It is a fabulous field guide which will be just as helpful on Singapore shores! Going through the book reminds me once again, how connected the shores are across the Johor Strait!The book features many of the familiar favourites that can be seen on Singapore shores. Such as the pretty peacock anemones and delightful zoanthids.
As well as all kinds of crabs which are also widely found on our shores.
We share the sea stars too! Including the magnificent Knobbly sea stars.
Wow, I recognise these nudibranchs!
There's also information about shore birds.
One creature Sungai Pulai still has that we have lost are dugongs! Earlier this year, SOS conducted a dugong blimp cam survey for dugongs at Sungai Pulai.
And of course, the seahorses are featured in the book.
For those who have wondered what can be found on Pulau Merambong, the intriguing island just off Tuas, the book reveals more.
Also featured are seagrasses, seaweeds, mangroves, fish, reptiles, mammals and more! The layout is clean and easy to navigate, there's a great glossary and I like the fact that the book begins with a chapter of visitor tips and ethics with guidelines on how to interact sensitively with the shores.The SOS team has kindly used some of my photos for their book, as well as photos by Debby Ng of the Hantu Bloggers! What a great way to contribute to a wonderful effort for a shore in Johor. Thank you for the opportunity.
How to buy the book? Please contact the SOS team at saveourseahorses@yahoo.com to make arrangements for purchase and delivery.
What is Sungai Pulai? The Sungai Pulai estuary "possibly the richest marine bio-diversity spot in Malaysia" and gazetted a Wetland of International Importance in 2003. The area may be impacted by plans to develop a massive petrochemical installation there. Sungai Pulai is one of the three Ramsar sites in Malaysia, that lies just across from Tuas. Thus reclamation at Tuas and plans for major developments at Tuas may also impact this huge wetland. Hopefully, greater awareness of Sungai Pulai will be raised among Singaporeans with plans to develop a cross-border tourist attraction involving Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve and three Johor Ramsar sites of Sungai Pulai, Pulau Kukup and Tanjong Piai.
The team at Save our Seahorses have been working hard to raise awareness and protect Sungai Pulai. Read more about their work in their report for 2008-2009.Want to see Sungai Pulai for yourself? You can visit with the SOS volunteers! Visit the SOS website (http://www.sosmalaysia.org/) for more details. TeamSeagrass member Joo Yong has joined them on their trips. It was Joo Yong who passed to me copies of the book from Choo.
Thank you Choo and Joo Yong!
And congratulations on an excellent guidebook!
More links
- New book on Sungai Pulai The Star 1 Jun 10;
- Dire Need To Protect Malaysia's Watersheds
Melati Mohd Ariff, Bernama 20 Apr 09; - Call to conserve seagrasses in Johor: Seagrass site of great value
The Star 1 Jan 09; - Seahorses in Johor under threat
Ahmad Fairuz, The New Straits Times 8 Nov 08; - Petrochemicals and seahorses
New Straits Times 4 Jun 08; - Do: Save our seahorses
Debra Chong New Straits Times 30 Sep 06 - Marine Conservation Area proposed at Sungai Pulai estuary, Johor Bernama 9 Nov 07
- Sungai Pulai mangroves to be cleared; EIA not yet done
An email from Save our Seahorses, 20 Nov 07 - Developer Allays Fears Over Project at Sungai Pulai Johor
Nisha Sabanayagam, New Straits Times Red Orbit 3 Jun 08 - Petrochemicals and seahorses
New Straits Times 4 Jun 08
