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Habitatnews 2001-23: Friday, 12th October 2001
The Habitat Group's Nature Information List
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Current nature-related news busy Singaporeans might otherwise miss
More information and archives at: <http://habitatnews.nus.edu.sg>
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Public Education visits to Chek Jawa, Pulau Ubin
by the NUS Raffles Museum of Biodiversity Research & friends,
19th & 20th October 2001: 5pm - 7pm
<http://habitatnews.nus.edu.sg/news/chekjawa/public.htm>

Contents
0. Summary
1. Introduction
2. The dates, time & tide
3. What your guides will do for you
4. What you have to do
5. Guide assisted, not guided
6. Suggestions of what to bring and wear
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0. Summary

The Raffles Museum of Biodiversity Research (RMBR) and friends are
conducting two days of guide-assisted educational visits to Chek Jawa.
Guides in bright orange caps will help the public in their discovery of
marine life at Chek Jawa on Fri 19th and Sat 20th Oct: 5pm - 7pm.

All are welcome on these walks which are suitable for children.
If you do wish join us, please email me at <chekjawa@...>
and provide these details:

1. Name
2. Number of people in group
3. Date (Fri 19th or Sat 20th)
4. Expected time of arrival

We will advise the boat and van operators of expected numbers.

Please read the details below if you are coming.

See you there!


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1. Introduction
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The inter-tidal areas of Chek Jawa are a unique host to a variety
of habitats: mangrove, rocky shore, beach, sand and mud flats,
sea grass beds, sand banks and coral rubble.

In light of the impending reclaimation of Chek Jawa, the Raffles
Museum of Biodiversity Research (RMBR) conducted salvage collection
trips between May - Aug 2001.

The invertebrate, fish, algae and plant life set against the unique
ambience of the place has revealed an interesting diversity of
invertebrate, fish, algae and plant life, some of which, though
relatively rare in Singapore, are common at Chek Jawa - carpet
anemones, sand dollars, sea stars, and a variety of sponges.
See galleries at: <http://habitatnews.nus.edu.sg/news/chekjawa>

In light of the uniqueness of the habitat, the biodiversity, the few
tide-suitable days left and the desire to share the beauty of Chek
Jawa with the public, the Raffles Museum and friends organised a pair
of semi-guided trips during two days in September. See:
<http://habitatnews.nus.edu.sg/news/chekjawa/rmbrpublic-sep2001/>

The trips were a considerable success, and the walks are suitable
for children and layman alike. Time and tide allows a repeat of the
exercise, possibly the last, this October.

This series also marks the first of a series of public education
guide-assisted walks that will be conducted by the Raffles Museum
of Biodiversity Research & friends as part of the new education
programme of the museum. Look forward to more trips in 2002!

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2. The dates, time & tide
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Dates of visits
Friday 19th October: 5pm - 7pm
Saturday 20th October: 5pm - 7pm.

Fri 19 Oct tides
4pm: 1.4m, 5pm: 0.7m, 6pm: 0.3m, 7pm: 0.3m, 8pm: 0.5m, 9pm: 1m

Sat 20 Oct tides
4pm: 1.7m, 5pm: 1.1m, 6pm: 0.5m, 7pm: 0.2m, 8pm: 0.3m, 9pm: 0.6m

Refer to these tidal heights and check:
<http://habitatnews.nus.edu.sg/news/chekjawa/ria/text/map.htm>


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3. What your guides will do
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Guides familiar with marine life will be stationed around the
shore in the various habitats to help point out some of the
interesting organisms and try to tell you some stories! Markers
will indicate where these stations are, and the guides will be
wearing bright orange caps for you to identify them.

These guides are mainly staff and volunteers from the Raffles
Museum of Biodiversity Research at the National University of
Singapore and postgraduates and undergraduates from the
Department of Biological Sciences, The National University
of Singapore.


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4. What you have to do: 3 things
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---> 1. Please email me at chekjawa@... and inform me of:
1. Name
2. Number of people in group
3. Date (Fri 19th or Sat 20th)
4. Expected time of arrival

We will advise the boat and van operators accordingly.

---> 2. Reach Chek Jawa yourself and at least by 4.45pm.
You can, of course, come earlier and look at the plants including
the Nypa forest and enjoy the ambienbce at the beach.

Bottlenecks may occur, especially on Saturday, so plan to be at
Changi jetty by 3.30pm latest. It will take you about 45 minutes
in total from Changi to Chek Jawa. We will advise the bum boat
operators and van drivers to expect large numbers.

Take the boat from Changi to Ubin Jetty. At the end of Ubin jetty,
look for van and land rovers that will take you to Chek Jawa -
they will all have "PU" license plates these days!.

Cost of bum boat: $2/person. Maximum 12 passengers.
Cost of 1-way van trip to Chek Jawa: $2 per person

The walk to Chek Jawa takes 3 minutes from where the van drops
you off, and the inter-tidal area you visit will be a little
soggy, but you will not sink beyond your ankles and most of you
will keep to the sandbanks and hardly sink! So it will be suitable
for very young children as well.

The vans will standby at Chek Jawa for the return journey.

---> 3. Take nothing but photographs and leave nothing but footprints

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5. Resources for the curious
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We may not have enough guides to personally guide everyone, so to
assist you in the process of discovery, we do recommend you use the
following:

1. The guidesheets at:
<http://habitatnews.nus.edu.sg/news/chekjawa/guidesheets>

2. The quick tours and galleries at:
<http://habitatnews.nus.edu.sg/news/chekjawa/gallery.htm>
There have been updates to the "Quick Tour" and a new plant section
in "Chek Jawa our threatened heritage".

3. "A guide to Seashore life" by Leo WH Tan & Peter Ng. Published
by the Singapore Science Centre. 160pp. ISBN: 981-00-0254-8.
Cost $5.15. Available at leading bookstores.

You can of course just enjoy the ambience!


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6. Suggestions of what to bring and wear
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Your own water, at least one litre! Wear booties, or closed shoes
with laces and hard soles. Bring a spare change of clothes, or at
least a t-shirt. Be prepared for wet weather - never know when it
rains. Bring a haversack for your valuables and water.

You will be comfortable walking around in shorts and t-shirts. You
will need a torch after 7pm. There are two wells nearby to wash up.

See you there!
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