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Habitatnews 2001-25: Monday, 21st 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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Contents
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RMBR Public Education Series: The inter-tidal habitats of Chek Jawa
sees a large turnout for this "Last Chance to See" weekend. A simple
survey will be sent to participants. A gallery is up at:
<http://habitatnews.nus.edu.sg/news/chekjawa/rmbrpublic-oct2001/>
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The two days of the guide-assisted visits at Chek Jawa, Pulau Ubin,
saw what may possibly be a record turnout for a public education
walk in Singapore. Conservative estimates suggest that there were
250 people on Friday and 630 on Saturday.

And there were other groups present as well (e.g. Nature Society
(Singapore) with 70 members on Saturday), and others who came on
their own. The van drivers, who did brisk business ferrying people
to and fro, estimated much larger numbers, but we have not
verified this as yet.

Getting to Ubin was an adventure for some in itself. If this was
your first trip there, then you must return some other day, to
experience the tranquility that usually pervades the island!
Saturday was certainly an exception! As unusual as Chek Jawa itself.

Bumboats and vans struggled to cope with the large crowds, so
there quite a bit of waiting. More so on the return journey that
stranded many amidst the secondary forest, dirt tracks and mosquitoes
in the dark. I hear many got well bitten and insect repellent
became a treasured item!

Although the guides began to lead the public back by 6.45pm, many
lingered over this first and last look. In fact brittle stars, a
variety of crabs, luminescent organisms and other creatures of the
night began to emerge in the dark to forage. However, with lightning
threatening the eastern sky, everyone was herded off the shore.

The van pick up area was jammed with people and could have been
very messy but for guides from the Nature Society (Singapore)
who saved the day! They had turned up with 70 members but
inherited the problem of our hundreds. Andrew Tay, Sunny Yeo,
Joel Leong, Vilma D'Rozario and others (it was dark but I know
there were others who helped) stepped forward and organised the
whole process very smoothly for the public. Great job they did!

The low tide that that had revealed the Chek Jawa shore also made
it difficult for bumboats to travel through the Changi river. While
some enjoyed dinner at some of the few restaurants open on the
island, the rest chatted about the day's surprises atthe jetty -
some had seen an octopus, a couple of sea horses, many saw volutes,
pipefish and even a sea snake!

In the sky over Chek Jawa, lightning continued to explode in the
clouds, like a fireworks display.

The tide eventually rose, and bumboats travelled fast and furious.
Off the island within an hour, hungry souls fed themselves at
Changi Village. As I waited for the last bumboats to come in at 10pm,
a family who passed me were all smiles as they remarked how lovely
their day had been - weven after all that waiting! And they asked,
was it all really going to go?

Actually, it was very difficult for your guides to watch so many
feet (a wildebeest migration one said) trample Chek Jawa. Ironically,
by the time the habitats recover, it will be time to get buried. But
we felt we had to share this with as many of you as possible before
it is lost forever.

Thankfully, a few more Singaporeans will now remember Chek Jawa.
Memories of the other areas like the Sentosa reef now buried in
sand belong to a more select crowd.

Interestingly, I only announced this on Habitatnews, and to
NUS staff (the museum if part of NUS). We had kept publicity down,
and not contacted the media. Yet many of you came, with enthusiasm,
and even despite warning of possible delays. The internet at work!

So we are curious: how did you came to know about this trip and
why did you came? We will post the questions to all who registered
with us later today.

In the meantime, savour your photos of Chek Jawa or view them at
the Habitatnews webpage at: <http://habitatnews.nus.edu.sg/news/chekjawa>

Thanks to the staff, postgraduate students and volunteers who
helped sow some memories of Chek Jawa in September and October:
Ai Lin, Amy, Andrew, Angie, Benjamin, Chee Kong, Darren, Grace,
Jing Ling, Joelle, Kelvin, Kim, Linda, Marilyn, Ngan Kee, Oi Yee,
Ria, Sasi, Seow Hwa, Subaraj, Tom, Tse Lynn, Wei Ling, Wendy,
Yixiong, Zeehan
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