SIBS: Pulau Biola, Pulau Tekukor and Raffles Lighthouse

Some of the core team supported the Southern Islands Biodiversity Survey (SIBS) during the last low spring tide. They surveyed Pulau Biola, Pulau Tekukor and Raffles Lighthouse. Their albums are linked below.

Composite of photos by Russel Low, Low Kok Sheng,
Chay Hoon, Jianlin Liu  and Vincent Choo.

From the NParks website: The Southern Islands Biodiversity Survey (SIBS) – a comprehensive survey of the terrestrial and marine habitats of Singapore’s southern islands. The survey, launched on 13 Dec 2020, includes the islands that make up Sisters’ Islands Marine Park, well-known islands such as Sentosa and Pulau Semakau, as well as smaller and lesser-known islands such as Pulau Biola and Pulau Jong. The survey will be carried out across two years, and also incorporates data from recent baseline surveys carried out by NParks in recent years. An extensive literature review of earlier records is also being compiled.

Seagrasses lush at Seringat-Kias

A small team checked out the natural rocky shores of Lazarus Island as well as the completely artificial Seringat-Kias lagoon. 

I was blown away to see lush growths of rare seagrass species flourishing in the lagoon. The team also found cone snail and other amazing marine life.

Seagrasses doing well at Terumbu Pempang Laut

Terumbu Pempang Laut is one of our largest submerged reefs and located near industrial islands such as Jurong Island and Pulau Bukom.

Today, a small team checks up on it and find seagrasses are doing well! Also, Giant clams, possible dugong feeding trails and other interesting marine life!

Soapy at Semakau (South)

The monsoon surge doesn't stop us from checking up on the shores! Fortunately, the rain died down to a drizzle during the survey. But the drizzle contained some soapy chemicals in it that coated us completely by the end of the survey. It was hard to wash off the soapiness, even in fresh water on the boat. Could this be because the rain brought down something alkaline from the ash in the landfill? We could smell the ash in the air.

Despite the soapy rain, the shores were very much alive with lush seagrasses, small corals and lots of marine life.

Mega fauna (Oct-Dec 2021)

Here's some major sightings of large marine life in the last quarter of 2021. 

While there was sad news of a dead baby dugong, and a sea turtle that was entangled in netting (it was rescued). There was also great news of baby sea turtles hatching on our recreational beaches on Sentosa and East Coast Park. And the care taken by many people to make sure they are okay. Fresh dugong feeding trails were seen in both northern and southern shores in Dec. While a sighting of eagle ray also brightens our day. Happy New Year everyone!

Lost Coast still alive

A small team return to the Lost Coast on an evening tide, with permission from authorities (NParks, SLA, PCG).

This vast sandy shore is a habitat that is now rare in Singapore (thus 'lost') and home to animals that we seldom see on our other shores. This reclaimed shore in Changi East was in the past, remote and difficult to reach; thus 'lost' in yet another sense. As development started in the area, it became strictly off limits without a permit.