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05/08/04
05:36 Labrador Park Watch #1:
It's a lovely full moon morning. Today I'm joining Mindy
for the Labrador Park Watch programme. |
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05/08/04
06:18 Labrador Park Watch #2:
First things first...a yummy tosai breakfast at the little makan place
just before the park...yumm. |
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05/08/04
06:39 Labrador Park Watch #3:
It's still dark when I arrive. |
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05/08/04
06:42 Labrador Park Watch #4:
As I walk through the park to meet Mindy on the shore, I hear all
kinds of birds waking up in the trees on the hill. There were a few
people already out in the park, jogging or simply having a morning
walk. |
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05/08/04
06:45 Labrador Park Watch #5:
An early morning view of the shore. Mindy is waiting at the shelter
under the large tree just at the entrance to the shore. |
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05/08/04
06:52 Labrador Park Watch #6:
We set up on the shore as the sun rises over the jetty. It's a lovely
dawn. |
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05/08/04
06:52 Labrador Park Watch #7:
Labrador is the last natural rocky shore on the mainland and has hard
corals too. Unfortunately, easy access means there has been a lot
of poaching of its natural treasures. This has badly affected this
narrow shore. Mindy has volunteered to start a volunteer manned Park
watch to help educate those who come to literally take away Labrador
shore. |
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05/08/04
07:00 Labrador Park Watch #8:
We take a few moments to explore the shore. The bright yellow flowers
of the Simpoh Air greets us heartily from the vegetation in this,
our last natural coastal forest |
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05/08/04
07:24 Labrador Park Watch #9: The shore is golden with sargassum seaweed.
But is otherwise quite beat-up compared to our other natural shores
on our offshore islands.
Mindy told me about how she and the volunteers managed to stop two
guys from carrying off live corals on Sunday. The guys came with pails
and other equipment and said they thought they were "saving" the corals
from the park. They claimed they did not know it was illegal to remove
the corals. Here's the story and photos
of the incident |
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05/08/04
07:50 Labrador Park Watch #10:
But there are clear signs at the entrance and around the shore indicating
that the area is protected. The guys said from the poster, they thought
it was only illegal to remove crabs and shells. But not illegal to
remove corals!! |
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05/08/04 07:52 Labrador Park Watch #11:
There are detailed explanations at the entrance about how if every
visitor took one shell or one piece of coral, there would be nothing
left on Labrador. |
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05/08/04 07:54 Labrador Park Watch #12 (last):
Labrador Park is one of our only two Nature Reserves protected by
law. We need to protect her from ourselves. With proper respect and
care, the shore can recover to its natural glory for all to enjoy,
and not just a few aquarists or souvenir seekers. Want to make a difference
on this issue? Why not volunteer with the Labrador
Park Watch programme. |
wildsingapore
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