Butterflies and their food plants at Sungei Buloh Nature Park

WETlands
a publication of Sungei Buloh Nature Park

Vol 6 No 1
Apr 99

Butterflies and their food plants

Traditional
Prawn Harvesting

Birdsketching Workshop

Nature Talks
at Sungei Buloh

Insectopia:
Land before time about the insects at Sungei Buloh

Tree
Climbing Crabs
in Singapore Mangroves

Rhinoceros
Beetle

Atlas Moth

Sungei Buloh
5th Anniversary Celebrations

Volunteer Annual General Meeting

Otters in Sight and a Masked Finfoot sighting

Butterflies and their
Food Plants

James Gan tells about
the steps taken to enhance
your experience at
Sungei Buloh Nature Park

Have you noticed a profusion of flowering shrubs at the Visitor Centre lately, especially when you take a stroll from the carpark to the reception counter? In recent months, we had started on a planting programme designed to highlight and increase the butterfly population in the Park.

Through our surveys involving staff and volunteers, we have noted that a number of flowering shrubs are favoured as nectar drink stations by a large number of butterfly species. These are plants like the Lantana (Lantana camara), Singapore Rhododendron (Melastoma malabathricum), Common Asystasia (Asystasia intrusa) and Common Snakeweed (Stachytarpheta indica). We have planted more of them within the Park to attract the butterflies.

Singapore Rhododendron

While the flowering shrubs provide adult butterflies with adequate nectar food for their brief life (butterflies in their adult form usually live between two to four weeks), their corresponding caterpillars may not fancy the leaves and shoots of those flowering shrubs. Thus, we have increased the numbers of caterpillar host plants. Examples of such plants are the Cat's Whiskers (Cleome ciliata), Chempaka (Michelia chempaka) and Curry Leaf Plant (Muraya keonegii).

Have these initiatives borne fruit or rather butterflies? Studies are on going but we noticed that our plants have caterpillars feeding hungrily on them.

So come down to the Park and be enthralled by our insects with painted wings fluttering amidst greenery and flowering shrubs.

Note: The ideal conditions, and times for butterflies is on a slightly breezy sunny day (10am and 4pm).

More articles about butterflies
at Sungei Buloh

Butterfly-Plant relationships
at Sungei Buloh
(Vol 7 No 2, Aug 00)

List of butterflies
at Sungei Buloh
(1999-2000)
(Vol 7 No 2, Aug 00)

Butterfly Monitoring and Introduction
at Sungei Buloh
(Vol 6 No 3, Dec 99)

Butterfly Appreciation
(Vol 5 No 3, Nov 98)

© Sungei Buloh Nature Park

Traditional
Prawn Harvesting

About 20 people gathered at the sluice gate of the Prawn Pond one fine December morning. They were here to participate in our inaugural traditional prawn harvesting demonstration for the public. The group included a few family groups and numerous children, all of them waiting patiently to see the prawns that were in the ponds.

lim haw chuan

What then is traditional prawn farming?To begin, naturally occurring juvenile prawns are introduced into the designated pond by flooding it during high tide and closing the sluice gate to keep them in. This introductory method works since adult prawns are known to spawn in mangrove waters. To prevent large predatory fishes from coming in and consuming the prawns, a metal mesh is installed along the sluice channel.

After the stocking of the pond, exchange of water between the pond and outside (sea) is carried on a weekly basis by opening part of the sluice gate when the water level outside is lower. Water comes into the pond again when the tide rises slowly, filling the pond. This exchange of water drains away pond water which carries waste and lets in nutrient-rich water.

The entire growth of the prawns rely on the natural productivity of the pond. The cyclic exchange of water will continue till the day when prawn harvesting is carried out. That occurs approximately three months from stocking the pond.

The harvesting is actually carried out in three parts. A minor harvest is carried out at 2am in the morning to ride the pond of some of the vegetative debris which tend to flow out first. This would prevent the leaves, branches and so on from clogging up the net later. The second stage is to lower the water level of the pond to around 2.5m. This reduces the pressure on the inner side of the sluice boards during low tide. Finally, the sluice gate is opened again at 7 am and the pond is completely emptied around 10 am.

From the 9 Dec harvest, we caught 9.5 kg worth of prawns, of which they were mainly Greasyback Shrimps (Metapenaeus ensis) and Banana Prawns (Penaeus merguiensis). Our biggest catch of that day was a Banana prawn which weighed 55 g and measured 225 mm in total body length! Apart from prawns, we also managed to catch a number of fish. The visitors had an enjoyable and informative time listening to the stories of the different types of fish told by the staff of the Park.

The event was indeed a successful one gauging from the delightful looks on the faces of the children looking at the jumping prawns and the appreciative crowd we had. The demonstration serves to highlight the usefulness of the mangrove areas which are natural spawning grounds for prawns and fish. It is also an educational activity for our visitors to learn about traditional prawn farming.

For more about
Prawn Farming at Sungei Buloh Nature Park.
Sluice gate management at Sungei Buloh Nature Park.

© Sungei Buloh Nature Park

Vol 6 No 1 Apr 99 Butterflies and their food plants Traditional Prawn Harvesting Birdsketching Workshop Nature Talks at Sungei Buloh Insectopia: Land before time about the insects at Sungei Buloh Tree Climbing Crabs in Singapore Mangroves Rhinoceros Beetle Atlas Moth Sungei Buloh 5th Anniversary Celebrations Volunteer Annual General Meeting Otters in Sight and a Masked Finfoot sighting		Birdsketching Workshop Halilah Ahmad Education Officer at the Park conducts the Birdsketching workshop Birdwatching is gaining popularity among many Singaporeans. Keeping a journal of what you see helps enhance the experience. But no one is born an artist, able to sketch very quickly what one sees in the field. To complement the Park's most popular activity, we have started a new workshop, "BirdSketch". During this workshop, you will learn how to draw birds using simple shapes that are familiar to us: circles, squares, rectangles, triangles. View the bird you see in new geometric shapes. Piece the shapes together to form the outline of the bird. Sketching birds in the correct proportion, with the right posture, bill, tail length, body size is essential for correct bird identification. Through the sketching process, one would also see the intricate features of the birds and appreciate the beauty of nature. This workshop is free and materials are provided but admission charges apply. Join us to learn a new skill.
		© Sungei Buloh Nature Park

Nature Talks
at Sungei Buloh

evelyn kuah

The sense of unknown and anticipation filled the air. The weather was wet and gloomy, the atmosphere, still and quiet. It was beginning to dampen our spirits.

Just then, we heard voices. Soon, more voices and more people arrived. Despite the heavy rain, many visitors came for the first session of a series of talks cum slide show presentations for 1999. The rain finally stopped and the afternoon sun shone brightly. The theatrette was packed within seconds.

Sivasothi, our experienced guest speaker, had no problem getting the audience's attention with his informative and interesting repertoire. "The Story of Sungei Buloh Nature Park You Never Knew", highlighted a variety of animals and plants from mudskippers and crabs to different flora found in Sungei Buloh. Together with exciting personal experiences from the speaker himself, there was no dull moment and it was an afternoon well spent. The duration of the talk was longer than expected but no one seemed to mind.

The talk ended on a high note with many staying back to ask questions. We are very encouraged by the overwhelming response and encouraging feedback. All of us are definitely looking forward to many more months of enriching and entertaining talks.

© Sungei Buloh Nature Park

Insectopia
Land before time

linda goh

They are the creatures that roamed planet Earth long before the dinosaurs. Today, they make up more than half of all the life forms on Earth. In "A Bug's Life", Disney featured them as cutesy little creatures which evoke endearing responses from the audience. In reality, they are predominantly shunned like a plague or pursued to death. Much as people detest or are indifferent to them, insects have crept and spread so successfully into our lives that we will be impeded without them.

It is time these long suffering creatures were brought out of their "armour-plated" shells and be given the due respect they deserve. Brave on with me as I present you intriguing facts from the amazing world of insects that can be found in Sungei Buloh Nature Park.

Mating Damselfly

Mating Atlas Moth

Population Explosion
Do you know that there is "a ratio of 200 million individual insects to a single human being"? So it is not entirely untrue when Z, the lead character in "Antz", complains about being "a middle child in a family of five million". Considering the fact that some species of termites are capable of laying up to 30,000 eggs in a day, this should come as no surprise at all.

The Mating Game
To ensure continued survival, some of these insects have evolved to beat the odds at their best. One good example is the Cicada. As the male generates shrill calls to attract its likely mate, it is also unwittingly announcing its presence to potential predators. The fact is that it is a ventriloquist, so predators are kept from knowing its precise whereabouts. The female on the other hand, would have no problem locating him at all. This form of advertising is no doubt a much safer mode of courtship. Listen to these sopranos serenading as you enter the Mangrove Boardwalk.

The Hunting Game
However, Mother Nature has her ways to keep the numbers in check. Not only are insects favourites in the diet of some birds and lizards, they are also hunted by some of their own kind. Preying upon the water surface is the Pond Skater that detects its victim by the vibrations it caused. The hunter swiftly seizes its prey before sinking its mouth parts into the body and sucking its juices. Watch out for this piece of action at the Aquatic Plant Pond.

The deadliest danger is, however, airborne. Lurking above you around the freshwater ponds are the "little dragons" of this age. The Dragonfly is a proficient hunter that possesses the largest eyes in the insect kingdom. It has no problem seeing all around it and at all times. This extraordinary asset coupled with its ability to fly 55km per hour, makes the Dragonfly a formidable threat to its victims, like the mosquitoes.

Did you know?
The Cotton Stainers are persecuted by cotton farmers as they stain cotton with a fungus they carry. Although a much detested pest, it is, however, much sought after at the Park. The brightly coloured Cotton Stainer is a real beauty. You can easily find them amid the flower buds of the Sea Hibiscus plant.

Not to be mistaken as a damsel in distress is the dainty Damselfly, which also possesses the same ferocious appetite and abilities of the Dragonfly. To tell them apart, you need only to observe them at rest. While the Damselfly rests its wings parallel to its body, the Dragonfly holds them perpendicular to itself.

Joining the rank of viciousness is the Praying Mantis. Meditating it is not: I can assure you, as the creature lies motionless for hours among twigs and leaves. The ill-fated fly is in for a deadly shock when it gets too close for comfort. The worst act, however, is awarded to the female which is capable of biting off the male's head after the act of procreation.

The Art of Defence
Thus it is evident that insects must develop appropriate defence mechanisms to protect themselves from untimely death. Each insect has its own unique method to do so.

Camouflage is the name of the one of the games they play to mislead their predators. The Leaf Locust is a very good example. One could easily mistake it as a leaf as its name suggests.

The Atlas Moth on the other hand employs its own tactic to safeguard itself. Its wing tips are shaped like the head of a snake to scarce potential predators off. For more about the Atlas Moth (Vol 6 No 1 Apr 99)

Leaf Locust

The Stink Bug puts itself off the menu of birds by discharging a foul-smelling liquid when it knows its life is in jeopardy. The list goes on for this highly developed group of animals.

Did you know? The Weaver Ants make use of the silk produced by their larvae to seal leaves together to form their cosy little home. Beware of raining Weaver Ants, though, as they are capable of giving you nasty bites when provoked.

Charming Creatures
There is so much to learn about this group of intriguing creatures that it is easy to keep one spellbound and awed. One could easily spend hours watching them go about their daily doings. All it takes is a little patience and an eye for the small details.

The next time you drop by the Park, do remember to look out for these creepy crawlies.

© Sungei Buloh Nature Park

Tree Climbing Crabs
in Singapore Mangroves

by N. Sivasothi
and Kelvin Lim

Most of our mangrove forest is found along the North Coast.

Many interesting plants and animals found here are unique to this habitat.

Crabs are numerous here...

Some, like this Ilyogynis
are very small

Most Crabs dwell on the ground or in burrows.But there is a special group of crabs that are found on trees!	*Selatium* may be difficult to see in the day, but at night, hundreds may be seen on tree trunks, grazing algae up to heights of 4m. *Metopographus* is seen in smaller numbers, usually closer to the ground.
*Selatium brockii* lives on trees like Phytotelmic
*Metopograpsus* climbs under certain conditions...

And so does Episesarma
There are 3 species of Episesarma, distinguished by the cheliped colour..

Episesarma
versicolour

Episesarma
chengtongensis

Episesarma
singaporensis

In the day Episesarmas can be seen climbing during high tide, but they remain just above the water level.

At night, however, they climb to heights of about 6m or more, and can be seen grazing on algae as well as eating leaves.

If you start walking around the mangrove at dusk, you will gradually see more and more crabs on tree trunks at increasingly greater heights.

But try not to get stranded!

Rhinoceros Beetle
(Oryctes rhinoceros)

elfie eleza kamaruddin

As the wind blows, their elegant fronds dance with the flow of the breeze. Coconut trees possess the mystical ability to conjure up a tropical paradise atmosphere wherever they may be found.

However, like all other kinds of vegetation, coconut trees are susceptible to insect attacks. The insect that is most likely to attack it is none other than the Rhinoceros Beetle. The Malays refer to them as "kumbang tandok", meaning Horn Beetle. Only the male rhinoceros beetle has the distinctive horns that give this intriguing creature its name.

This particular species measures up to 43mm, making it one of the biggest insects in Southeast Asia. However, it cannot be compared with its counterparts, the Goliath and Hercules Beetles from tropical America and Africa respectively, which can measure up to an amazing 155mm!

It lays its eggs in rubbish heaps, rotting trees trunks, sawdust, and other vegetative matter. These hatch into small larvae in 10 to 18 days. The young or larvae feed on decaying wood and vegetative matter and can grow to lengths of about 60mm or more. During this stage, they do not damage the plants. The larval stage lasts for 2.5 to 7 months after which pupation takes place within the breeding site. The pupae will require another 1.5 to 2 months before it transforms into an adult and becomes a threat to the palms.

They enter the heart of the palms and feed on the tender tissues within. Subsequently, the new leaves will be damaged and the resulting fan-shaped frond is characteristic of a Rhinoceros Beetle attack.

To control the population of this insect, chemicals such as carbofuran is used. Traditionally, a piece of barbed wire was used to spear and collect the beetles attacking the young leaves of palms.

So the next time you see your palm fronds bearing the Rhinoceros Beetle's characteristic signature, stop to take a close look around. There may be a new bug in town.

The Atlas Moth
(Attacus atlas)

bryan wee provides an insight
into Pulau Ubin's Mammoth with Wings

The Atlas Moth is the largest moth in Southeast Asia. It is also relatively common, and they are found throughout India and Southeast Asia.

We are fortunate to have quite a number on Pulau Ubin. They feed on the leaves of a wide range of trees, from the Starfruit tree (averrhoa carambola) to the Sentol (Sandoricum koetjape).

The larva or caterpillar is large, and is without doubt a veritable feast for any insectivorous bird. It has a voracious appetite and consumes leaves with rapidity, leaving only large balls of fecal-matter in its wake. A large number of subspecies have been described, but the one on Ubin has larva that is pale green with white powdery speckles, complete with a series of dorsal and subdorsal green spines.

The adult has a stout, hairy body with a short abdomen that is quite out of proportion to the enormous wings. They are most active at night, with an irregular flight, and are readily attracted to light. The females are generally passive before mating, but they are known to position themselves so as to enable maximum dispersal of their sexual attractants by wind. Males up to three miles downwind can detect these scents! Imagine if this was the same for humans—it would give a new meaning to the word "haze"!

Interestingly enough, the females will readily lay unfertilised eggs. These will hatch and develop to produce male moths only. In light of this, the next step in conserving the Atlas Moth would be enrolment in an extended family planning course, no?

Mating Atlas Moths

Butterflies and moths belong to the Order Lepidoptera, taken from the Greek words lepis (scale), and pteron (wing). Hence, all insects belonging to this order have their wings, legs and body covered with minute scales.

But how does one tell the difference between a butterfly and a moth? I have heard some people telling me that butterflies are brightly coloured whereas moths tend to be dull and plain in appearance. One only has to look at the Atlas Moth to know that this is not so.

In truth, butterflies and moths have their own distinguishing characteristics, although as in English grammar, there are exceptions to these rules.

Most butterflies are day fliers whereas moths are generally nocturnal in habit. In addition, butterflies generally rest with their wings closed in an upright position whereas moths rest with their wings held in a horizontal or roof-like position. The antennae of moths are usually feathery without a club. Butterflies, on the other hand, possess antennae that gradually thicken from the base upwards to form a club.

Another article about the Atlas Moth Homes of their Own: the atlas moth and white-breasted waterhen (Vol 1 No 2, Sep 94)

Sungei Buloh Nature Park
5th Anniversary Celebrations

The Park stirred to life even before the day broke. The staff went about their duties making sure that everything was in order for this big day. Even the birds and animals seemed to sense the festive occasion and greeted our guests with their candid appearances. The whole year of celebration culminated on this day as the Park celebrated its 5th Anniversary.

Mr Koo Tsai Kee, (Parliamentary Secretary, Ministry of National Development), graced the birthday celebration as our Guest-of-Honour along with Professor Leo Tan, (Chairman, National Parks Board), Mr Connal Rankin, (General Manager and Chief Executive Officer, HongKong and Shanghai Banking Corporation), Dr Tan Wee Kiat, (CEO, National Parks Board) and Mrs Lee Wai Chin, (Deputy CEO, National Parks Board).

Some 300 invited guests were also present to witness the presentation of prizes to the Grand Finalists of the yearlong Spot Art Competition.

Another highlight of the day was the launch of "Hardy Driftwood in A Wetlands Adventure", an animation programme produced by HSBC to promote wetland education for school children.

The high point, however, was reserved for the unveiling of a commemorative mural entitled "Visions", made up of terracotta tiles each depicting the eye of a species of fauna in the Park. Collectively, they formed a larger human eye.

After the launch, the VIPs and invited guests were whizzed around the Park for a tour.

Many activities were planned throughout the year in the countdown to the Sungei Buloh Nature Park's 5th anniversary. All in the hope of augmenting nature awareness at the Park. The event was a resounding success as many left the Park knowing that we did and will continue to protect this ecological jewel that we were entrusted with.

"Singaporeans live in a highly urbanised environment. Nature areas, such as Sungei Buloh Nature Park, play a useful role in according us the opportunity of being close to nature, be it for recreation or simply for solace from the bustle and bustle of city-life. As Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong said when he opened this nature park 5 years ago, "Whenever possible, nature areas should be put to complementary use so that Singaporeans can enjoy our natural heritage and learn to appreciate nature."

Singapore's small size, however, posed a challenge for nature conservation. There are many competing demands for land use—for housing, business, industries, transportation and other infrastructure developments. Despite our physical constraints, the Government has set aside land for nature conservation because it recognises the importance of preserving our natural heritage.

But we must be practical and realistic. It is not possible to conserve every nature area in Singapore or any area that is inhabited by wildlife. It is the Government's responsibility to maximise the use of land in the best interest of Singaporeans, while at the same time to strive to conserve important nature areas for both our present and future generations.

The National Parks Board plays an important role in nature conservation. NParks advises the Government on development proposals and on management polices for the designated nature areas. It monitors and co-ordinates measures to protect these areas. One key thrust of NParks is to promote responsible conservation of our natural heritage. This is done by monitoring and enhancing the biodiversity of nature areas and by generating interest in nature through the provision of educational packages and the sharing of experience and expertise with the public.

Sungei Buloh Nature Park is a testament to NParks' effort at promoting nature conservation and increasing nature awareness. This 87-hectare park is not just the only wetland nature park in Singapore; it is also one of our largest conservation projects. It has been argued that our parks, being man-made, do not exemplify nature conservation. Sungei Buloh Nature Park, however, is a fine example of man working in harmony with nature. This park was previously a prawn farming area that was zoned to become an agrotechnology park. The Government decided to turn it over to the birds. Today, the park is home to some 500 species of flora and fauna. It is an important stopover point for migratory birds from as far as north of Siberia during the northern wintry months. More than half of the bird species in Singapore can be found here. The heronry on the park's "Heron Island" is the breeding ground for over 100 pairs of the Purple and Grey Herons.

I understand that as part of the 5th anniversary celebrations for Sungei Buloh Nature Park, NParks and Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation had put together a series of activities. Indeed, the countdown began on 30 November last year, kicking off with the "Care-for- Nature" Spot Art competition and the setting up of Sungei Buloh Education Fund. Other highlights include the launch of a new guidebook and new thematic trails and guided walks to make visits to Sungei Buloh more memorable and meaningful. This morning's celebration therefore represents the climax of a full year of activities at Sungei Buich Nature Park.

Ladies and Gentlemen, NParks' efforts in developing Sungei Buloh Nature Park have paid dividends. The park's biological diversity has been enhanced over the past 5 years. Though still a relatively young park, Sungei Buloh is carving a niche as a centre for wetland park management in areas of conservation, education, research and compatible recreation.

I understand that the park is used extensively by schools and the community for education, by researchers for their research and by the general public for recreation. Of the 80 000 people who visit the park each year, some 40% are students who come on specially tailored programmes to study the mangrove and freshwater habitat, for birdwatching and for nature trekking. I commend NParks for these successful outreach programmes, both for schools and general public. To conclude, I would like to reiterate that the Government remains committed to nature conservation. At times, decisions made in the overriding national interest may not please all nature- lovers. But this does not detract from the Government's appreciation of the need to safeguard Singapore's national heritage wherever feasible for our future generations. Thank you."

Mr Khoo Tsai Kee
Parliamentary Secretary
Ministry of National Development
5th Dec 1998

Volunteer Annual General Meeting

A year has passed and it is time
to pass on the baton.
Find out who are the successors
as Chan Su Hooi introduces you to
the new Volunteer Committee for 1999

It did not take long to vote in our new volunteer committee members. All the members took up their post enthusiastically and were eager to commence their duties.

Chairperson : Ms Debra Yeo
Hon. Secretary: Mr Keith Hillier
Treasurer: Ms SK Kwan
Member: Mr Wong Kum Sang
Member: Ms Thng Hui Hien
Member: Ms Loh Jing Ling

Much happened during the AGM.

The Senior Manager briefed and kept the volunteers updated on Sungei Buloh future developments as well as informed them of current research projects that are on going in the Park. The more experienced volunteers decided to take the initiative to help train the new recruits and organise the roster for the Saturday guiding duties. The Park will, however, arrange more intensive training for all volunteers.

A number of places were also proposed for volunteer outing. One of which is our new Headquarters at Botanic Gardens. The volunteers were also invited to participate in our talk cum slide show presentations for the public on their speciality subjects.

On this note, we like to thank the past volunteer committee for their dedication and significant contributions to the Park as well as welcome the new volunteer committee.

Vol 6 No 1 Apr 99 Butterflies and their food plants Traditional Prawn Harvesting Birdsketching Workshop Nature Talks at Sungei Buloh Insectopia: Land before time about the insects at Sungei Buloh Tree Climbing Crabs in Singapore Mangroves Rhinoceros Beetle Atlas Moth Sungei Buloh 5th Anniversary Celebrations Volunteer Annual General Meeting Otters in Sight and a Masked Finfoot sighting		Bringing you up to date with the latest sightings is Adeline Chia Otters in Sight There are always new discoveries rewarding the patient and observant at Sungei Buloh Nature Park. All binoculars were trained on the two that were playing and foraging in the water. They chased each other in circles, sometimes stopping to look at the inquisitive pairs of eyes staring at them. Undaunted, they went about with their own activities. Just when one caught a fish, it would proceed to devour it with much relish while the other foraged nearby, hoping to catch a meal too. Yes, we are talking about otters and all these sightings could be seen as near as the main bridge at Sungei Buloh Besar. The two otters have been spotted around the Park since November last year, much to the delight of visitors and staff who were lucky enough to catch sight of them. They are identified to be the Smooth Otters (Lutra perspicillata). Sightings of otters in the Park occur every now and then in the past years. However, only individuals were spotted. Thus it was heartening to discover the pair in the Park last year. Otters are mammals adapted to a life in water and on land. On land they are usually clumsy but in water they are skilful swimmers. A long heavy body, small head and a thick tapering tail gives them a streamlined appearance. This enables them to manoeuvre through the water with case. Contrary to belief, their fur is not waterproof. They are kept afloat by air trapped within the fur while swimming and they have to come up to land to rub themselves dry. A wet otter's coat looks spiky when on land. To squeeze the water out it will roll on the ground and rub itself against stones, patches of grasses and other objects. Smooth Otters are found in Asia and they live in mangroves, freshwater wetlands and large forested rivers. Their favourite food includes fish, molluscs and crustaceans. Most sightings of the pair in Sungei Buloh have been of them foraging and feeding. It is uncertain where they came from, but a good guess is that they may have swam across the Johor Straits. We do not know how long they will stay but do come to visit us soon. The sexes of the pair are also unknown. Imagine them as a courting pair. Hmm ...... baby otters in Sungei Buloh? Speaking of sightings, staff of the Park and Nature Society Singapore members were ecstatic when a Masked Finfoot (Heliopais personata) was spotted swimming in Sungei Buloh Besar in early January. This is a first record for Singapore. It stayed in the river for a few days and vanished soon after. Now that is what I call exciting. You just never know what you will discover in Sungei Buloh Nature Park.
		© Sungei Buloh Nature Park