What's on this week for nature activities in Singapore

WHAT'S ON THIS WEEK?!
Nature activities and events happening this week

2-8 Apr 07

3 Apr (Tue): Seminar on The Environment and Emerging Infections

Several viral diseases, never seen before in humans, have recently emerged in various countries in the Asia-Pacific. These include Henipavirus (Hendra and Nipah viruses), Coronavirus (SARS coronavirus) and Influenza (H5N1) viral infections. This seminar discusses how environmental changes, as well as changes in human population structure and behavior, are driving the emergence of these illnesses...and what we can do about it.

Presented by Prof David Koh, Professor and Head of the Department of Community, Occupational and Family Medicine at the Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore.

Time: 3.30-5.30pm
Venue: SEI Training Room, #06-00, Environment Building 40 Scotts Road Singapore 228231
Fees: Admission is free but please register online on the NEA website

5 Apr (Thu): "Coelacanth Evolutionary and Ecological Enigmas"

A talk by Dr. Tony Ribbink, the Director of the African Coelacanth Ecosystem Programme (ACEP) organised by Underwater World and ACEP. With a history unique in science and modern culture, the Coelacanth ("see-la-kanth"), was around millions of years before the Dinosaurs, and it was thought to have gone extinct with them until a freshly caught one was discovered in South Africa in 1938. It took 14 years for the second to be caught, cementing the place of this species in the annals of history and the public's imagination. Later discoveries have continued to excite new generations of "coelacanth-o-philes". Three people have died in their search for the Coelacanth, possibly many more.

More details on the talk on the NBRC NParks website
More about coelacanths on the ACEP website

Time: 2pm - 3pm
Venue: Sentosa, Tourism Academy, Executive Seminar Room Event
Contact: Ayu 6279-9221

7 Apr (Sat): Shark's Fin Soup: Can We Truly Eat Without Guilt?

Mr Louis Ng (ACRES)
Mr Grant Pereira (Sea Shepherd Conservation Society)
Mr George Jacobs (Vegetarian Society)

According to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization, over 100 million sharks are killed every year. To what extent are these numbers contributed by "live finning"? Is the shark population on a dangerous decline? Can we truly eat our bowl of shark's fin soup without guilt? The welfare issues associated with the shark's fin trade, the conservation issues and the human health implications of eating marine animals are "unpacked" and discussed at this talk and panel discussion. Join us and have your say too!

Time: 3-4pm
Venue: library@orchard
Contact: Poh_Poh_LIM@nlb.gov.sg

7 Apr (Sat): Easter Egg Painting Workshop at Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve

Hunting for the perfect Easter Eggs to be given as gifts for the coming Easter? Bring your own eggshells and join our Egg Painting Session with local artist and volunteer, Tham Pui San, as he shares with you the art of turning an empty eggshell into an art canvas! Family groups are welcome. This activity is limited to 30 participants. Participants to bring their own egg shells (white ones preferably).

More details in the Art in the Wetlands blog and the Reserve website

Time: 1.30pm to 4.30pm
Cost: We welcome $5 contribution per person to the Garden City Fund.
Contact: To register, call 6794 1401.

7 Apr (Sat): Pulau Semakau Intertidal walk

Let the volunteer guides of the Raffles Museum of Biodiversity Research introduce you to the amazing seagrass meadows, coral reefs and other natural marinelife on Pulau Semakau. Please register name and total number of participants with Luan Keng (Email: dbswlk@nus.edu.sg)

More about the intertidal walk on the RMBR website
More about Pulau Semakau

Time: 6-11am
Cost per adult: $52.50. Cost per child (age 12-18): $39.90 All costs are inclusive of GST. To confirm your booking, a non-refundable prepayment is required.
Contact: Luan Keng dbswlk@nus.edu.sg

7 Apr (Sat): Lower Peirce Boardwalk
free Nature Appreciation Walk

The 900m boardwalks take you through the forest then along the edge of the Reservoir. So you will encounter a wide range of wildlife from forest to aquatic creatures. And enjoy wonderful panaromas of waters surrounding by luxuriant forest. Shaded by the forest, the walk is pleasantly cool and suitable for young children. more

Time: 9.25am or 10.25am. Meet at Casuarina Entrance of the trail along Old Upper Thomson Road, which is a 2 minutes walk from Casuarina Road.
Tour duration: about one and a half hours. Suitable for young children
To join the guided tour, you will need to pre-book.
Contact: vanessa_chang@nparks.gov.sg or call :6554 5127.

7 Apr (Sat): Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve free guided walk

You'll see the fabulous plants and animals of the mangroves and freshwater wetlands. Besides the abundant bird life, there is also other fascinating wildlife in the Reserve. more

3.30am: Marine Fish Tour, a 30-minute tour introducing the fascinating fishes of Buloh.

Time: 9.30 am and 3.30pm for walk in guests, register at the Visitor Centre. Those coming with large groups are advised to pre-register.
Tour duration: one to one and a half hours. Easy trails, some suitable for young children.
Entry charges: $1 per adult, 50cents per child/student/senior citizen.
Contact: sbwr@pacific.net.sg or call 6794 1401

7 Apr (Sat): Free Evolution Garden Tour, Singapore Botanic Gardens

Journey through time with our volunteer guides in this one-hour tour. Bizarre plants, bubbling pools of hot lava and lots of other things you wouldn't expect to see in a botanic garden!

Time: 9am, register at Visitor Centre Time. Register 15 minutes before the tour. Registration is on a first-come-first-served basis.
Contact : Visitor Services (6471 7361)

8 Apr (Sun): Bidadari Nature Walk with Goh Si Guim
for NSS members only

Tranquility has returned to Bidadari Muslim and Christian Cemetery now that exhumation work is over. This green, wooded oasis was relatively rich in flora and fauna. How did the wilderness and its denizens survive the exhumation work? We will investigate in this leisurely walk.

Time: 8am, meet outside Exit B of Potong Pasir MRT Station.
Contact: More details about the Nature Society (Singapore). To join the NSS, email contact@nss.org.sg or call 6741 2036.

8 Apr (Sun): MacRitchie Prunus Trail free guided walk

You'll see breath-taking views of the reservoir and surrounding forests and learn more about the freshwater and land wildlife and plants there. This stroll on the boardwalk is suitable for young children. more

Time: 9.25am. Meet at entrance of the trail, about 50m after the canoe kiosk on the eastern side of MacRitchie Reservoir Park.
Tour duration: about one hour.
To join the guided tour, you will need to pre-book.
Contact: vanessa_chang@nparks.gov.sg or call :6554 5127.

8 Apr (Sun): Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve free guided walk

You'll see the fabulous plants and animals of the mangroves and freshwater wetlands. Besides the abundant bird life, there is also other fascinating wildlife in the Reserve. more

Time: 9.30 am and 3.30pm subject to availability of volunteer guides; for walk in guests, register at the Visitor Centre. Those coming with large groups are advised to pre-register.
Tour duration: one to one and a half hours. Easy trails, some suitable for young children.
Entry charges: $1 per adult, 50cents per child/student/senior citizen.
Contact: sbwr@pacific.net.sg or call 6794 1401