Pasir Ris rare mangrove tree still standing!

Pasir Ris is a highly accessible shore and is well used by many people. But it remains rich in a variety of marine life and is home to the last large specimen of a rare mangrove tree on the mainland.

The rare tree is still standing and we encountered lots of sea stars. As well as many other fascinating creatures.

There is a small patch mangroves near the mouth of Sungei Loyang. This is home to the beautiful Bakau mata buaya, listed as 'Critically Endangered' not just in Singapore but globally too! It is now the last large Bakau mata buaya on the mainland (the one at Sungei Buloh is dead). The situation is similar to our last visit earlier this year in Oct 2020 and Jan 2020. The tree is still standing. The embankment behind the tree has also eroded away, but the base of the tree looks strong and healthy. I couldn't see any flowers on the tree (but it is very tall and it was dark, close to sunrise). There some calyx on the ground. There wasn't much litter accumulated near the tree.

This tiny patch of mangroves seems to be doing well. The mud is nice and soft and smelly. There are lots of little saplings everywhere. The big trees are doing well. There seems to be less trash than usual.

But there were signs of extensive use by people. There were items 'stored' in the trees above the high water mark.

And some kind of long platform was constructed among the trees.

After the mangroves, a stretch of sandy shores and lush seagrass meadows extend at the mouth of Sungei Loyang.

Here, many kinds of sea stars dotted the shores! For the first time here, we saw a Common sea star, which unfortunately is no longer common on our shores. There were many small Biscuit sea stars and Cake sea stars and Plain sand stars. I also saw one Eight-armed sea star. There were also many kinds of sea cucumbers! From a Big synaptid sea cucumber (seen by Richard) to some Pink warty sea cucumbers, a few small Garlic bread sea cucumbers, some Ball sea cucumbers. There were also many cerianthids in the water. While there were lots of Window pane shells and small fan clams in the seagrass area, green mussels grew thickly on  hard surfaces. Other common animals include many Haddon's carpet anemones and hermit crabs.

More photos by Richard Kuah

There are still good growths of seagrasses on the shores here. Just Spoon seagrass with both small and large leaves, growing particularly thickly on the soft silty edges away from the shore.

What is the fate of Pasir Ris shores?

There doesn't seem to be a change in 2013 plans to reclaim all of Pasir Ris, all of Changi from Carpark 1 to Carpark 7 and beyond, and reclaim Chek Jawa and Pulau Sekudu. These appear to remain in place in the Long-Term Plan Review. Including plans for a road link that starts at Pasir Ris, crosses to Pulau Ubin, right across Chek Jawa to Pulau Tekong, and back to the mainland at Changi East.

See Pasir Ris shores for yourself before it's gone!

These shores are easy to get to, and enjoyed by many people. But it remains rich in a variety of marine life. More details in "Pasir Ris - Perfect intertidal getaway for the family" 

Today, it was heartwarming to see a family exploring the shore so early in the morning.