The Straits Times, 1st November 1997
WE HAVE carried out a quick survey of the extent of the ecological damage on the shores of the western group of the Southern Islands, focusing on the birdlife.
We surveyed the shore birdlife on previous trips, and this has helped us obtain a reasonably good picture of the current situation.
Attention was focused on the birdlife, as this is the most visible category of wildlife on the shores and whose survival measures at this stage of the spill may be more fruitful.
Given the extent of the disaster, the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) did a good job of containing the extent of the disaster.
Despite the conscientious efforts, however, some of the spill has gone onto the islands as far north as Pulau Bukom, coating the shoreline at high-water mark with a thick layer of oil.
The oil collects most heavily on the grassy and rocky shores as well as the base and roots of mangroves.
In terms of the birdlife, the following were noted:
In the survey, only five species of wading birds were present, and in very small numbers (about 10 - 20 per cent of those sighted on previous trips).
Under normal conditions, a survey of this sort would yield at least 10 shore species.
The marked scarcity of migratory shore species may be in part due to the haze, but there is also a reduction in the number of resident shore species spotted.
Only one, the reef egret, of the five resident wading species was seen.
The heavy concentration of oil on the shores may have driven them to seek refuge in other islands not affected by the spill.
What is of most concern is that none of the endangered great-billed herons was spotted.
Their population in Singapore is very small, but previous trips had yielded at least a couple of sightings.
Some of the following species were seen coated with oil -- the reef egret, the common sandpiper, the little egret and the pied fantail -- all typically shoreline species.
The cleaners at work at Pulau Hantu informed us that five collared kingfishers were found dead on the beach, stained with oil.
We are aware that the MPA is doing its utmost to protect and clean up the affected popular beaches, such as the one at Pulau Hantu.
Efforts are mainly concentrated on the protection of recreational venues with a purely human orientation, as seen in the quick action in putting up booms around Sentosa and the Kusu islands.
We are concerned especially that so far no effort has been made to extend the clean-up operation to Semakau, designated as a "nature area" in The Singapore Green Plan, which "aims to protect and conserve" and "ensure" that the 19 nature areas identified in the plan remain "dedicated to the preservation of nature".
Resources may perhaps be limited, but we urge that some priority be given to cleaning the shorelines that are important for wildlife as well, for the following ecological considerations:
It is a matter of life and death for these wildlife.
This is the migratory season and waves upon waves of wading birds will be passing through these islands, stopping along the coasts to recharge their energy before moving further south or simply to take refuge here.
The migration is in full swing now.
Birds already affected by the oil will probably not survive for long. Cleaning the important shorelines will help those that have yet to land around these parts and so reduce the extent of wildlife casualties.
These shores are the haunts of our two locally rare and endangered wading species -- the great-billed heron and the beach thick-knee.
These two endangered local species, together with the others, may have taken refuge in the other islands for the time being, but efforts should be made to clean up their home grounds so that they can return soon without getting stained by the oil.
In this way, we can help in the recovery of the other local species as well.
For the birds, intervention can be most fruitful.
They come into contact with the oil only when they use the shoreline for feeding purposes.
They are directly affected when their feet and bill are coated by the oil in the course of wading around the oil-stained shore and rocks.
This leads to the matting-up of their feathers when they preen and clean themselves.
As long as some of the fish and shore organisms survive and recover, these birds will have a chance to survive.
This is provided the oil-slick does not get onto their feathers or bodies.
Therefore, we urge the relevant authorities to carry out cleaning operations on the affected embankments, sandy and rocky shores, as well as the affected mangroves, of the following sites, and as soon as possible:
1) Pulau Anak Bukom -- an important nesting and roosting site for resident shore species;
2) The western shoreline of Pulau Semakau -- a "nature area" in The Green Plan;
3) Pulau Salu -- haunt of the beach thick-knee, the reef egret and the great-billed heron; and
4) Pulau Busing -- feeding and roosting ground of the migratory shore birds.
HO HUA CHEW
Chairman
The Conservation Committee
The Nature Society (Singapore)