Wildlife Sanctuary
in Singapore: A Sneak Preview

Among the first descriptions of
Sungei Buloh Nature Park

To the former residents of Neo Tiew Road and Lim Chu Kang Road, the Sungei Buloh Nature Park is said to be situated at the "tail end of nineteen and a half miles". In the past, villagers used to shoot wild Lesser Tree Ducks (Dendrocygna javanica) there. It was more for sport for them as the birds were considered a delicacy. Today, all the residents have been resettled. Many do not know about the protected status of the Park. Tell tale signs of this protected status include the green fencing along the landward side of the reserve and the NO POACHING signs set up at various locations.

The Sungei Buloh Nature Park was designated a bird reserve and nature park by the Ministry of National Development in 1989. It is an important stop-over or re-fuelling point for many species of migratory birds which make their yearly round trip pilgrimage down south from the Siberian Arctic.

These birds flee the cold northern winter and fly along what is called 'The East Asian Flyway', a route stretching from the Siberian Arctic, down Japan, Taiwan, coastal Asia, Hong Kong, Thailand, the Malay peninsula, Singapore, Borneo, Indonesia, the Philippines and to Australia. They may stop over at Sungei Buloh for a few days or longer before visiting other sites along the way.

A migratory flock at rest

They arrive in flocks of hundreds and sometimes thousands. Their taking off and landing are often preceded by synchronised aerial manoeuvres. These are spectacular sights.

Apart from the birds from the Siberian Arctic, Egrets and Herons from China, Japan and South Korea also roost and feed at the reserve. These bigger birds are often seen silently and patiently stalking their prey which consist of fish, frogs and crustaceans. Some herons are resident to Singapore and can be seen all year round.

The Park is also home to resident kingfishers, nightjars, doves, pigeons, bitterns, quails, woodpeckers, sunbirds, weavers, tailorbirds, flycatchers, swifts and munias.

Mangrove trees and herbs, a fast disappearing flora in Singapore, characterise the plant life of the reserve. Mangroves have overcome atypical conditions of growth and evolved adaptive features to cope with harsh conditions. Their root systems, leaves and seedlings tell the story of how life-forms adapt to differing environments in the struggle to survive.

There are also fresh water ponds, a coconut grove and a small fruit orchard in the Park.

The Sungei Buloh Nature Park retains a slice of fast disappearing rural environment representative of part of our natural heritage.