SINGAPORE – The hawksbill turtle, pixie dragonfly and Sunda pangolin are among 46 threatened plants and animals in Singapore that have been identified for recovery efforts to prevent their extinction.

In a statement on Saturday (Sep 3), the National Parks Board (NParks) revealed that the 46 species, comprising 31 plant species and 15 animal species, are classified as threatened under Singapore’s Red Data Book, and are found in isolated habitats where they are vulnerable to external threats.

The new targets were announced at the fifth Festival of Biodiversity at the Singapore Botanic Gardens by Senior Minister of State for National Development, Mr Desmond Lee.

“Singapore is a biophilic city, packed with biodiversity that we can celebrate and protect. And we have done so with active and comprehensive conservation efforts with close partnership with many passionate volunteers and (the) broader Singapore community,” he said.

The recovery efforts will span the next two to 10 years, and are being implemented to safeguard against the extinction of rare and endangered native species, NParks explained.

One animal that has been identified for recovery efforts is the Neptune’s cup sponge, a marine organism that was once thought to have gone extinct until it was rediscovered off the Singapore coast in 2011. Last year, the first transplantation of a Neptune cup sponge took place at the Sisters’ Islands Marine Park, where NParks hopes will increase opportunities for the sponge to reproduce sexually.

Meanwhile, Singapore’s first sea turtle hatchery will be set up on Small Sister’s Island as part of efforts to protect hawksbill turtles, another animal identified for recovery efforts.

In its statement, NParks also provided an update on the comprehensive biodiversity survey being conducted in Bukit Timah Nature Reserve that began in March 2015.

Several plant and animal species that were previously thought to be extinct, such as the Malayan porcupine and the slender walking catfish, have been discovered. Researchers have also discovered more than five potentially new spider species, the board said.

The survey is scheduled to be completed in March 2017.

The full list of plant and animal species identified for species recovery efforts are:

seanyap@sph.com.sg

Forty Chechen fighters attacked Moscow’s Dubrovka Theatre on Oct 23, 2002, leaving about 130 dead after a botched rescue attempt.

On July 20, 2012, a man killed 12 people and injured 70 others in Colorado, US, during a screening of The Dark Knight Rises at a cinema.

Last November, 89 people were killed in a terror attack at the Bataclan theatre in France during a rock concert.

An attack can happen at any cinema or concert theatre here.

That was why, yesterday, the Esplanade – Theatres On The Bay was used by the authorities for a simulated attack to test their response during a terrorist attack.

A singer was doing a cover of Frank Sinatra’s Fly Me To The Moon at the concourse when a man dragged a large bag into the unsuspecting crowd and left a minute later.

Security patrolling the area noticed the bag and realised it was an improvised explosive device.

As the song ended, the device exploded, sending shrapnel and bodies flying. Audience members trying to escape were mowed down by gunmen with assault rifles.

This was part of Exercise Heartbeat, the annual anti-terror exercise conducted yesterday morning.

It also featured the new SGSecure movement initiative that allows the public to notify the Singapore Police Force (SPF) of incidents via text message. (See report below.)

The Emergency Response Team took down the attackers and the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) attended to the casualties.

BE PREPARED

Speaking to the media after the exercise, Parliamentary Secretary for the Ministry of Home Affairs, Mr Amrin Amin, said it is important for Singaporeans to be prepared.

“We saw the attack of the concert hall in Paris, so this is not child’s play,” he said.

“It’s real and we have to prepare ourselves and know what to do in the event of an attack.”

The exercise involved 167 SPF and SCDF personnel, Esplanade employees and Kampong Glam Waterloo Residents’ Committee volunteers.

Superintendent Lynette Lim, commanding officer of Marina Bay Neighbourhood Police Centre, said this is the eighth edition of Exercise Heartbeat.

“What’s special about this year’s exercise is the incorporation of SGSecure, a national movement to train the community to be prepared for terror attacks,” she said.

“It is important that each and every member of the community understands these principles so they can react well in a terror attack – which Singapore is not immune to.”

What is SGSecure?

SGSecure is a national movement to train and prepare the public for terrorist attacks. It is expected to be launched at the end of the month.

Training began this year and will continue with more members of the public.

SGSecure includes the Run, Hide, Tell advisory, and the Press, Tie and Tell method of improvised first aid skills.

Members of the public were also told of the new ways to contact the police in emergencies.

These include sending a text message to 71999 if it is not safe to talk, as well as providing information through i-Witness on the Police@SG mobile application, which allows the sending of text, photos and videos to the police.

This article was first published on September 03, 2016.
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