spot for research over the past 50 years.
Image credit: (Travelled Paths)
According to a 2013 article by the Straits Times, “it is home to the largest horseshoe-crab concentration in the world”. Working hand in hand with the more-famous Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserves, it is also a feeding ground for many migratory birds that stop by Singapore throughout the year.
Keppel Bay
Most people know Keppel Bay as a waterfront residential and marina precinct where luxury yachts are docked. However, not many know that within the bay is also a rich and diverse marine eco-system that has encouraged the growth of coral reefs, thanks to the conservation efforts of Keppel Land.
Keppel Bay is home to a vibrant aquatic community of more than 129 different species of marine life. Some of the underwater flora and fauna include cave corals, brightly coloured clown fish, juvenile batfish, tiger tail seahorse and even sea turtles.
Marina at Keppel Bay has won numerous awards for environmental efforts to create the cleanest water possible. According to its website, “Marina at Keppel Bay takes an active role in minimising hazards that could potentially impact the environment. For example, Marina at Keppel Bay provides pump-out facilities for all vessels to ensure sewage is not discharged into the waters.”
All these conservation efforts are what contributes to the now-thriving coral reef that we can proudly say Singapore has. The efforts that Keppel Land is making contributes not only to marine conservation efforts in Singapore, but also helps to promote the sustainability of Earth’s largest life support system—the marine environment.
Keppel Land’s latest initiative to cultivate corals at King’s Dock will help build a thriving ecosystem around their new eco-friendly home development – Corals at Keppel Bay.
Find out more at https://www.kingsdock.sg
Sisters’ Islands Marine Park
The Sisters’ Islands Marine Park spans about 40 hectares around Sisters’ Islands and along the western reefs of both St John’s Island and Pulau Tekukor. According to the NParks’ website, this marine park is “a platform for outreach, educational, conservation and research activities related to our native marine biodiversity. The location was chosen due to its variety of habitats including coral reefs, sandy shores and seagrass areas.
Image credit: (The Straits Times)
The Government has announced plans to transform the island into a dedicated site for marine conservation and research. Most of the facilities which include a floating pontoon, intertidal pools, a boardwalk and forest trails, will be ready by end-2018.
EcoLink@BKE
Unbeknownst to most kids in Singapore is the existence of a linkway that was created to facilitate the movement of wild animals in Singapore, from Bukit Timah Nature Reserve to the Central Catchment Nature Reserve. The construction of this ecological bridge started in 2011 and took two years to complete. According to a 2015 article by the Straits Times, “the 62m-long wildlife link is the first purpose-built bridge for wildlife in South-east Asia. It can be seen by motorists on the Bukit Timah Expressway (BKE) about 600m north of Rifle Range Road.”
Image credit: (The Future Is)
Since its completion, the bridge has been reportedly used by birds, bats and even the pangolin, an animal that not many kids know live in the wild in Singapore. Look out for guided tours by NParks or check out the video:
Lorong Halus Wetland
Lorong Halus, located in the eastern part of Singapore, was once a landfill. Today, it has been developed into a wetland where nature and wild life thrive.
Image credit: (The Cheshire Photographer)
Completed in 2010, the Lorong Halus wetland has a visitor’s centre where you can find out more about the plants and animals that have made the ecosystem there its home.
Other than exotic birds from our region, reptiles like the monitor lizard have also been spotted at the Lorong Halus Wetland.
Conclusion
Even as Singapore continues to develop, there are still places on our little island that are being conserved to help plants and wildlife grow well. Thanks to the efforts of organisations like Keppel Land, more has been done to help Singapore preserve coral reefs that are native to this part of the world. Our parks authorities are also doing what they can to preserve flora and fauna in Singapore, and to give the wildlife here as safe an environment as possible.
Share with your kids about these special places and get them interested in the nature that we have in Singapore.