19 May (Mon): Screening of "Remember Chek Jawa"

“Remember Chek Jawa” is an independent documentary by Eric Lim. It chronicles the efforts of individuals who volunteered to help out with Joseph Lai’s biodiversity survey of Chek Jawa, one of several efforts that would provide feedback to government.

Many efforts and factors eventually contributed to the deferment of reclamation at Chek Jawa. Eric Lim was particularly inspired by one element that he witnessed - the efforts of the ordinary, urban Singaporean’s efforts to help out a tiring, muddy and incomprehensible biodiversity survey, at a time when all hope had been lost.

The video shoot was sporadic and conducted between July 2001 - 2004. Post-production was an ongoing process from 2001-07 whenever my schedule allowed. It was finally completed in March 2007. The film was first unveiled at Wildlife Asia on 13 Mar 2007.

More about the film on the Remember Chek Jawa website.

Time: 9.30-10.30pm
Venue: Sinema Old School, 11B Mount Sophia, #B1-1.
Cost: $5/$4 student concession
Contact: 6336 9707 or oldschool@sinema.sg

18-23 May: Free traditional wayang at Pulau Ubin

from Adelle of NParks via the pulau ubin volunteers mailing list:

"If you have been to Ubin these few days you would have seen the many colourful flags and lanterns that line the jetty, the Ubin town and nearby temples.

In celebration of Vesak Day, there would be a 6 days Wayang performance organised by villagers on Ubin from 18 May (Sun). There are a few bumboats bringing visitors to and from Ubin in the evening 6.30pm / 7.30pm till 11pm for free. (more details see the below poster in chinese)

But do note that there is a non-traditional performance - "GE TAI" on the 23rd May. So if you want to see traditional wayang, come on other days"More about traditional wayang at Pulau Ubin and more details on the Pulau Ubin Stories blog

More about Pulau Ubin and how to get there and about wayang at Ubin on the wildsingapore website.

Time: 6.30pm/7.30pm till 11pm
Venue: Pulau Ubin wayang stage

12-18 May: Highlights of the week ahead

A special appeal: please support the Acres Gala Dinner “Voices of the Wild” on 23 Mar (Fri). There are still plenty of seats available for this special celebration of ACRES' 7th anniversary. This black-tie event promises an evening of fabulous food, wine and enthralling entertainment in support of wildlife.

Join the special Mad about Moths for kids event! Places are still available.

Two new bridges have just been opened, creating a 9km scenic walk linking Telok Blangah Hill Park with Mount Faber, Kent Ridge Park. Here's more details.

In the gardens, there's a free walk at the National Orchid Garden,

In the mangroves, join the guided walks at Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve on Saturday and Sunday.

For the more active, this weekend is the last of the PowerWalk sessions at Sun Plaza Park.

For Nature Society (Singapore) members only, there's a Kent Ridge nature walk.

Other special events include the Go Green with Artworks at the Library.

Or try stargazing on Friday evening at the Science Centre.

Talks this week include

• Family Holidays to Animal-Friendly Destinations by Acres
• Life - To Give or Not To Give by Karen Teo of NParks
• Mad about Moths: Emperor Moths & Friends from SE Asia & the Amazon by Dr Preston Murphy
• Seminar on Climate Change and Non-Traditional Security: Beyond Climate Wars?
• Climate Change and Asia: Risks, Opportunities and Policies 2008 an SIIA public conference

Now open for registration

• 5 Jul (Sat) and 6 Jul (Sun): Intertidal walk at Pulau Semakau
• 29 Jun (Sun): Dive Pulau Hantu
• 8 Jun (Sun): SPCA Fun Run
• 7 Jun (Sat): Pedal Ubin
• 30 May (Fri): Young Naturalist Passport Camp
• 25 May (Sun): Dive Pulau Hantu
• 24 May (Sat): First Singapore National Animal Welfare Symposium

The photo of the week is more intriguing stars of Cyrene Reef! We just can't seem to get enough of this marvellous reef! More about the reef on the facebook group

Seastar, originally uploaded by il_mare77.

18 May (Sun): Mangrove walk at Sungei Buloh

Free guided nature walk along the Mangrove boardwalk under shady mangrove trees. Spot mudskippers, crabs and other marine life, learn about our mangroves, enjoy views of the Johor straits.

Suitable for young children.

Registration is not required for small walk-in groups. But each walk is limited to 15 persons per guide and is on a first-come -first-served basis. The walks are weather permitting and may merge with other activities at the Reserve. Those coming with large groups are advised to pre-register.

More about the Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve on the wildsingapore website and Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve website. This walk is conducted by the volunteer guides of NParks' Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve and is held every Sunday morning, subject to availability of guides.

Time: 9.30 am (subject to availability of guides) for walk in guests, register at the Visitor Centre.
Tour duration: One to one-and-a-half hours. Suitable for young children.
Entry charges: While the walk is free, admission fees to the Reserve apply: $1 per adult, 50cents per child/student/senior citizen.
Website: http://www.sbwr.org.sg/
Contact: sbwr@pacific.net.sg or call 6794 1401

18 May (Sun): PowerWalk at Sun Plaza Park

Want to keep fit and enjoy nature at the same time? Join the PowerWalk sessions every weekend morning at selected parks. PowerWalk is a brisk-walking activity led by fitness instructors at parks, park connectors and nature reserves. Apart from gaining many potential health benefits from brisk-walking such as reducing your risk of heart disease and strengthening bones, you can also enjoy the fresh morning breeze and make new friends in the park.

This event is held every Sunday from 30 Mar - 18 May at Sun Plaza Park

Time: 8-10am
Website: http://www.nparks.gov.sg/
Contact: 6296 0163 info@i-active.com.sg to register or simply turn up at the venue

18 May (Sun): Talk on "Family Holidays to Animal-Friendly Destinations" by Acres

Planning your next holiday and curious about what an animal-friendly holiday means? Being environmentally friendly these days goes beyond reducing, reusing and recycling.

Animal-friendly tours are all about being responsible and doing your part to say “No!” to animal exploitations while on the move. Learn more about how you can be a more responsible individual to our ailing planet in this sharing session.

The talk is held in conjunction with the “Saving the Wildlife” exhibition at the Tampines Regional Library. Brought to you by ACRES.

Time: 2-3pm
Venue: Changi/Simei Room at the Tampines Regional Library
Website and contact: http://golibrary.nlb.gov.sg/Event.aspx?EventID=24751

17 May (Sat): Kent Ridge Nature Walk

for Nature Society (Singapore) members only.

Nature walk with Goh Si Guim at Kent Ridge Park. This forested hill is part of the southern ridges of Pasir Panjang that includes Kent Ridge, Telok Blangah Hill and Mt Faber. The mature secondary forest offers refuge to wildlife and respite for busy urban dwellers. This late afternoon walk will taper into the twilight for us to catch glimpses of bats starting their night shift. Please bring along a torch light and the recently launched Wild Animals of Singapore photographic guide published by the Vertebrate Group of NSS.

Time: 4 pm, meet at the first carpark left of Vigilante Drive (off South Buona Vista Road).
Website: http://www.nss.org.sg/
Contact: email contact@nss.org.sg or call 6741 2036.

17 May (Sat): Talk on "Moths: Emperor Moths & Friends from SE Asia & the Amazon"

To celebrate Earth Day and World Biodiversity Day this year, NParks Conservation Division is organising a four-week Biodiversity Talk Series.

As part of this Series, Dr Preston Murphy will talk about "Mad about Moths: Emperor Moths & Friends from SE Asia & the Amazon" to highlight the beauty of moths in Asia as well as in South America. This talk, targeted at adult nature lovers, will focus on the diversity of large moths and dispel the myth that all moths are dull in colour and unattractive.

Dr Preston Murphy is former President of Lectret Precision Pte Ltd., Singapore, and continues to consult with the company on communications products. He and his wife Mireille are avid eco-travellers and have been to places as wild as Papua New Guinea to look for the birds of paradise. He is a passionate nature photographer, specialising in moths and butterflies.

All are welcomed!

Time: 2-3pm
Venue: Classroom 3, Botany Centre, Singapore Botanic Gardens
Website: http://www.nbrcnparks.org/
Contact: Wei Ling LIM lim_wei_ling@nparks.gov.sg

17 May (Sat): Mad About Moths for Kids

To celebrate Earth Day and World Biodiversity Day this year, NParks Conservation Division is organising a four-week Biodiversity Talk Series.

As part of this Series, Cicada Tree Eco-Place will conduct Mad About Moths for Kids to share its fascination with our less-known friends, moths. We will offer two concurrent 1.5 hour sessions on moths called Mad about Moths—one for adults and one for kids.

Mad about Moths for Kids will teach kids aged between 5 and 9 how to recognize moths, the differences between moths and butterflies, the life cycle of a moth, why moths are important members of our living planet, and what we can do to make a difference to moths! Children will also get a chance to take quick walk in the Gardens to see some butterflies so as to learn the major differences between moths and butterflies. This session will be fun and engage a young learner.

Cicada Tree Eco-place is a new non-profit, non-governmental organization that promotes nature, culture and eco-living through environmental education. Founded in Singapore in 2007, and managed by volunteer educators and environmentalists, it is named after a native freshwater swamp plant whose habitat is locally endangered, Ploiarium alternifolium (Cicada Tree or Riang Riang).

All are welcomed!

Time: 2-3pm
Venue: Tanglin Core Information Counter, Singapore Botanic Gardens
Website: http://www.nbrcnparks.org/
Contact: Wei Ling LIM lim_wei_ling@nparks.gov.sg

17 May (Sat): Walk at the National Orchid Garden

A leisurely stroll through a garden of orchids and other special plants.

This walk is conducted by the volunteers of the Singapore Botanic Gardens and is held every third Saturday of the month.

Time: 9am, 10am, 11am and 4pm, register at Visitor Centre 15 minutes before the tour starts. Registration is on a first-come-first-served basis.
Tour duration: One hour.
Cost: While the tour is free, admission charges to the Orchid Garden applies: $5/adult, $1/student, $1/senior citizens (above 60 years) , Child below 12 years - Free
Website: http://www.sbg.org.sg/
Contact: Visitor Services 6471 7361