Thursday, July 27, 2017

New Mandai wildlife crossing to be up by 2019

Source Website: http://www.tnp.sg/news/singapore/new-mandai-wildlife-crossing-be-2019
By Ronald Loh, Reporter, The New Paper, 27 July 2017 at 06:00 am


An artist's impression of the new Eco-Link bridge over Mandai Lake Road.
PHOTO: An artist's impression of the new Eco-Link bridge over Mandai Lake Road.
The wildlife crossing, which will measure 44m-wide, 110m-long and up to 9m in height, will allow animals to safely get across parts of the Central Catchment Nature Reserve.
Awareness training and shepherding plan among measures to reduce impact on native wildlife.
PHOTO: MANDAI PARK HOLDINGS
Picture posted by Ronald Loh, Reporter, The New Paper, 27 July 2017 at 06:00 am
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAp54WSYa7wESEeGWq2SzuYO3CzyzAD99C6I6q1fZdRm_QsSkcdXmVx8SlUUz_315BUtioXvPOAkKij1D2WRxBvJbEUne0x1-XbHOnsfAxLuYEXzKG5HlmSiwaMu0Oyrw9NnmKPf4z1tMm/s1600/NP_20170727_RLMANDAI27_1596502.jpg
http://www.tnp.sg/sites/default/files/styles/rl680/public/articles/2017/07/27/NP_20170727_RLMANDAI27_1596502.jpg?itok=bK8li6A1
http://www.tnp.sg/news/singapore/new-mandai-wildlife-crossing-be-2019


To reduce the impact on native wildlife found in the natural forests surrounding an upcoming eco-tourism hub in Mandai, a new Eco-Link bridge will be built over Mandai Lake Road.

The wildlife crossing, which will measure 44m-wide, 110m-long and up to 9m in height, will allow animals to safely get across parts of the Central Catchment Nature Reserve. It will be completed by 2019.


Mandai rejuvenation project completion dates
PHOTO:Mandai rejuvenation project completion dates
Posted by Ronald Loh, Reporter, The New Paper, 27 July 2017 at 06:00 am
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHtgnbeIkIKYX8IzFXIMVTx8mVI0e3cwUW1S0_wsHB7OoyBqLGWP7b7qhYhX6u0gslzETLYDAb8o2OrJbNckbmhkUdG2W4DrHdAhqOL2BjtgYQ8KlJ_byPnRFPKllbtM2RAUHNhlR4R6jp/s1600/Mandai+rejuvenation+project.jpg
http://www.tnp.sg/news/singapore/new-mandai-wildlife-crossing-be-2019


The nature reserve is currently split into two parts by Mandai Lake Road, which leads to the Singapore Zoo and its neighbouring wildlife parks.

The rejuvenation project also includes two new wildlife parks, the Rainforest Park and the relocated Bird Park, which were announced earlier this year and will join the existing Singapore Zoo, Night Safari and River Safari cluster by 2023.


A new Eco-Link bridge will be built over Mandai Lake Road.
PHOTO: A new Eco-Link bridge will be built over Mandai Lake Road.
The nature reserve is currently split into two parts by Mandai Lake Road, which leads to the Singapore Zoo and its neighbouring wildlife parks.
The rejuvenation project also includes two new wildlife parks, the Rainforest Park and the relocated Bird Park, which were announced earlier this year and will join the existing Singapore Zoo, Night Safari and River Safari cluster by 2023.
Picture posted by The Straits Times on 27 July 2017
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilS28bjeteydWi7dJV9ZyGhO1152kVzarou3cv7qNaEXutEVlkRFHazF3DJfXmGZBf0YOfdwPMVnrdyRrRAfq1PomrUA6DFWVLO-1JHZh6lkE67quSjJkeJ01wMPgL4FsH5Ns_xZefTyIS/s1600/st_20170727_aumandai27n_3305130-page-001-1.jpg
http://www.straitstimes.com/sites/default/files/articles/2017/07/27/st_20170727_aumandai27n_3305130-page-001.jpg
http://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/environment/mandai-eco-link-for-animals-to-be-ready-by-end-2019


In a press briefing yesterday, developer Mandai Park Holdings (MPH) also announced that its workers and contractors at the project site will have to undergo biodiversity awareness training to recognise and deal with sightings of local wildlife to ensure appropriate behaviour towards the wildlife.

MPH said construction of the Eco-Link bridge, similar to the one spanning the Bukit Timah Expressway, started earlier this year and will create a conducive and sheltered passageway for animals.

RECOMMENDATIONS
The bridge, which was among the recommendations in the Environmental Impact Assessment report released in July last year, will not be accessible to the public.

Mandai Park Development's senior vice-president and project lead Philip Yim said a wildlife shepherding plan will also be implemented to carefully divert wildlife away from sites before hoardings are put up for construction to begin.

Even as construction is underway, artificial crossing aids such as poles and rope ladders will be put up on Mandai Lake Road to help arboreal and gliding animals such as the Malayan colugo and the slender squirrel cross safely, said MPH.


The bridge across Mandai Lake Road will allow arboreal and gliding animals such as the Malayan colugo and the slender squirrel, and other animals to safely get across parts of the Central Catchment Nature Reserve.
PHOTO: The bridge across Mandai Lake Road will allow arboreal and gliding animals such as the Malayan colugo and the slender squirrel, and other animals to safely get across parts of the Central Catchment Nature Reserve.
Picture posted by The Straits Times on 27 July 2017
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8oMMugyhDzc_njVyvYyknMffk6pDpGv6ORqtUcIacYYXs2mCEEN6JFHZgsUC7lyAhYbPyRIe7QfkzklbUP9wK2dmV-tIAL-_gHpGDX78i0yhWmEmapH0jyix6ME72dSzisfGo8ioNOCkf/s1600/st_20170727_aumandai27n_3305130-page-001.jpg
http://www.straitstimes.com/sites/default/files/articles/2017/07/27/st_20170727_aumandai27n_3305130-page-001.jpg
http://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/environment/mandai-eco-link-for-animals-to-be-ready-by-end-2019


Wildlife specialists and arborists will also inspect trees, including for active bird nests, animals living inside or burrows, before any tree transplanting or removal can be done, it added.

Its chief executive officer, Mr Mike Barclay, said: "It is our vision for the future precinct to continue providing conducive habitat corridors for local wildlife to find shelter in our parks and to connect with the adjacent nature reserve."

Mr Alan OwYong, a committee member of the Nature Society (Singapore) bird group, said: "Any additional help for animals and birds to move safely across (the nature reserve) is good, although we will be able to tell how beneficial it is only when it is completed and we have a chance to do a survey post-completion."


Media seen at site tour of the new proposed site for the future Bird Park at Mandai, taken on 26 July 2016.
PHOTO: Media seen at site tour of the new proposed site for the future Bird Park at Mandai, taken on 26 July 2016. The project involves the development of approximately 35.4 ha of land to the west of the existing Singapore Zoo. Historically, the disused land included a village, farmland and The Mandai Orchid Farm.

Mandai Park Holdings (MPH), which commissioned the EIA, could look into more “green connections” to help animals “safely move from one area to another with minimum risk”.
Such links could include putting up ropes and continuous canopies for arboreal species, such as monkeys, squirrels and civets, to move freely between the trees, and identifying passage ways to prevent animals from going in the wrong direction. [2]
TODAY file photo
Posted by Toh Ee Ming, toheeming@mediacorp.com.sg on July 28, 2016 at 9:50 PM
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidYhskTxhmOAkKaMxXGCUsDMvncR94rbANGkRbU7CztIv-YjIZ2xGPbPATw1DLkzYEddnpsjw-uclbL-I5TOgIKigRIqskDcZjcqRzBeQHcc5f5d4ws8HcxNOzmTQHmAh26PTLNKR_YTFE/s1600/img_1438_read-only.jpg
http://m.todayonline.com/sites/default/files/styles/new_app_article_detail/public/photos/43_images/img_1438_read-only.jpg?itok=yioaTGtm
http://m.todayonline.com/singapore/nature-groups-propose-changes-alleviate-environmental-impact-mandai-park-construction

By Ronald Loh, Reporter, The New Paper, 27 July 2017 at 06:00 am


THE LIVING BRIDGE
PHOTO: THE LIVING BRIDGE: The Eco-Link@BKE, which is located about 600m north of Rifle Range Road, is the first of its kind in South-east Asia and aims to restore the ecological connection between two nature reserves - Bukit Timah Nature Reserve and Central Catchment area. [3]
PHOTO: NPARKS
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW263CCJK2sTLPfqolOP1SDg1zSrTWTy-J5IAsPfcOh6sCOyhGjgQ6A8lgGyoruce8wcc6VYsi1YBFuU7g2Z4ycw0s5T5humyY95Nsw_agkeIj0NavZFsCIvr_jcqyumcErcXo-GH8m-E/s1600/Eco-Link+%2540+BKE.jpg
mypaper, Thursday, 05 November 2015, Page A5, Top Stories
http://veryfatoldman.blogspot.sg/2015/11/take-walk-along-bridge-specially.html



Reference
[1] Ronald Loh, Reporter, The New Paper. New Mandai wildlife crossing to be up by 2019, posted on 27 July 2017 at 06:00 am, http://www.tnp.sg/news/singapore/new-mandai-wildlife-crossing-be-2019

[2] Toh Ee Ming, toheeming@mediacorp.com.sg, Nature groups propose changes to alleviate environmental impact in Mandai, posted on July 28, 2016 at 9:50 PM, http://m.todayonline.com/singapore/nature-groups-propose-changes-alleviate-environmental-impact-mandai-park-construction

[3] Carolyn Khew, Take a walk along bridge specially reserved for animals, posted on Thursday, 05 November 2015, http://veryfatoldman.blogspot.sg/2015/11/take-walk-along-bridge-specially.htmlBy Carolyn Khew, The Straits Times, Thursday, 5 November 2015, http://news.asiaone.com/news/singapore/take-walk-along-bridge-specially-reserved-animals
at