Ever wondered what Changi looked like before the airport was built? Or how scientists documented Singapore'swildlife before cameras existed?
From a rare Shore Pit Viper drawing to a Japanese woodblock print of the Singapore Botanic Gardens, discover the fascinating world of natural history illustrations with Kathy Poh, Oral Historian from the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum, NUS, and Dr Michele Rodda, Senior Researcher/Curator from Singapore Botanic Gardens, NParks, as they delve into how these nature illustrations continue to shape our understanding ofSingapore's natural heritage. Plus, find out why these old-school drawings are still giving modern cameras a run for their money!
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Find the transcript for this episode here.
Mentioned in the episode:
· Illustrations of Indian Zoology
· Kubota Beisen’s woodblock prints of Singapore in 1889
· Eugen von Ransonnet’s lithographic print of Changi in 1876
· James de Alwis’ painting of Nervillia singaporensis in 1891 which was described in Singapore in 2020
· More on Signify
· More on Singapore Herbarium’s digitalisationefforts
Kathy and Michele’s recommendations:
What does it take to turn your passion for nature into a career? In this illuminating episode (pun intended!), we discover how two environmental educators found their calling in different corners of Singapore's biodiversity scene.
Join Dr Samantha Lai, Deputy Director of the National Biodiversity Centre at NParks, and Dennis Chan, founder of The Untamed Paths, as they share about their journey in environmental education and conservation. In a delightful coincidence, both guests brought the same essential work tool for the episode’s show-and-tell segment – a light! Through their stories, Samantha and Dennis shed light on the diverse paths that the field of environmental education can offer aspiring nature educators.
If you enjoyed this episode, follow us and check out the other episodes of our podcast series, That’s Wild!
That’s Wild is brought to you by the National Parks Board. Visit our website and follow us on our Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, Telegram and Twitter.
Find the transcript for this episode here.
Mentioned in the episode:
Samantha and Dennis’ recommendations:
What happens to illegal wildlife after they’re seized from smugglers at Singapore’s borders?
Discover dramatic rescue stories and learn how Singapore is stepping up efforts to combat wildlife trafficking through forensics, international collaboration and public education with Dr Anna Wong, Senior Director of the Wildlife Trade team at NParks and Dr Heng Yirui, a clinical veterinarian at Mandai Wildlife Group, as they reveal the complex journey of confiscated animals – from emergency veterinary care to rehabilitation.If you enjoyed this episode, follow us and check out the other episodes of our podcast series, That’s Wild!
That’s Wild is brought to you by the National Parks Board. Visit our website and follow us on our Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, Telegram and Twitter.
Find the transcript for this episode here.
Mentioned in the episode:
Anna and Yirui’s recommendations:
Around the region, forests are falling silent. Where did all the birdsong go?
Join Dr Jessica Lee, Head of Avian Species Programmes & Partnerships at Mandai Nature, and Xie Renhui, Director of Wildlife Trade at NParks, as they dive into the intricacies of the illegal songbird trade, unpacking its main drivers and impacts on both songbird and human populations in the region.
Jessica and Renhui touch on strategies that Mandai Nature and NParks have adopted to combat the illegal songbird trade, and share about their experiences putting forward a proposal to ban the commercial trade of the Straw-headed Bulbul at the 19th CITES Conference of Parties.
If you enjoyed this episode, follow us and check out the other episodes of our podcast series, That’s Wild!
That’s Wild is brought to you by the National Parks Board. Visit our website and follow us on our Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, Telegram and Twitter.
Find the transcript for this episode here.
Mentioned in the episode:
Learn more about CITES here.
More on the CITES Appendices here.
More on the IUCN SSC Asian Songbird Trade Specialist Group here and here.
Renhui’s recommendation:
Have you ever caught sight of the birds in the middle of our bustling city and wondered why they’re here?
Hear from Keita Sin, President of Bird Society of Singapore, and Dr Malcolm Soh, Principal Researcher of Wildlife Management at NParks, as they delve into the world of urban birds and how these avian residents have adapted to city life.
Sharing captivating stories of their encounters with both rare and common birds, Keita and Malcolm reveal insights from their research and explore the delicate balance between bird conservation and population management. Whether you're a bird enthusiast or simply curious about your daily encounters with these urban inhabitants, this episode offers a fresh look into Singapore's dynamic urban bird population.
If you enjoyed this episode, follow us and check out the other episodes of our podcast series, That’s Wild!
That’s Wild is brought to you by the National Parks Board. Visit our website and follow us on our Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, Telegram and Twitter.
Find the transcript for this episode here.
Mentioned in the episode:
Keita and Malcolm’s recommendations:
It is Wednesday my dudes. Know this frog meme? Ing Sind, Ingg Thong (Herpetological Society of Singapore) and Yin Xin (National Biodiversity Centre, NParks) all know it too – and they know even more about frogs!
Hop into their lively conversation with Elliott to hear more about the frogs in Singapore, their important role in the ecosystem, and how the Herpetological Society of Singapore’s Frog Call Library can help with conserving these charismatic critters.
If you enjoyed this episode, follow us and check out the other episodes of our podcast series, That’s Wild!
That’s Wild is brought to you by the National Parks Board. Visit our website and follow us on our Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, Telegram and Twitter.
Find the transcript for this episode here.
Check out the frog call library on Herpetological Society of Singapore’s website.
Ing Sing, Ingg Thong and Yin Xin’s book recommendations:
In this episode of That’s Wild, we shift our focus to the future of conservation – youths!
Co-founders of the CITES Global Youth Network Ting Wai Kit and Steffi Tan (who is also part of NParks’ Wildlife Trade branch) sit down with Xiaoyun to exchange stories about their varied experiences in conservation, and the immense importance and joy of partnering with regional friends to protect Southeast Asian biodiversity.
They also offer advice for fellow youths who want to contribute to conservation, but don’t know where to start. For listeners who fall in this category – you can start by giving this episode a listen!
If you enjoyed this episode, follow us and check out the other episodes of our podcast series, That’s Wild!
That’s Wild is brought to you by the National Parks Board. Visit our website and stay tuned to our latest updates on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Telegram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube.
Find the transcript for this episode here
Find out more about NParks’ Youth Stewards for Nature programme
Check out how World Wildlife Day Regional Youth Symposium 2024 went here
Volunteer with the Nature Kakis Network
Local organisations mentioned:
Listen to the delightful songs and calls of commonly-sighted birds in Singapore as Movin Nyanasengeran (Bird Society of Singapore) and Dillen Ng (National Biodiversity Centre at NParks) take us through the complexities of birdsong and calls, recount their own birding adventures, and give us a bird’s eye view of our bird conservation efforts here in Singapore.
Come take a gander – their lively conversation will have you en-raptor-ed for sure.
If you enjoyed this episode, follow us and check out the other episodes of our podcast series, That’s Wild!
That’s Wild is brought to you by the National Parks Board. Visit our website and stay tuned to our latest updates on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Telegram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube.
Find the transcript for this episode here
Participate in NParks’ citizen science programmes:
Learn more about local birds on the Singapore Birds Database, established as part of the Bird Society of Singapore
Credits for bird calls/song recordings from Xeno-Canto: Ding Li Yong, Okamoto Keita Sin, Joshua Chong, Kim Chuah Lim, Peter Boesman, Lars Buckx, Marcel Finlay
In this episode of That's Wild, we dive deep into the underwater world and talk about the surprising ‘re-discovery’ of the Neptune’s Cup sponge after its last sighting in Singapore waters in the 1870s.
Hear more from Karenne Tun, Director of National Biodiversity Centre at NParks, who was on the very dive where the sponge was first sighted again; and from Sam Shu Qin, co-founder of Our Singapore Reefs, who now leads regular community dive surveys of the Neptune’s Cup sponge population in our waters.
Karenne and Sam also speak about marine conservation in Singapore, the importance of citizen science, and share a fact or two about fascinating underwater critters.
If you enjoyed this episode, follow us and check out the other episodes of our podcast series, That’s Wild!
That’s Wild is brought to you by the National Parks Board. Visit our website and stay tuned to our latest updates on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Telegram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube.
Find the transcript for this episode here
Participate in NParks’ Intertidal Watch to document and monitor the intertidal biodiversity in Singapore
Resources mentioned in this episode:
What’s the scariest animal that Choon Beng has ever seen? The answer isn’t what you think it is.
Join reptile and amphibian enthusiasts Law Ing Sind and Law Ingg Thong (aka the Law Brothers) and NParks’ Group Director of Wildlife Management How Choon Beng, as they share about how human-wildlife encounters are managed in Singapore, and what it means to co-exist with our wild companions in our City in Nature.
If you enjoyed this episode, follow us and check out the other episodes of our podcast series, That’s Wild!
That’s Wild is brought to you by the National Parks Board. Visit our website and stay tuned to our latest updates on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Telegram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube.
Find the transcript for this episode here.
Check out the NParks Wildlife Booklet, a guidebook which covers several wildlife species commonly encountered in Singapore and the dos and don’ts when you encounter them.
Interested to find out more about the human-wildlife encounters in Singapore? Tune in to our series of public webinars hosted by NParks here.
Note: All biodiversity surveys were conducted with the appropriate research permits. The public is reminded that to stay on designated trails, as well as take note of the opening and closing times of our nature reserves and nature parks.
Is there wilderness in Singapore?
Xiaoyun unpacks this question with NParks’ Group Director of Conservation Lim Liang Jim, exploring how our perceptions of the ‘wilderness’ come to be, and how, through our Nature Conservation Masterplan, we have set out to rewild and conserve the diverse pockets of green nestled within Singapore’s lush cityscape.
If you enjoyed this episode, follow us and check out the other episodes of our podcast series, That’s Wild!
That’s Wild is brought to you by the National Parks Board. Visit our website and stay tuned to our latest updates on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Telegram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube.
Find the transcript for this episode here.
Resources mentioned in this episode:
