© Nature Society Singapore

Nature in Singapore

Plant Fact Sheet Get to know your plants in this first of a series by Wee Yeow Chin who profiles, in this issue, the intriguing Indian Birthwort (Aristolochia tagala).



Twilight for Bidadari Few people would wander into cemeteries to look for wildlife. Yet, Bidadari, one of Singapore's oldest cemeteries, was a haven for a wide variety of brids, lizards and other creatures, as Goh Si Guim found out to his delight. Alas, all this will soon be gone when the graves of Bidadari make way for housing and other developments.

Beautiful Bukit Brown Spared the fate of Bidadari is Bukit Brown, another—smaller—cemetery that harbours not only a pocket of nature, but is also a treasure trove of Chinese culture as Liz McKenzie discovers.


Singapore's Top Bird In the recently conducted mid-year bird census, the Javan Myna came up tops as Singapore's most common bird. Lim Kim Seng reports.



Heavenly Hoyas The beauty of hoyas is striking. The 200 recorded species of these twirling vines—many of which can be found in Singapore and Malaysia—have their own characteristic flowers which never fail to delight the eye as Leong Lup San discovers.


Tanjung Chek Jawa: A Treasure to Behold A unique ecosystem, found nowhere else in Singapore, thrives in Pulau Ubin. Alas,it is being threatened with extinction because of land reclamation. Chua Sek Chuan and Shawn Lum make an impassioned plea to save this area for future generations to enjoy.

Chek Jawa Days—A Father's LetterJoseph Lai's letter to his son depicts very movingly the beauty and poetry of nature and her place in our personal memories and shared heritage.


An Aquarium in the Wild Singapore's forest streams teem with some of the most colourful species of freshwater fish.
Yong Ding Li takes a closer look with photos by Robert Khoo.


Mangrove butterflies of Pasir Ris
Right next to the neighbourhood park of Pasir Ris is a pocket of mangroves that has become a habitat for some unusual butterflies as Simon Chan discovers.


Bukit Batok's Musical Wonders An old granite quarry transformed into a scenic park has become home to a variety of birds, as Ong Kiem Sian discovers.



Unveiling the Seas The wonders of the seas of Singapore and their myriad underwater creatures are unravelled in this fascinating account of marine life. By Chua Sek Chuan, with a portfolio of fabulous nudibranchs by David Wong.


Awakening to MacRitchie's Forest Riches Goh Si Guim takes us on a walk to explore the depth of MacRitchie's worth—its rich biodiversity



Our Smallest Woodpecker The hen-pecked spouse of our smallest woodpecker by Ong Kiem Sian, veteran birder and photographer, who refers to herself as nature's perpetual student. With fascinating details of their breeding habits, photos and a diagram of the nest-hole.


A Spectacle of Life at Sime Forest Dawn breaks at MacRitchie Reservoir and what greets the ear and eye is the myriad species of birds—migratory and resident—and their fleeting presence. Cheong Loong Fah, Lau Won Soon and Goo Chuen Hang capture the magic of our feathered friends as morning unfolds.

Flying Flowers The butterflies of Singapore are alluringly beautiful and appreciated by many. However, they are not mere ornaments that prettify gardens. These delicate insects also play a crucial part in Nature's wondrous web of life, which we are all a part of. Compiled by Betty L Khoo and Andrew Tay.

Close Encounters with Owls of Singapore These mysterious, nocturnal birds are sought out by Dr Ho Hua Chew as he attempts to document their lifestyles. He describes one encounter with a Brown Hawk-Owl "...as if I had encountered something out of this world".


Rainforest Rojak The wonders of MacRitchie Nature Trail are exhorted by Dr Shawn Lum. He walks this old rubber trail in the Central Catchment Area and shares his insights into some of the plants found there. Will the animals return too? asks Betty L. Khoo.