Environment news in Madring Circuit
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Bowmouth guitarfish filmed at Bedok Jetty, first Singapore record since 1995
A bowmouth guitarfish was filmed by anglers at Bedok Jetty on Oct 29, 2022, and formally documented in a report published by the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum on Aug 31. It is the first confirmed record of the critically endangered species in Singapore waters since a specimen was netted off Marine Parade in 1995.
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NParks removes six unhealthy tembusu trees at MacRitchie Reservoir Park
Six tembusu trees at MacRitchie Reservoir Park were removed by NParks on Sept 2 after inspections found them unhealthy, with decay and structural defects. The removals came to light after a Nature Society Singapore forum member posted photos of the stumps near the Paddle Lodge. NParks says native species will be planted to replace the trees.
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Over 10 hectares of peatland orchard on fire in Kampung Sungai Buntu
A fire broke out at a peatland orchard spanning over 10 hectares in Kampung Sungai Buntu, Pengerang, Kota Tinggi today. Firefighters received the call at 1.13 pm and have extinguished 6.07 hectares so far, with operations ongoing.
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NUS study: Sand with more oxygen helps microbes break down oil faster
A new study by the National University of Singapore found that microbes in well-drained, oxygen-rich beach sand degrade oil much faster than in waterlogged sand. The research, prompted by the 2024 oil spill, showed a 40% degradation rate in oxygen-rich conditions versus 5% in oxygen-poor conditions. The findings could help improve oil spill clean-up strategies.