tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-54887375611743296432024-02-21T11:29:25.220+08:00Cyrene Reef Exposed!revealing Singapore's best-loved submerged reefRia Tanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09770926654830427210noreply@blogger.comBlogger45125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5488737561174329643.post-79616031484144014562014-02-16T15:30:00.000+08:002014-02-16T15:30:15.037+08:00Been to Cyrene: Exotic destination for students!"Cyrene Reef: not many people get to visit Cyrene, and even fewer know of its existence, for the matter!" says Tyronne Toh who shared about his experiences in the Raffles Ecological Literacy Programme.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGl1ywK5YoAMUoAkEUbuC4gGDTXBHNScNtasbUalRIz8oNZvArDJWQBEzkffBAwPJUsDocRf_xuJlC1VKQS3lY7SSL3OIfIuNbv9lEVgMUkpJHplk78kV8EUUvjFklXxf0cBSh7S9gkzE/s1600/image0021.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGl1ywK5YoAMUoAkEUbuC4gGDTXBHNScNtasbUalRIz8oNZvArDJWQBEzkffBAwPJUsDocRf_xuJlC1VKQS3lY7SSL3OIfIuNbv9lEVgMUkpJHplk78kV8EUUvjFklXxf0cBSh7S9gkzE/s320/image0021.png" height="267" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo from <a href="http://rafflespress.com/2014/02/15/please-mind-the-platform-gap-enrichment-programmes-raffles-ecological-literacy-programme/">Tyronne's blog post</a><u><br /></u></td></tr>
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As he explains, "every trip is an eye-opener; life and beauty are truly ubiquitous in nature- one simply has to take a closer look to realize this." <br />
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More about the Programme in Tyronne's post: <a href="http://rafflespress.com/2014/02/15/please-mind-the-platform-gap-enrichment-programmes-raffles-ecological-literacy-programme/">[Please Mind The Platform Gap] Enrichment Programmes: Raffles Ecological Literacy Programme</a>Ria Tanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09770926654830427210noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5488737561174329643.post-56478269321658869122012-06-26T07:00:00.000+08:002012-06-26T07:00:06.273+08:00Been to Cyrene: Illogically amazingSankar says after his Cyrene trip: How would you react if I told you that there is an entire reef, filled with a cornucopia of living things, smack in the middle of the industrial triangle, near a huge and busy shipping lane.<br />
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I know... That's what I thought. And yet, it exists! <br />
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<a name='more'></a>Sankar heads to the edge of the Reef, "where we were instantly overwhelmed by the sheer numbers of Knobbly Sea Stars AKA Chocolate Chip Sea Stars AKA Darth Maul Sea Stars (Sean's idea)"<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Notice the resemblance?</td></tr>
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Anyway, after walking around for a bit, we found a 6-sided Knobbly Sea Star...<br />
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That's like the Four-leaved Clover of the Sea<br />
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Read more about Sankar's trip to Cyrene on <a href="http://theshruggingnaturalist.blogspot.sg/2012/06/illogical.html">his blog</a>.Ria Tanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09770926654830427210noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5488737561174329643.post-45670098341555292922012-06-25T21:50:00.000+08:002012-06-25T21:50:17.121+08:00Dugongs of CyreneSingapore has <a href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/vertebrates/mammals/dugong.htm">dugongs</a>! There are signs of them on Cyrene Reef, even though it lies <a href="http://cyrenereef.blogspot.com/2010/04/reef-in-industrial-triangle-and-why-we.html">in the middle of the industrial triangle</a>.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnmXcWEPfK_ljs5BPCC_VyzFnrQhqpdq1WRCigfYlxuPNHvdbWpxAYnl3vqW_iP8IWLs8NfE2WZcRxO7BWtruWfoPfLNJ7Ggfi2rED8rZlLAWX7f3FkUXNwKlAL9SZSaCxFs66WGa0Zh0/s1600/sgw7a.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="328" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnmXcWEPfK_ljs5BPCC_VyzFnrQhqpdq1WRCigfYlxuPNHvdbWpxAYnl3vqW_iP8IWLs8NfE2WZcRxO7BWtruWfoPfLNJ7Ggfi2rED8rZlLAWX7f3FkUXNwKlAL9SZSaCxFs66WGa0Zh0/s400/sgw7a.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<a href="http://wildshores.blogspot.sg/2012/04/dugong-feeding-trails-at-cyrene.html">Siti first spotted</a> dugong feeding trails here in April, and we saw them again when Seagrass-Watch visited Cyrene Reef <a href="http://wildshores.blogspot.sg/2012/05/seagrasswatch-check-up-at-cyrene.html">last month</a>.<br />
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<a name='more'></a>There's also an awesome photo of dugong feeding trails at another Singapore submerged reef, Terumbu Pempang Laut which is just off the major refineries at Pulau Bukom, producing a large cloud of emissions. Seagrass-Watch visited here <a href="http://wildshores.blogspot.sg/2012/05/signs-of-dugong-in-south.html">last month</a> and immediately spotted these trails when we first arrived.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKUaqLmXZxq7WZlN8hRx_Lg8uQwCNB6nE0-vI6iK2qghuH_GkfZAPwzOTRN4nvcs_csyu39J1qpj9XAPxymj7A5tehDSV1bEBhGt5Dlcj0M8laTug_yMPu3WoNIFjyz2AlkCeCgd4CnOo/s1600/sgw3a.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKUaqLmXZxq7WZlN8hRx_Lg8uQwCNB6nE0-vI6iK2qghuH_GkfZAPwzOTRN4nvcs_csyu39J1qpj9XAPxymj7A5tehDSV1bEBhGt5Dlcj0M8laTug_yMPu3WoNIFjyz2AlkCeCgd4CnOo/s400/sgw3a.JPG" width="283" /></a></div>
Recent signs of dugongs in Singapore since 2007 to just a few months ago are featured in "Secret Sirens" in the mammoth issue of the <a href="http://www.seagrasswatch.org/magazine.html">Seagrass-Watch magazine</a> a double cover, flipped edition, Issue 45 + 46 June 2012 which features Dugongs and Manatees! <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wei Ling is looking at a dugong feeding trail at Chek Jawa,<br />
seen during <a href="http://teamseagrass.blogspot.sg/2007/01/first-teamseagrass-field-orientation.html">TeamSeagrass' first monitoring session</a>.</td></tr>
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There's lots and lots more about dugongs in this fabulous issue of the <a href="http://www.seagrasswatch.org/magazine.html">Seagrass-Watch magazine</a>.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIJjt7R0BppwvH9Y7wLo7d25G1afJSlCzayFnNe5Phyyq9HbMK2S-iKoxEzVYCc2nDYACx0Ve3CN57uk89LsLL9jFTxvDNChVcT_PhsLnNQ7tngK73i5XCp_w6mo6NlT38pi26K_W8v5o/s1600/sgw1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIJjt7R0BppwvH9Y7wLo7d25G1afJSlCzayFnNe5Phyyq9HbMK2S-iKoxEzVYCc2nDYACx0Ve3CN57uk89LsLL9jFTxvDNChVcT_PhsLnNQ7tngK73i5XCp_w6mo6NlT38pi26K_W8v5o/s400/sgw1.JPG" width="284" /></a></div>
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Want to see dugong feeding trails on Singapore shores? Join <a href="http://teamseagrass.blogspot.sg/">TeamSeagrass</a>!Ria Tanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09770926654830427210noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5488737561174329643.post-72943407924981775042012-06-24T19:50:00.000+08:002012-06-24T19:50:10.661+08:00Sharing Cyrene with MPALast week, I had the pleasure of sharing Cyrene with an intrepid team from the <a href="http://www.mpa.gov.sg/">Maritime and Port Authority</a> led by CE MPA Lam Yi Young and organised by the tireless Joanne Fang. <br />
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We started well before dawn and were rewarded with a glorious sunrise!<br />
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<a name='more'></a>Cyrene lies <a href="http://cyrenereef.blogspot.com/2010/04/reef-in-industrial-triangle-and-why-we.html">in the middle of the industrial triangle</a> and yet it has amazing marine life! <br />
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The sharp-eyed team spot all kinds of interesting marine life and had a literally first-hand look at some of them. Here's Joanne gently holding a sea urchin on her palm.<br />
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She later shared the photo of herself on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=4188095102954&set=a.4188032981401.178047.1301875712&type=1">facebook</a>. The sea urchin was very ticklish!<br />
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The tide was low long enough for us to have a quick look at the reefier part of Cyrene!<br />
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As we were leaving CE MPA stopped by to chat with Siti who was on Cyrene for her seagrass experiment. She shared more about her work and the seagrasses on Cyrene as well as elsewhere in Singapore.<br />
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Thanks to Joanne for organising this trip which arose from the little <a href="http://wildshores.blogspot.sg/2012/05/sharing-our-shores-with-mpa.html">talk for MPA last month</a>. And a big thank you to CE MPA and all the MPA staff who made time to come, and put up with my lame jokes and spotted so many great things on our trip!<br />
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More about the trip on the <a href="http://wildshores.blogspot.sg/2012/06/sharing-cyrene-with-mpa.html">wild shores of singapore blog</a>.Ria Tanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09770926654830427210noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5488737561174329643.post-4062120129535357932012-04-16T18:57:00.000+08:002012-04-16T19:01:03.353+08:00Dugong feeding trails at Cyrene!Siti saw dugong feeding trails at Cyrene Reef! Dugongs are also called sea cows because they only eat seagrasses.<br />
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We often see dugong feeding trails on Chek Jawa, even on Changi. But this is our first sighting of them on Cyrene!<br />
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<a name='more'></a>Siti was on Cyrene on 12 Apr (Thu) for her seagrass experiment when she spotted these typical furrows in seagrass meadows. <br />
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Cyrene has one of the best seagrass meadows in our Southern shores, with lush meadows of a wide variety of seagrass species. These include: <a href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/plants/seagrass/enhalus.htm">Tape seagrass</a> (<i>Enhalus acoroides</i>), <a href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/plants/seagrass/thalassia.htm">Sickle seagrass</a> (<i>Thalassia hemprichii</i>), <a href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/plants/seagrass/serrulata.htm">Serrated ribbon seagrass</a> (<i>Cymodocea serrulata</i>), <a href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/plants/seagrass/syringodium.htm">Noodle seagrass</a> (<i>Syringodium isoetifolium</i>), <a href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/plants/seagrass/ovalis.htm">Spoon seagrasses</a> (<i>Halophila ovalis</i>) and <a href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/plants/seagrass/halodule.htm">Needle seagrasses</a> (<i>Halodule </i>sp.). <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOdLY0kBIdV46p3-fP7n_pCfTkYE2NLGiDVdOeAqToOkm9HKOWpkJP2tNmLdA0tM1j-pZ_CCuGYPvoVfJpx3CdMCaC8AGy079chGpTIVZQEnQlFA5WdNOQhvF0jc7Mk-GT2rrhmGQcBCko/s1600/P1020052-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOdLY0kBIdV46p3-fP7n_pCfTkYE2NLGiDVdOeAqToOkm9HKOWpkJP2tNmLdA0tM1j-pZ_CCuGYPvoVfJpx3CdMCaC8AGy079chGpTIVZQEnQlFA5WdNOQhvF0jc7Mk-GT2rrhmGQcBCko/s400/P1020052-1.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
I hope the dugong is alright as Cyrene lies <a href="http://cyrenereef.blogspot.com/2010/04/reef-in-industrial-triangle-and-why-we.html">in the middle of the industrial triangle</a> made up of the massive industries on Jurong Island, huge refineries on Pulau Bukom and the world-class container terminals at Pasir Panjang. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHOe5_K_Ajkpeq055C9aqpgjWrTeoD71NnjmxcXO8bU8O_tid4PiLSWqcIMYaDJUEVVnozgN3FWDJpHGip-E19JocvNbq5PQ2ihXVQyQbkQ878wBikRRxtjIkbTJF71jzAUzoIvmRgJstg/s1600/industrial+triangle.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHOe5_K_Ajkpeq055C9aqpgjWrTeoD71NnjmxcXO8bU8O_tid4PiLSWqcIMYaDJUEVVnozgN3FWDJpHGip-E19JocvNbq5PQ2ihXVQyQbkQ878wBikRRxtjIkbTJF71jzAUzoIvmRgJstg/s400/industrial+triangle.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
The waters around Cyrene are major shipping lanes with heavy traffic in small and large vessels including container ships.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/wildsingapore/2440070179/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Cyrene Reef: Along major shipping lanes by wildsingapore, on Flickr"><img alt="Cyrene Reef: Along major shipping lanes" height="294" src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2194/2440070179_8ae2016c54.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
Kok Sheng also saw <a href="http://wondercreation.blogspot.com/2011/05/dugong-feeding-trails-at-southern.html">dugong feeding trails at Pulau Semakau</a> in May 2011, so there do seem to be dugongs in our Southern waters!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/wildsingapore/1059184316/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="TeamSeagrass at Cyrene Mar 07 by wildsingapore, on Flickr"><img alt="TeamSeagrass at Cyrene Mar 07" height="294" src="http://farm2.staticflickr.com/1017/1059184316_da4e85472c.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Intrepid TeamSeagrass volunteers on Cyrene.</td></tr>
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Want to do more for our dugongs? Join <a href="http://teamseagrass.blogspot.com/">TeamSeagrass</a>, volunteers who regularly monitor the health of seagrass meadows on Cyrene Reef, Pulau Semakau and Chek Jawa.<br />
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More about <a href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/vertebrates/mammals/dugong.htm">dugongs in Singapore</a>.Ria Tanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09770926654830427210noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5488737561174329643.post-48832658397601009452012-03-22T12:18:00.001+08:002012-03-22T12:18:45.940+08:00Sharing Cyrene with Shell volunteersThanks to Azlin from NParks, some volunteers from Shell visited Cyrene in December 2011 and January 2012! <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl8bZqdpsbXEnQUByawCgt_xWcFtxUHG4gnpZKnlTFhbNLS1IXYvadUN897unihVA4BVHccm3M6hW9VKHE-r9_jgH4NGH_EihJLB1AJcW5y0Q1D2ekVyBlF7E0iZQnujOVUQy8FVD6njje/s1600/DSC00727m6.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="293" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl8bZqdpsbXEnQUByawCgt_xWcFtxUHG4gnpZKnlTFhbNLS1IXYvadUN897unihVA4BVHccm3M6hW9VKHE-r9_jgH4NGH_EihJLB1AJcW5y0Q1D2ekVyBlF7E0iZQnujOVUQy8FVD6njje/s400/DSC00727m6.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The first team of volunteers who <a href="http://wildshores.blogspot.com/2011/12/cyrene-with-shell-volunteers.html">visited in Dec 2011</a></td></tr>
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Everyone had a great time and we saw lots of fabulous marine life!<br />
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<a name='more'></a>On some trips, the weather was rather wet and the tide a little high, but this didn't deter these intrepid visitors!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZJYTGLDjCpQz9Hcfzntk7tHpgq_8AAKeYSJxFq_m2YEk_i6jsY2Aw1T__gDjC61Ms87mt7RVDIPbdio2Cu577LFQ0vcSdwMo7SPZ7JzVq6HJkMzOIO_B-hSNcoTU8fMod8J6ms8nC2WeJ/s1600/DSC01691m6.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="293" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZJYTGLDjCpQz9Hcfzntk7tHpgq_8AAKeYSJxFq_m2YEk_i6jsY2Aw1T__gDjC61Ms87mt7RVDIPbdio2Cu577LFQ0vcSdwMo7SPZ7JzVq6HJkMzOIO_B-hSNcoTU8fMod8J6ms8nC2WeJ/s400/DSC01691m6.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The second team of volunteers who visited in <a href="http://wildshores.blogspot.com/2012/01/prickly-day-at-cyrene-with-shell.html">Jan 2012</a></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The third team of volunteers who visited in <a href="http://wildshores.blogspot.com/2012/01/day-of-snails-at-cyrene-with-shell.html">Jan 2012</a></td></tr>
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As we walk away from the landing point, a huge cruise ship passes by this major shipping lane next to Cyrene Reef. Although Cyrene lies <a href="http://cyrenereef.blogspot.com/2010/04/reef-in-industrial-triangle-and-why-we.html">in the middle of the industrial triangle</a> it has amazing marine life! <br />
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As usual, the giant <a href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/echinodermata/asteroidea/protoreaster.htm">Knobbly sea stars</a> (<i>Protoreaster nodosus</i>) are a key highlight of the trip!<br />
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We saw lots of <a href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/echinodermata/echinoidea/urchin/salmacis.htm">White sea urchins</a> (<i>Salmacis </i>sp). As usual, they were camouflaged by their habit of 'carrying' bits of debris. This sea urchin is more common on our northern shores like Chek Jawa and seldom seen on our southern shores. Indeed, this why in some ways, <a href="http://cyrenereef.blogspot.com/2010/04/cyrene-chek-jawa-of-south.html">Cyrene is the Chek Jawa of the South</a>. <br />
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We also saw lots of <a href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/mollusca/gastropoda/cassidae/glaucum.htm">Grey bonnet snails</a> (<i>Phalium glaucum</i>), including one eating a <a href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/echinodermata/echinoidea/sandollar/arachnoides.htm">Cake sand dollar</a> (<i>Arachnoides placenta</i>). There are lots of these sand dollars on Cyrene, but it's uncommon to see these snails during daylight. Perhaps it was because the water was still high!<br />
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Among the special finds spotted by one of the visitors, a <a href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/mollusca/gastropoda/ficidae/ficidae.htm">Fig snail</a> (<i>Ficus variegata</i>)! My first time seeing this on Cyrene! So far, we've only seen this snail in Changi, Changi East and at East Coast Park. <br />
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Cyrene is awesome even in less than ideal weather! The trips were made particularly memorable by the delightful company and sharp-eyed sightings by these volunteers from Shell.<br />
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Thanks to Shell and Azlin of NParks for coming to visit Cyrene!<br />
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More about these trips on wild shores of singapore in <a href="http://wildshores.blogspot.com/2011/12/cyrene-with-shell-volunteers.html">Dec 2011</a> and <a href="http://wildshores.blogspot.com/2012/01/prickly-day-at-cyrene-with-shell.html">9 Jan 2012</a> and <a href="http://wildshores.blogspot.com/2012/01/day-of-snails-at-cyrene-with-shell.html">10 Jan 2012</a>.Ria Tanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09770926654830427210noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5488737561174329643.post-10548078640659412032011-10-09T23:37:00.003+08:002011-10-09T23:37:47.455+08:00Cyrene featured by the World Seagrass AssociationCyrene's amazing seagrass meadows are featured on the <a href="http://wsa.seagrassonline.org/">World Seagrass Association blog</a>, thanks to Siti Maryam Yaakub who manages the blog.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/wildsingapore/3722430121/" title="Shipping next to Cyrene Reef by wildsingapore, on Flickr"><img alt="Shipping next to Cyrene Reef" height="294" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3496/3722430121_a0440b9486.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
This was a great opportunity to share with seagrass scientists and workers around the world, Cyrene's rich seagrass meadows, despite its location in the middle of this <a href="http://cyrenereef.blogspot.com/2010/04/reef-in-industrial-triangle-and-why-we.html" target="_blank">‘Industrial Triangle’</a>.<br />
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<a name='more'></a>The <a href="http://wsa.seagrassonline.org/">World Seagrass Association</a> is a global network of scientists and coastal managers committed to <br />
research, protection and management of the world’s seagrasses. The blog features seagrasses and work done on them throughout the world.Ria Tanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09770926654830427210noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5488737561174329643.post-69039804168693726842011-09-25T11:19:00.002+08:002011-09-25T11:19:43.976+08:00Cyrene Reef at the Biodiversity of Singapore Symposium III (24 Sep 11)Jocelyn Sze shares more about Cyrene Reef and the work done by <a href="http://teamseagrass.blogspot.com/2011/09/teamseagrass-at-biodiversity-of.html">TeamSeagrass</a> on the Reef, with the VIPs attending the <a href="http://biodiversitysingapore.wordpress.com/">Biodiversity of Singapore Symposium III</a>.
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How nice to be able to share about Cyrene Reef with the more than 300 people who attended the Symposium!<br />
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<a name='more'></a>Guest of Honour Brigadier-General (NS) Tan Chuan-Jin, Minister of State (MOS) for National Development and Manpower not only learnt more about Cyrene from Jocelyne. We also found out that he may be visiting Cyrene Reef! How exciting! Jocelyne took the opportunity to highlight some of the marinelife that he will see on Cyrene, including the awesome Pentaceraster sea star, a new record for Singapore <a href="http://cyrenereef.blogspot.com/2011/07/cyrene-sea-star-featured-in-singapore.html">first seen on Cyrene</a>.<br />
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During my very brief presentation on marine issues in Singapore at the Symposium, I also managed to squeeze in mention of Cyrene Reef.<br />
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Despite being in the <a href="http://cyrenereef.blogspot.com/2010/04/reef-in-industrial-triangle-and-why-we.html">middle of the industrial triangle</a>, it has <a href="http://cyrenereef.blogspot.com/2010/04/cyrene-chek-jawa-of-south.html">awesome marine ecosystems</a> including among the best seagrass meadows in Singapore!<br />
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<a href="http://wildshores.blogspot.com/2011/09/explosion-of-inspiration-biodiversity.html">More about what happened at the Symposium</a> on the wild shores of singapore blog.Ria Tanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09770926654830427210noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5488737561174329643.post-79104124652909077582011-08-07T09:58:00.001+08:002011-08-07T09:58:54.791+08:00Sharing Cyrene with CEOs NParks and URALast week, I had the pleasure of sharing Cyrene with two CEOs!<br />
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We had a great time exploring Cyrene's rich marine life!<br /><br />
<a name='more'></a>CEO NParks Mr Poon Hong Yuen was on the first trip. Sharp-eyed participants helped find special marine life such as the <a href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/echinodermata/asteroidea/pentaceraster.htm">Pentaceraster sea star</a> (<i>Pentaceraster mammilatus</i>). This sea star was <a href="http://wildshores.blogspot.com/2011/07/pentaceraster-sea-star-featured-in.html">first discovered on Cyrene</a> and is a new record for Singapore. <br />
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Among the other exciting finds, an <a href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/mollusca/cephalopoda/twospot.htm">octopus</a>!
There's a rush to have a look at it. Fortunately, the little beast was
quite obliging and allowed everyone to get a glimpse of it.<br />
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Also with the team were members of the NParks Board. As well as key members of NParks' <a href="http://www.nparks.gov.sg/cms/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=122&Itemid=124">National Biodiversity Center</a> who organised these trips and shared lots of interesting stories with everyone.<br />
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A few days later, I joined the same NParks team to share Cyrene with CEO URA Mr Ng Lang, who is great at spotting marine life. He found and gently caught a swimming crab to show everyone.<br />
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As usual, among the first things to greet us on the shore are lots and lots of large <a href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/echinodermata/asteroidea/protoreaster.htm">Knobbly sea stars</a> (<i>Protoreaster nodosus</i>)!<br />
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On this trip, we managed to show everyone 'Nemo'! The <a href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/vertebrates/fish/pomacentridae/ocellaris.htm">False clown anemonefish</a> (<i>Amphiprion ocellaris</i>) lives in the <a href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/cnidaria/actiniaria/gigantea.htm">Giant carpet anemone</a> (<i>Stichodactyla gigantea</i>) and is quite commonly seen on our shores, including Cyrene. But a bit shy and hard to spot at low tide.<br />
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On the sandy shores, we find several of the intriguing <a href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/mollusca/gastropoda/cassidae/glaucum.htm">Grey bonnet snails</a> (<i>Phalium glaucum</i>). These snails eat sand dollars, which of course, are found in the sand banks...haha...lame marine joke.<br />
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Cyrene remains rich with marine life despite the many pressures around it. During our trip, the huge dredger was still at work nearby. <a href="http://wildshores.blogspot.com/2011/05/dredging-right-next-to-cyrene-reef.html">Dredging has been going on near Cyrene</a> for some months now.<br />
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Cyrene is located <a href="http://cyrenereef.blogspot.com/2010/04/reef-in-industrial-triangle-and-why-we.html">in the middle of the industrial triangle</a> yet has marvellous seagrass meadows, sandy shores and coral reefs! It was a treat to be able to share these with the CEO and staff of NParks and URA!<br />
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Thank you to the team from NParks' <a href="http://www.nparks.gov.sg/cms/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=122&Itemid=124">National Biodiversity Center</a> for organising these trips! And to the participants for spotting so many interesting marine life and being so encouraging.<br />
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More about these trips on the wild shores of singapore blog <a href="http://wildshores.blogspot.com/2011/08/cyrene-and-raffles-lighthouse.html">here</a> and <a href="http://wildshores.blogspot.com/2011/08/sharing-cyrene-with-ura-and-nparks.html">here</a>.Ria Tanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09770926654830427210noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5488737561174329643.post-54964793675384008372011-07-22T20:04:00.002+08:002011-07-22T20:04:34.342+08:00Cyrene sea star featured in Singapore biodiversity posterThe Cyrene Reef Pentaceraster sea star is featured in the poster of "A Decade of Amazing Discoveries" by the <a href="http://rmbr.nus.edu.sg/">Raffles Museum of Biodiversity Research</a>!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2ATR0jTTvp4pcPTAfxtn87ND1Hei0J-YgFoPIiGrqVjnWtNTGSQuCuA47-41ueBmAvPr9WEVIStYQecQu7uD2RdUWfSRO-dsuE3jp4tZyZbCsemXAswglqGh9DKPv5OUeCqKccOP_IZw/s1600/A+Decade+of+Amazing+Discoveries+RMBR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2ATR0jTTvp4pcPTAfxtn87ND1Hei0J-YgFoPIiGrqVjnWtNTGSQuCuA47-41ueBmAvPr9WEVIStYQecQu7uD2RdUWfSRO-dsuE3jp4tZyZbCsemXAswglqGh9DKPv5OUeCqKccOP_IZw/s400/A+Decade+of+Amazing+Discoveries+RMBR.jpg" width="282" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Click on image for a larger view</td></tr>
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Thanks to Kai-xin for using my photo and giving me the soft copy of the gorgeous poster! For more about the celebration of <a href="http://wildshores.blogspot.com/2011/04/21-apr-2-may-exhibition-on-decade-of.html">"Decade of biodiversity discoveries and conservation in Singapore"</a>.<br />
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<a name='more'></a>The <a href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/echinodermata/asteroidea/pentaceraster.htm">Pentaceraster sea star</a> (<i>Pentaceraster mammilatus</i>) is a new record for Singapore and was first discovered on <a href="http://cyrenereef.blogspot.com/">Cyrene Reef</a> in 2008! <a href="http://wondercreation.blogspot.com/2008/04/stars-of-cyrene-reef.html">Kok Sheng blogged</a> about how Chay Hoon first spotted it in April 2008. Two weeks later, we <a href="http://wildfilms.blogspot.com/2008/04/stars-of-cyrene.html">returned to Cyrene</a> with Dr David Lane, an echinoderm expert who wrote the <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Guide-Stars-Other-Echinoderms-Singapore/dp/9810488033">Guide to Sea Stars and other Echinoderms of Singapore</a>. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxIYFj4MdAjQwiyW3mL93drb99yByaBQLREbpuZcRQWrzU6aA728EaY6e6FOkH-0Ym4QZqHt0qZbWLhA3_egSteGHnv0r3MMHW-chTOLz5YQmSjI7fbLXGC25HN8myc9eJd0LIoU05Av4/s1600-h/_DSC0043m6.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="294" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5193120381650105442" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxIYFj4MdAjQwiyW3mL93drb99yByaBQLREbpuZcRQWrzU6aA728EaY6e6FOkH-0Ym4QZqHt0qZbWLhA3_egSteGHnv0r3MMHW-chTOLz5YQmSjI7fbLXGC25HN8myc9eJd0LIoU05Av4/s400/_DSC0043m6.jpg" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Vyna, the rose among the thorns, <br />
found the sea star during Dr Lane's visit in April 2008.</td></tr>
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After the trip, <a href="http://naturescouter.blogspot.com/2008/04/super-star-of-echinoderm-hunt-part-ii.html">Sijie shares an update on his blog</a> that Dr Lane has tentatively identified it as <i>Pentaceraster mammillatus</i>. Sijie added that "Its distribution is that of Indian Ocean, but apparently with its appearance in Singapore, it has expanded its range. It is usually found in lower eulittoral and deeper region, on sand and seagrasses. However, the taxonomy of this group has some uncertainties, with gradations between species, possible hybrids and a closely related form living in the Philippines region." Sijie added that "it's an important find, indicating the cleanliness of our marine environment despite Singapore being one of the busiest port in the world. The new find is the reason why Cyrene is so amazing." Indeed!<br />
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In March 2009, <a href="http://wondercreation.blogspot.com/2009/03/cyrene-never-fails-to-amaze.html">Kok Sheng</a> noticed that some of them didn't look very well. But in 2010, we started to see baby Pentaceraster sea stars! <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4a5tcdW7SPaMd3Gyi14a2DvMYQMycBmDRgb74qBZvWC3U4ulmk7PEOBWWZHvFCGk7HbSOnfvKG11Ek5o_R9FyF-TsSOdww9FQ5xJBDOE8HFoYeLMrEQsjJKoQo9ixldIqd2tFdysN1d8/s1600/p1019697.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4a5tcdW7SPaMd3Gyi14a2DvMYQMycBmDRgb74qBZvWC3U4ulmk7PEOBWWZHvFCGk7HbSOnfvKG11Ek5o_R9FyF-TsSOdww9FQ5xJBDOE8HFoYeLMrEQsjJKoQo9ixldIqd2tFdysN1d8/s400/p1019697.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo by Sean on <a href="http://ourlittleurbaneden.wordpress.com/2010/04/03/star-studded-cyrene-incomplete/">his blog</a>.</td></tr>
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<a href="http://ourlittleurbaneden.wordpress.com/2010/04/03/star-studded-cyrene-incomplete/">Sean</a> saw a tiny one (about 5cm in diameter) in April 2010, <a href="http://wildshores.blogspot.com/2010/05/stunning-cyrene-at-sunrise.html">I saw</a> a small one (about 9cm) in May 2010 and <a href="http://wondercreation.blogspot.com/2010/06/starry-night-trip-to-cyrene.html">Kok Sheng</a> and <a href="http://colorclouds.blogspot.com/2010/07/predawn-trip-to-cyrene-reef-again.html">Chay Hoon</a> saw a slightly larger one in June and July 2010.<br />
<br />
We continued to see this delightful sea star over the years since then. They come in a variety of patterns and colours. I did a post about <a href="http://wildshores.blogspot.com/2010/04/special-sea-stars-breeding-at-cyrene.html">whether the Pentaceraster sea stars are breeding on Cyrene</a> and some of the past sightings of these amazing sea stars there.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhyphenhyphenfpAqX3uApvOps7hBGtmOu-ISE5HNKoAfISXwjiMluKsRrJi7vpyqSyBqLCb7fG-x9fqM9O39Kv2oqP2zb8mwe3qfMoITul4XpUkmISYjf8afuSGpB2EHw3QUPCsLMEcx0aBsclNin0/s1600/pentaceraster.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhyphenhyphenfpAqX3uApvOps7hBGtmOu-ISE5HNKoAfISXwjiMluKsRrJi7vpyqSyBqLCb7fG-x9fqM9O39Kv2oqP2zb8mwe3qfMoITul4XpUkmISYjf8afuSGpB2EHw3QUPCsLMEcx0aBsclNin0/s400/pentaceraster.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Top row red one by <a href="http://psychedelic-nature.blogspot.com/2010/08/zzz-trip-at-cyrene.html">Mei Lin</a>, <br />
Bottom row left most by <a href="http://wondercreation.blogspot.com/2011/05/lovely-surprises-from-cyrene-reef.html">Kok Sheng</a>, middle also by <a href="http://wondercreation.blogspot.com/2010/07/cyrene-in-dark.html">Kok Sheng</a>.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
During <a href="http://wildshores.blogspot.com/2011/07/moonlight-trip-to-cyrene.html">our Cyrene trip last week</a>, James and Geraldine found these two large ones which look somewhat different but have all the features of the Pentaceraster sea star.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieLUT8-Tz99oluqa1DrR7pr48h48oVbRkGgthpwOiWhvS9lI_4rbXCcd88VCBdmkLuDklu3x0pUIFezzZjnLbg_s5rU1OKpn4OGEdRcg2ZRquLxYRMdwzXdExTVACTSSDdHEyP4UcOajk/s1600/_DSC6788m6.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="293" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieLUT8-Tz99oluqa1DrR7pr48h48oVbRkGgthpwOiWhvS9lI_4rbXCcd88VCBdmkLuDklu3x0pUIFezzZjnLbg_s5rU1OKpn4OGEdRcg2ZRquLxYRMdwzXdExTVACTSSDdHEyP4UcOajk/s400/_DSC6788m6.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
In June 2010, I launched the new "Been to Cyrene" button during our trip to <a href="http://cyrenereef.blogspot.com/2010/07/sharing-cyrene-with-ura-june-2010.html">bring URA to see Cyrene</a>. It features the Pentaceraster sea star and the new <a href="http://cyrenereef.blogspot.com/">Cyrene Reef Exposed</a> blog.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmkkC3C-lMu0VXeFePmKm5u7HY-syEEM2wUzUeaxB6Z3s8rUHhmaGwH131i6XpBgRoL3i-G7KlxxEn5PYOdJCCt5wvsGQnNqFfrv87ig3lFMcQ7U4KH1aqhhrg8jH-JPlXW4ACoZexVAjX/s400/IMG_5152m6.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="293" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmkkC3C-lMu0VXeFePmKm5u7HY-syEEM2wUzUeaxB6Z3s8rUHhmaGwH131i6XpBgRoL3i-G7KlxxEn5PYOdJCCt5wvsGQnNqFfrv87ig3lFMcQ7U4KH1aqhhrg8jH-JPlXW4ACoZexVAjX/s400/IMG_5152m6.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
Cyrene Reef is indeed an amazing shore!<br /><br />This post first appeared on the <a href="http://wildshores.blogspot.com/2011/07/pentaceraster-sea-star-featured-in.html">wild shores of singapore blog</a>.Ria Tanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09770926654830427210noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5488737561174329643.post-32967756261489080582011-05-12T22:18:00.001+08:002011-05-14T07:17:12.200+08:00Been to Cyrene: "Exceeding expectations""I was in anticipation after being able to go to Cyrene - expecting to see stuff on other intertidal shores of Singapore", says Tony. <br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBE6LesOnbLq4mCZPyw3DGR7Z4vp1Z2Nc2CyRTkGjFzZADRSV6hydh6FwlJmPnYoxxSn6hT1vTKtenZIAZK-Aplqu95t0n7tABl6nnsV9L7cSe0KmGmxZEYMUeomMC3kSnQaKZUx8HJNo/s1600/P1030818.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="294" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBE6LesOnbLq4mCZPyw3DGR7Z4vp1Z2Nc2CyRTkGjFzZADRSV6hydh6FwlJmPnYoxxSn6hT1vTKtenZIAZK-Aplqu95t0n7tABl6nnsV9L7cSe0KmGmxZEYMUeomMC3kSnQaKZUx8HJNo/s400/P1030818.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Knobbly that seems to have raised its arm to "shake hands" - <br />remarks Tony of this photo he shared.</td></tr></tbody></table>"However, I was able to see far more than I had seen before!" <br /><br /><br /><a name='more'></a>Tony adds: "Cyrene is the only place that I have seen so many sea stars and with beautiful corals providing lots of colour too."<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuEgjVDVZtc0t8cc9P3dmAowOFbJG3EwC5ej5a31QTdtWnnZZw_RBxgalJ2GGskTSlibqBjSXkCixUSB0Osi9izXBcnWJXlfEub2VEaFeIjcSJVhR4tSikt8qrj6HbrlTyhe5vGXkD-go/s1600/P1030994.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuEgjVDVZtc0t8cc9P3dmAowOFbJG3EwC5ej5a31QTdtWnnZZw_RBxgalJ2GGskTSlibqBjSXkCixUSB0Osi9izXBcnWJXlfEub2VEaFeIjcSJVhR4tSikt8qrj6HbrlTyhe5vGXkD-go/s400/P1030994.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Great closeup of a Leathery soft coral shared by Tony.</td></tr></tbody></table><br />"Cyrene is truely a thriving natural living community of wildlife so near our mainland shore. It is a heritage that we need to cherish and protect." concludes Tony.<br /><br />Tony shared lots more photos and stories of his Cyrene trip on his <a href="http://c-eagle.blogspot.com/2011/05/cyrene-terumbu-pandan-on-7-may-2011.html">Soaring c-eagle blog</a> which also features more marine adventures kayaking other shores in Singapore.<br /><br />Tony Seow is in his late 40s. His life pursuits are summarised in the 3Cs: Christian, CPA and Sea Kayaker.Ria Tanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09770926654830427210noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5488737561174329643.post-87282327077181426662011-05-09T21:41:00.001+08:002011-05-10T07:57:00.056+08:00Been to Cyrene: "An ecological jewel"Azlin says: I'm thankful for this ecological jewel in the midst of a busy busy “highway”.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhXHpvFuNbBecQimOJP1_IpjCd8cq0JP9YLso02JjpdOxc4zSy-nid43UbQowkZdNDCyNDSozHfQJKnILdpi1OsusZTpCa4caPZDGeVpiodBxIQnxWUt-8AS7g1fuwVE-ZwTKMKmxXLcc/s1600/DSC_1211c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhXHpvFuNbBecQimOJP1_IpjCd8cq0JP9YLso02JjpdOxc4zSy-nid43UbQowkZdNDCyNDSozHfQJKnILdpi1OsusZTpCa4caPZDGeVpiodBxIQnxWUt-8AS7g1fuwVE-ZwTKMKmxXLcc/s320/DSC_1211c.jpg" border="0" height="235" width="320" /></a></div>Cyrene lies <a href="http://cyrenereef.blogspot.com/2010/04/reef-in-industrial-triangle-and-why-we.html">in the middle of an "Industrial Triangle"</a> and busy shipping lanes.<br /><br /><a name='more'></a>Azlin recently visited Cyrene and was struck by the corals on this submerged reef! And shared these photos of his trip.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX9JtYE_bbP9n0a1xzfuboixnPjBMfJp287kR1TKrs_YNX780vphcEkzWaDXn953miyMartU751sIR2Q1VMkO6gjH6tEC5LbHn_wkXVm5zXrW3_P3YhrxKfGv8FkUG0OLZUMRflYMaU_Q/s1600/DSC_1115c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX9JtYE_bbP9n0a1xzfuboixnPjBMfJp287kR1TKrs_YNX780vphcEkzWaDXn953miyMartU751sIR2Q1VMkO6gjH6tEC5LbHn_wkXVm5zXrW3_P3YhrxKfGv8FkUG0OLZUMRflYMaU_Q/s320/DSC_1115c.jpg" border="0" height="320" width="235" /></a></div><br />Azlin, 34 is an NParks Outreach Officer at Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve.<br /><br /><a href="http://wildshores.blogspot.com/2011/05/cyrene-safari-with-volunteer-guides.html">More about this trip to Cyrene</a> on the wild shores of singapore blog.Ria Tanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09770926654830427210noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5488737561174329643.post-82891604350182992272011-05-09T21:33:00.000+08:002011-05-09T21:33:46.908+08:00Been to Cyrene: "Mother Nature's treasure""It's great to be back with Mother Nature again and this always put life back into perspective for me," says Teck Hui. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0ImiMMZiSdLG-2p_EEN3A3B2By6LPwdLQ-tPUsZ2VP6Y8TU3r_9_90fPSsaGxOvTsDaRrLR4e1K7HkYNcgvA6iVxsOvH9sgxfbbQuXQhXZg9v9fkQVksiHHXoIgNIUTsDINkO49Id_tw/s1600/Crabs+feeding+on+dead+prawn.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0ImiMMZiSdLG-2p_EEN3A3B2By6LPwdLQ-tPUsZ2VP6Y8TU3r_9_90fPSsaGxOvTsDaRrLR4e1K7HkYNcgvA6iVxsOvH9sgxfbbQuXQhXZg9v9fkQVksiHHXoIgNIUTsDINkO49Id_tw/s1600/Crabs+feeding+on+dead+prawn.JPG" /></a></div>Teck Hui recently visited Cyrene and is great at spotting the fascinating marine life there! She shares this scuffle among tiny moon crabs over a colourful shrimp.<br />
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<a name='more'></a>Another well-spotted sighting, she shares this photo of a superbly camouflaged filefish among the lush seagrasses on Cyrene! She's really good at this!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF3HZCjfuGOKWKYN5v0yIj3jveVF9GXw8szHzWC36TyWwLMHX7jE0CF40olchKvmpM_xtISt6HFyZuB6AtiQiBxlyz7R3vLFSTgVk2omuKrP6dOCExjZdFG9cS2s4QqwNKdhiNfiQ-5ls/s1600/Filefish_green_2in1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF3HZCjfuGOKWKYN5v0yIj3jveVF9GXw8szHzWC36TyWwLMHX7jE0CF40olchKvmpM_xtISt6HFyZuB6AtiQiBxlyz7R3vLFSTgVk2omuKrP6dOCExjZdFG9cS2s4QqwNKdhiNfiQ-5ls/s1600/Filefish_green_2in1.jpg" /></a></div>"Mother nature has many treasures waiting for us to discover yet how many of us really take time to visit her, explore and preserve her?" says Teck Hui.<br />
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Teck Hui, 43 is an Education Officer. She is a volunteer guide with NParks and also enjoys swimming & Yoga.<br />
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<a href="http://wildshores.blogspot.com/2011/05/cyrene-safari-with-volunteer-guides.html">More about this trip to Cyrene</a> on the wild shores of singapore blog.Ria Tanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09770926654830427210noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5488737561174329643.post-213930688984987392011-03-22T17:32:00.001+08:002011-03-22T17:37:08.642+08:00Been to Cyrene: "Go visit at least once in your life!""It's a reef? A sea reef? It's off an island? Oh, it's part of an island? Erm it has starfish and other cool looking animals, corals on it. Do I get to see a 'Nemo'?". Probably common questions if I were to ask a land lover who's never been to our country's smaller islands (Mainland Singapore, Tekong and Sentosa doesn't count!!).<br /><table class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5bSrb1u25e9VnnH_BVQmpQSi1zsFNv7fc0IxDuazMMUX9i9S2Gjjg_5C7tsJUZgtXaIPZkuaQ-G_F90Ux2R9ExwkOo-dFCiYIFNDdGJvxx-FW7oN_WB6zSfDCDCvbdevXpVbPRsHL4r0/s1600/5545816733_5121823c80_b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5bSrb1u25e9VnnH_BVQmpQSi1zsFNv7fc0IxDuazMMUX9i9S2Gjjg_5C7tsJUZgtXaIPZkuaQ-G_F90Ux2R9ExwkOo-dFCiYIFNDdGJvxx-FW7oN_WB6zSfDCDCvbdevXpVbPRsHL4r0/s400/5545816733_5121823c80_b.jpg" border="0" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Just one of Andrew's many gorgeous photos of Cyrene.</td></tr></tbody></table>So begins Andrew as he shares awesome photos and stories of his trip to Cyrene on his <a mainland="" a="" an="" and="" ask="" been="" common="" cool="" corals="" country="" do="" doesn="" erm="" get="" has="" href="http://draft.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=5488737561174329643" i="" if="" islands="" it="" land="" looking="" lover="" nemo="" never="" of="" off="" on="" other="" our="" part="" probably="" questions="" retorts="" s="" sea="" see="" sentosa="" smaller="" starfish="" t="" tekong="" to="" were="" who=""></a><a href="http://www.explorers.asia/2011/03/visit-to-cyrene-reefs.html">One° North Explorers blog</a>.<br /><br /><br /><a name='more'></a>"I had to admit, visiting and walking on a real sea reef was totally something I have not done before", says Andrew. "Even then, I did feel a little apprehensive of going out to sea, when I previously had a near drowning incident - leg cramps while trying to swim out from beach to small land mass on Sentosa. Don't get me wrong, I don't hate the sea. In fact, I did diving and snorkelling before and loved them! For a person like me, who's more into urbex (urban exploration), heritage and urban legends, I am definitely 'A fish out of water' for this latest adventure!"<br /><br />But Andrew had a great time on Cyrene and ends his post with: "To everyone out there, if you have not visited the Cyrene Reefs. Please do so, at least once in your life! There's quite a bit of land reclamation going on on Jurong Island, so let's hope Cyrene Reef retains it's splendour for future generations."<br /><br />Read more about Andrew's trip on his <a href="http://www.explorers.asia/2011/03/visit-to-cyrene-reefs.html">One° North Explorers blog</a> which also has a <a href="http://www.facebook.com/one.north.explorers">facebook page</a>.<br /><br />This trip was organised by the <a href="http://www.eess.org.sg/">Environmental Engineering Society of Singapore</a>. More about this trip on the <a href="http://wildshores.blogspot.com/2011/03/cyrene-safari-with-environmental.html">wild shores of singapore blog</a>.Ria Tanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09770926654830427210noreply@blogger.com0Cyrene Reefs, Singapore1.2563889 103.74694441.2134839 103.68857940000001 1.2992939 103.8053094tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5488737561174329643.post-80375458035721486422011-02-22T06:47:00.003+08:002011-02-22T16:34:11.687+08:00Been to Cyrene: "A safari-load of animals!"To probably anyone else around the area, it’s just a patch of rocks and sand.<br /><table class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQsrmjA4GV_jyLtWmsVsLaIgMX_rgnlK8ZNxdpJplcewqBvW8MkemGkEft9J9meDjVn7xJtXf48N6OpmjFSabYJtkNzUY-RVpETE5SRpoN8MOkxP80Oe58ZWHypzrC3ajdr7eLArikMbM/s1600/image002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQsrmjA4GV_jyLtWmsVsLaIgMX_rgnlK8ZNxdpJplcewqBvW8MkemGkEft9J9meDjVn7xJtXf48N6OpmjFSabYJtkNzUY-RVpETE5SRpoN8MOkxP80Oe58ZWHypzrC3ajdr7eLArikMbM/s400/image002.jpg" border="0" height="222" width="321" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Glorious weather over Cyrene, photo by Clarence Chua.</i></td></tr></tbody></table>But take a boat out and take a close peek ....<br /><br /><a name='more'></a>And a safari-load of intertidal animals come leaping at you (3 blue-spotted stingrays literally bumped into a group of us)!<br /><table class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho0nlzE6GedpIpuPY9bBXeykwz_asvcV3GkkcLQLSWyWfRMHRo9L8WPigA3oHEL3lIHiJy3NkQh7kZfDeErH8dS1vzAXOTPNwNytJ-0IATBnGQoXrJGqiEOiEvHTrkw_5tOnYIScZotPs/s1600/image003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho0nlzE6GedpIpuPY9bBXeykwz_asvcV3GkkcLQLSWyWfRMHRo9L8WPigA3oHEL3lIHiJy3NkQh7kZfDeErH8dS1vzAXOTPNwNytJ-0IATBnGQoXrJGqiEOiEvHTrkw_5tOnYIScZotPs/s1600/image003.jpg" border="0" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Giant corals on Cyrene, photo by Clarence Chua.</i></td></tr></tbody></table>Super fun trip. Thank you!<br /><br />Thanks to Clarence, 27, for sharing these thoughts after a trip with his colleagues from Coastal Parks, National Parks Board.<br /><br />He adds that "Coastal Parks maintains parkland adjacent to the coast. Our skill set includes managing terrestrial parkland flora and fauna, but we have much to learn about the intertidal biodiversity just next to our parkland. We have therefore embarked on trips to find out more about intertidal life off Changi Beach Park and West Coast Park. This knowledge is especially useful when we carry out projects to renourish the beach sand due to erosion."<br /><br /><a href="http://wildshores.blogspot.com/2011/02/safari-to-cyrene-with-coastal-parks.html">More about the trip with Coastal Parks</a> on the wild shores of singapore blog.Ria Tanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09770926654830427210noreply@blogger.com0Cyrene Reefs, Singapore1.2563889 103.74694441.2134839 103.68857940000001 1.2992939 103.8053094tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5488737561174329643.post-84530634813186746972011-01-25T09:29:00.003+08:002011-01-25T09:37:41.562+08:00Cyrene sea cucumber featured in global studyThanks to Andy, Cyrene is included in the Ohio State University's <a href="http://www.osu.edu/watch/45s4Ay5-vzIV8">Uncovering an Ancient Tree of Life</a> video clip<iframe src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/1425626?color=c9ff23" width="400" height="225" frameborder="0"></iframe><p><a href="http://vimeo.com/1425626">giant synaptic sea cucumber ! ....from outaspace</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/user466756">BeachBum</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com">Vimeo</a>.</p>More on <a href="http://sgbeachbum.blogspot.com/2011/01/uncovering-ancient-tree-of-life.html">Andy's blog</a> and check out his other awesome video clips of Singapore's marine life!<br /><br /><a name='more'></a>Uncovering an Ancient tree of life is a project led by Ohio State University scientists involving a 10-institution team in using genetic information from modern species as well as anatomical data from fossil specimens dating back more than 500 million years to figure out precisely where echinoderms fit into the history of all life. More about <a href="http://researchnews.osu.edu/archive/treeoflife.htm">this project</a>.<br /><iframe title="YouTube video player" class="youtube-player" type="text/html" width="400" height="320" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/s4Ay5-vzIV8" frameborder="0" allowFullScreen></iframe>Ria Tanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09770926654830427210noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5488737561174329643.post-89847160697320973762010-11-26T13:07:00.000+08:002010-11-26T13:07:32.286+08:00Cyrene: poster child for balancing conservation and coastal development<a href="http://cyrenereef.blogspot.com/">Cyrene Reef</a> is featured in a series of panels about the need to balance conservation and development! <br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxI9InBfOPCtbAdN5ALh-2lgDN3ApwkAOK1SRCe5eJ9uC-MZQOxCcDe4itXKLbBZIE4QgAccsH1c-igc1fRpK0j0q0bgox1TRMs6fprCuyvtZVmIlC4Dc2dgtFF3Vu5oEsETS_kaWbAmEw/s1600/DSC00888m6.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5543461935806170722" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxI9InBfOPCtbAdN5ALh-2lgDN3ApwkAOK1SRCe5eJ9uC-MZQOxCcDe4itXKLbBZIE4QgAccsH1c-igc1fRpK0j0q0bgox1TRMs6fprCuyvtZVmIlC4Dc2dgtFF3Vu5oEsETS_kaWbAmEw/s400/DSC00888m6.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 294px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a><br />
<a name='more'></a>Not once, but twice! <br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgrf9KS9cpZGnw9ysdnpsA-Oi_tt4XLGFz0qND1PCn_AzdCFelIcDj6G9OLg7SCIK-AkWCycPFmfnD5hxc9eshm0H4ydcK9vqY_L12ILkGT4kSNPNP9agi06jFRmZD9W6YGSsm2I_HzFk2/s1600/DSC00887m6.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5543461929606370322" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgrf9KS9cpZGnw9ysdnpsA-Oi_tt4XLGFz0qND1PCn_AzdCFelIcDj6G9OLg7SCIK-AkWCycPFmfnD5hxc9eshm0H4ydcK9vqY_L12ILkGT4kSNPNP9agi06jFRmZD9W6YGSsm2I_HzFk2/s400/DSC00887m6.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 294px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a>There's also a panel about the <a href="http://wildshores.blogspot.com/2010/10/massive-reclamation-next-to-labrador.html">massive reclamation project at Pasir Panjang Container Terminals</a> near the natural shores at <a href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/places/lp.htm">Labrador</a>, <a href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/places/sentosa.htm">Sentosa</a> and <a href="http://cyrenereef.blogspot.com/">Cyrene Reef</a>. It's good to know that there is realisation that this project will impact our marine life.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLYLmKoBcm5uh_Y9Zalnx9izfWxNZxM4nO5hFiezBdR8d57shYyHj7e2b1WwhBg-1tBXGcXKjJ8QCO7ZP4emMBXpDwaOgByvHqcZulxaedhlJI9_DQt2gVvVRbn5jL-T1m9EZnNgNVGiyV/s800/DSC00890m6.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLYLmKoBcm5uh_Y9Zalnx9izfWxNZxM4nO5hFiezBdR8d57shYyHj7e2b1WwhBg-1tBXGcXKjJ8QCO7ZP4emMBXpDwaOgByvHqcZulxaedhlJI9_DQt2gVvVRbn5jL-T1m9EZnNgNVGiyV/s800/DSC00890m6.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 295px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 401px;" /></a><br />
These panels were done by NParks' <a href="http://www.nparks.gov.sg/cms/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=120&Itemid=123">National Biodiversity Centre</a> and highlight Singapore's work towards integrated coastal management. These posters showcased this work at the PEMSEA <a href="http://www.pemsea.org/eascongress">East Asian Seas Congress 2009</a> in Manila.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUiUw9fZsh7SgN_8pMyV4oGVUtWpWnBBjxymrzgwzyIYb7zB7y3m1Scoem77iUfaBYDyhuQSV-TNqXID-07rMLpqeKl1gtdBhC7wydxGRixWYDBKMDG81Nm2h7xYED96zJ5iRRo3gZEhJl/s1600/DSC00971m6.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5543462447671872210" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUiUw9fZsh7SgN_8pMyV4oGVUtWpWnBBjxymrzgwzyIYb7zB7y3m1Scoem77iUfaBYDyhuQSV-TNqXID-07rMLpqeKl1gtdBhC7wydxGRixWYDBKMDG81Nm2h7xYED96zJ5iRRo3gZEhJl/s400/DSC00971m6.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 294px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a>I came across these panels at the inspiring talk I attended yesterday, about integrated coastal management. More about the talk on the <a href="http://wildshores.blogspot.com/2010/11/learning-about-integrated-costal.html">wild shores of singapore blog</a>.Ria Tanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09770926654830427210noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5488737561174329643.post-27901633938494767882010-11-19T10:06:00.000+08:002010-11-19T10:06:25.344+08:00South Cyrene in National Geographic!Goh Pei Hao's awesome photo of South Cyrene is featured in National Geographic's <a href="http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/ngm/photo-contest/2010/entries/gallery/places-week-8/#/14006">weekly selection</a>! Thank you and congratulations Pei Hao! <br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxHQnXvFrWXpdSaEj-5J9OOpYRx2jDy9Z7u81lppodZ_G1C43l-L_zDD27A1mLNHmgusmB4YOX260pt9M6id7KoWN0EJbgxC68u9tlGefWEF9I6GuO2c-MCf_aqNJPYnAIcudZjgAnMXY/s1600/southcyrene.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxHQnXvFrWXpdSaEj-5J9OOpYRx2jDy9Z7u81lppodZ_G1C43l-L_zDD27A1mLNHmgusmB4YOX260pt9M6id7KoWN0EJbgxC68u9tlGefWEF9I6GuO2c-MCf_aqNJPYnAIcudZjgAnMXY/s400/southcyrene.JPG" width="287" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">from <a href="http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/ngm/photo-contest/2010/entries/gallery/places-week-8/#/14006">National Geographic</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
Pei Hao was part of the small team that visited this 'little sister' in the Cyrene Reefs <a href="http://wildshores.blogspot.com/2010/10/first-visit-to-south-cyrene.html">last month</a> for the first time. <br />
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<a name='more'></a>What we refer to as Cyrene is actually properly called Terumbu Pandan, the largest of the three submerged reefs that are collectively called Cyrene Reefs. The other two are the much smaller: Pandan Beacon and South Cyrene.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2KVhqKjqHxDubrN1GWAWJqE3zgK0FbnMp_3l0lbLnd2mnd_nUI_pJmoxmkN7vnNBsTWmyVJucrscrilOo4bZiF96K8JALonkfSu48UniI7PSEIwt2dffZJ26bJJN_QuZelO8PEedBZY8/s1600/cyrene1a.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="302" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2KVhqKjqHxDubrN1GWAWJqE3zgK0FbnMp_3l0lbLnd2mnd_nUI_pJmoxmkN7vnNBsTWmyVJucrscrilOo4bZiF96K8JALonkfSu48UniI7PSEIwt2dffZJ26bJJN_QuZelO8PEedBZY8/s400/cyrene1a.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
Though this tiny reef is not as spectacular as the usual huge Terumbu Pandan that we visit, it was still an interesting visit.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1cFQUunyRFx4IjHtcSrn4bHbTYtuzyzTCdXWGjj0Y4MUV-WxEcc9Ln8y4MzTBlOw5TonXZw8NznTVOtkkLxSGKzbGOjD4lIhHfKeCG1A3Fb7icZfQhU0DIahC2Ay6oLU6a0mFZGeolOl4/s1600/scyrene101010p05.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1cFQUunyRFx4IjHtcSrn4bHbTYtuzyzTCdXWGjj0Y4MUV-WxEcc9Ln8y4MzTBlOw5TonXZw8NznTVOtkkLxSGKzbGOjD4lIhHfKeCG1A3Fb7icZfQhU0DIahC2Ay6oLU6a0mFZGeolOl4/s400/scyrene101010p05.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">An Arabian cowrie spotted by Kok Sheng on South Cyrene.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
Read more about the trip to South Cyrene in blog posts by <a href="http://wondercreation.blogspot.com/2010/10/virgin-trip-to-south-cyrene-reef.html">Kok Sheng</a> and <a href="http://feedproxy.google.com/%7Er/WildShoresOfSingapore/%7E3/qmXZNpZ_6C8/first-visit-to-south-cyrene.html">Ria</a>.Ria Tanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09770926654830427210noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5488737561174329643.post-71339169372835658632010-09-22T22:26:00.001+08:002010-09-22T22:28:08.697+08:00Been to Cyrene: "Unlike any other reef I've seen in Singapore"I had the most awesome time visiting Cyrene reef in the early morning hours of 13 July 2010, says Oliver. It was an unforgettable experience! <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijUTZ3paIKLrkSrKyOuVATWO1LvQosvOlcLhlPyX76d1AH_d8gBbbKzuOXjLbKOHJLdx9qiPfkNowuaOYuuxXSmvNIgPNV12VrSLh9I24MpFEnUsrFMl2ygUcXyktr_sIxC2FQ48XznZs/s1600/IMGP9443.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="297" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijUTZ3paIKLrkSrKyOuVATWO1LvQosvOlcLhlPyX76d1AH_d8gBbbKzuOXjLbKOHJLdx9qiPfkNowuaOYuuxXSmvNIgPNV12VrSLh9I24MpFEnUsrFMl2ygUcXyktr_sIxC2FQ48XznZs/s400/IMGP9443.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
Cyrene was not like any other reef I have ever seen in Singapore! <br />
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<a name='more'></a>It was teeming with wildlife and its shores were covered with knobbly sea stars! Despite being in the middle of heavy shipping lanes, Cyrene had more flora and fauna compared to many shores found away from busy lanes. <br />
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Regardless of how fast our country is developing, I do hope to be able to bring my children and grandchildren in the future to visit this awe inspiring place. I do hope that the Singapore government would mark Cyrene Reef as a national conservation area so that all would have the chance to enjoy the wonders of nature right here in Singapore without having to cross the border.<br />
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Oliver, 21, is currently studying at the University of Edinburgh in the United Kingdom. He passion for nature and the environment has motivated him to pursue a degree in Geography. In his free time, Oliver volunteers with the Scouts, both at home and abroad. He is also affiliated to the World Wide Fund for Nature, an conservation organization he firmly believes in and supports.Ria Tanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09770926654830427210noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5488737561174329643.post-15095021149726978572010-09-08T19:37:00.000+08:002010-09-08T19:37:01.614+08:00Cyrene on Google Earth's "Explore the Ocean"!Cyrene Reef appears in <a href="http://www.mission-blue.org/googleearth">Mission Blue's Google Earth's "Explore the Ocean" layer!</a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWCWZXsVJe9QG497N8pIId3AzMMUvChBE0E8OYHXq1PiW9qJLLCCqCIWQ7KEdd9v_E-EfJ2uA_JBlalralTcVd-mocP2nBoj7qoeOnKDYztm90f7IJxcjnBzqvV6sXKqU3Wokwmesstx4/s1600/missionblue.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="345" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWCWZXsVJe9QG497N8pIId3AzMMUvChBE0E8OYHXq1PiW9qJLLCCqCIWQ7KEdd9v_E-EfJ2uA_JBlalralTcVd-mocP2nBoj7qoeOnKDYztm90f7IJxcjnBzqvV6sXKqU3Wokwmesstx4/s400/missionblue.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
Thanks to Marcus Ng aka Budak for highlighting Cyrene Reef! <br />
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<a name='more'></a>Marcus had submitted to the<a href="http://jetapplicant.blogspot.com/2010/09/carnival-of-blue-xl.html"> Carnival of the Blue</a>, these two post about Cyrene Reef from his Annotated Budak blog: <a href="http://budak.blogs.com/the_annotated_budak/2010/08/nodules.html" target="_blank">Stellar by Starlight</a> and <a href="http://budak.blogs.com/the_annotated_budak/2010/08/trapped.html" target="_blank">Fishtrapped</a>.<br />
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Thank you Marcus!Ria Tanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09770926654830427210noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5488737561174329643.post-89844341425525755952010-07-20T19:14:00.008+08:002010-07-20T19:25:32.699+08:00Sharing Cyrene with JTC, July 2010<span id="goog_483537041"><span id="goog_483537043"></span><span id="goog_483537044"></span></span><span id="goog_483537042"></span>A spirited and sporting team from JTC visited Cyrene on 14 Jul!<br /><table class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs048.snc4/34779_900888250570_902172_50089760_2813470_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img src="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs048.snc4/34779_900888250570_902172_50089760_2813470_n.jpg" border="0" width="400" height="267" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">What a great team from JTC! <i><br />Photo by <a href="http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2544971&id=902172&ref=mf">Annabelle</a>.</i> </td></tr></tbody></table>The enthusiastic team not only discovered and spotted many interesting animals, but also helped to deal with the huge fish traps we encountered.<br /><br /><a name='more'></a>It was cool and shady as we explored the reefier side of Cyrene. Among the fascinating finds were Mei Lin's fluted giant clam, lots of different kinds of crabs and fishes, and sadly, also many bleaching corals.<br /><table class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJnxu1O-iBsAceqOU7U-irtIcrVQLyrxg6LjF-XDV3Ik2psQV9RQpjxtQCmQOEmqbhU0m7eGFg0lystAVnM_3gqJ2j8rFb4oOCFG9L_lstl7FJCofV1VVzkjsWyRsGSu6q1F68awx4NYOx/s400/100714cyrd8709m6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJnxu1O-iBsAceqOU7U-irtIcrVQLyrxg6LjF-XDV3Ik2psQV9RQpjxtQCmQOEmqbhU0m7eGFg0lystAVnM_3gqJ2j8rFb4oOCFG9L_lstl7FJCofV1VVzkjsWyRsGSu6q1F68awx4NYOx/s400/100714cyrd8709m6.jpg" border="0" width="400" height="293" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A train of clouds chugged overhead towards the mainland<br />to dump rain there instead of on us!<br /><i>Photo by <a href="http://wildshores.blogspot.com/2010/07/sharing-cyrene-with-jtc.html">Ria</a>.</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJKU3pv2bxQVEk0nkRjnEn_vh1rcs39D0m5cy7bHNp4RBuZKqbrjSLBgblna7yzIjNiIzQphYt51j5st_F8IZT4NlCuvKP_Lqya_IMv0Qcr93tgbI1f-lCSxEpw_a_12bJCukm1TGkb-9P/s400/100714cyrd8713m6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJKU3pv2bxQVEk0nkRjnEn_vh1rcs39D0m5cy7bHNp4RBuZKqbrjSLBgblna7yzIjNiIzQphYt51j5st_F8IZT4NlCuvKP_Lqya_IMv0Qcr93tgbI1f-lCSxEpw_a_12bJCukm1TGkb-9P/s400/100714cyrd8713m6.jpg" border="0" width="400" height="293" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The corals on Cyrene can be quite large, and fascinating!<br /><i>Photo by <a href="http://wildshores.blogspot.com/2010/07/sharing-cyrene-with-jtc.html">Ria</a>.</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br />Alas, the group came across huge fish traps on the reef, a total of seven of them! Everyone pitched in to release the fishes and deal with the traps.<br /><table class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgBjqoHYkB_jBXdux1m6tXZVJ74M6Rfr4uumI7PDmd5FixMRbR5N7gkGrN3Czl_c7O3k37e05_ZQqbD0Qm6DesXo-wi103z8WAs8uKmAzZ9QER96cQ35r1IvSXRhrsuScF2IHB3XPgcszx/s1600/100714cyrd8740m6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgBjqoHYkB_jBXdux1m6tXZVJ74M6Rfr4uumI7PDmd5FixMRbR5N7gkGrN3Czl_c7O3k37e05_ZQqbD0Qm6DesXo-wi103z8WAs8uKmAzZ9QER96cQ35r1IvSXRhrsuScF2IHB3XPgcszx/s400/100714cyrd8740m6.jpg" border="0" width="400" height="293" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The seven large fish traps were laid out all along the reef!<br /><i>Photo by <a href="http://wildshores.blogspot.com/2010/07/sharing-cyrene-with-jtc.html">Ria</a>.</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs076.snc4/35152_446107543139_580878139_5995740_6119715_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img src="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs076.snc4/35152_446107543139_580878139_5995740_6119715_n.jpg" border="0" width="400" height="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some of the fishes released from the traps.<br /><i>Photo by <a href="http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=231434&id=580878139&ref=mf">Sam</a>.</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs095.ash2/38080_446107253139_580878139_5995729_7124648_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img src="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs095.ash2/38080_446107253139_580878139_5995729_7124648_n.jpg" border="0" width="400" height="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">More fishes that were released from the traps.<br /><i>Photo by <a href="http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=231434&id=580878139&ref=mf">Sam</a>.</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br />With the help of so many hands from JTC, we quickly released all the fishes! Then we head across to have a quick look at the seagrasses and the intriguing marine life that live here.<br /><table class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs222.snc4/38414_900888944180_902172_50089804_2623832_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img src="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs222.snc4/38414_900888944180_902172_50089804_2623832_n.jpg" border="0" width="400" height="267" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The curious T-shaped hammer oysters are<br />found in abundance in Cyrene's meadows.<i><br />Photo by <a href="http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2544971&id=902172&ref=mf">Annabelle</a>.</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs095.ash2/38069_446109753139_580878139_5995904_6990046_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img src="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs095.ash2/38069_446109753139_580878139_5995904_6990046_n.jpg" border="0" width="400" height="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The stars of Cyrene! Common, cushion and knobbly!<br /><i>Photo by <a href="http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=231434&id=580878139&ref=mf">Sam</a>.</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja5V0C4hU9HFu7mYJ5_YWnEgm3WCaQbmA5UyvB_kWg8RgkqIIIoAl72reLmBe9nqlayrUUK6s5_mx1Vypd7wm1T4Rj9sUH14bx1J6BaUFvkeXtami8kKlIhE2TlX4PjbqLmgjIFkhyv3rU/s400/100714cyrd8744m6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja5V0C4hU9HFu7mYJ5_YWnEgm3WCaQbmA5UyvB_kWg8RgkqIIIoAl72reLmBe9nqlayrUUK6s5_mx1Vypd7wm1T4Rj9sUH14bx1J6BaUFvkeXtami8kKlIhE2TlX4PjbqLmgjIFkhyv3rU/s400/100714cyrd8744m6.jpg" border="0" width="400" height="293" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">All kinds of strange creatures dwell in the meadows.<br /><i>Photo by <a href="http://wildshores.blogspot.com/2010/07/sharing-cyrene-with-jtc.html">Ria</a>.</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_teIaX6adRxX_8s_hTqEfrXVll6rEMsVlCk_R4I28vH2mFL1yu5vdZ5WnzeY857pWA_D41I1c6rkpsJ7qydK71OWcLAgkOiqz9Xe0zP6aQSNBuHZN_sgtHlWGL9u-LytQ46YLzpNOSHlG/s400/100714cyrd8752m6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_teIaX6adRxX_8s_hTqEfrXVll6rEMsVlCk_R4I28vH2mFL1yu5vdZ5WnzeY857pWA_D41I1c6rkpsJ7qydK71OWcLAgkOiqz9Xe0zP6aQSNBuHZN_sgtHlWGL9u-LytQ46YLzpNOSHlG/s400/100714cyrd8752m6.jpg" border="0" width="400" height="293" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Shu Yen from JTC, who organised the JTC team,<br />found this Discodoris nudibranch!<br /><i>Photo by <a href="http://wildshores.blogspot.com/2010/07/sharing-cyrene-with-jtc.html">Ria</a>.</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp2mibcF_czNn04Ryp3jRZ3KoogAtNq2B4Se1kjQdKPbxJXDg6a3s5sOQ4M-rPSmcbJxN7E2u6a3zuBzAw3nRI-CMTbg2TfHqRtDDR8dx-7AYA_4fRaelvzkg5gsYYZMXtGnqYPxv61oYd/s400/100714cyrd8760m6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp2mibcF_czNn04Ryp3jRZ3KoogAtNq2B4Se1kjQdKPbxJXDg6a3s5sOQ4M-rPSmcbJxN7E2u6a3zuBzAw3nRI-CMTbg2TfHqRtDDR8dx-7AYA_4fRaelvzkg5gsYYZMXtGnqYPxv61oYd/s400/100714cyrd8760m6.jpg" border="0" width="400" height="293" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">But of course, the most captivating creatures are<br />the baby Knobblies that are plentiful on Cyrene.<br /><i>Photo by <a href="http://wildshores.blogspot.com/2010/07/sharing-cyrene-with-jtc.html">Ria</a>.</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br />We hope our new friends at JTC enjoyed their trip. We are delighted to hear that they will share what they saw with their other colleagues.<br /><br />More about the trip in posts by:<br /><ul><li><a href="http://wildshores.blogspot.com/2010/07/sharing-cyrene-with-jtc.html">Ria</a> </li><li><a href="http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2544971&id=902172&ref=mf">Annabelle</a> </li><li><a href="http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=231434&id=580878139&ref=mf">Sam</a></li><li><a href="http://naturescouterrambles.blogspot.com/2010/07/naturescouter-hits-cyrene.html">Sijie</a><br /></li></ul>Ria Tanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09770926654830427210noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5488737561174329643.post-75755188338651112762010-07-20T19:00:00.002+08:002010-07-20T19:14:27.493+08:00Sharing Cyrene with URA, June 2010An enthusiastic and excited team from URA visited Cyrene on 16 Jun! <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4Gnpv8SejmMirnfsmJ6vixuqnCzaoJmEE5WpIHZVtuSWE7XUYxaLTXYGBlRX0PyMwnlUowhyphenhyphen7O8xOxBFSuPmVMmte5rkDjYgsx3KWfOlI6RvewS6mUXl_Q3CYZXnM3jIx8WpPBw6QX_cE/s400/IMG_5067m6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="293" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4Gnpv8SejmMirnfsmJ6vixuqnCzaoJmEE5WpIHZVtuSWE7XUYxaLTXYGBlRX0PyMwnlUowhyphenhyphen7O8xOxBFSuPmVMmte5rkDjYgsx3KWfOlI6RvewS6mUXl_Q3CYZXnM3jIx8WpPBw6QX_cE/s400/IMG_5067m6.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A happy team makes it safely on to Cyrene!<br />
<i>Photo by <a href="http://wildshores.blogspot.com/2010/06/bleaching-at-cyrene.html">Ria</a>.</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>They join the Mei Lin who is here with a small team of volunteers to look for Giant clams. And what amazing creatures we saw!<br />
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Just a few steps into our trip and Chay Hoon found a baby Cushion sea star!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8Ap8OHYIRbIp89VXLkU3X1pcG06T1TYoSUZmfszpgc5dQ-tQHzlOMCtE1bSyKcd0SdtPxAFDC4SrF7qel7wZGavrQspkgp_IASuuKM0CgJhyphenhyphenI8psrI0Y_Ih3gjuXRh3Pb1APpLmw7nSsh/s400/cyr160610p11.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8Ap8OHYIRbIp89VXLkU3X1pcG06T1TYoSUZmfszpgc5dQ-tQHzlOMCtE1bSyKcd0SdtPxAFDC4SrF7qel7wZGavrQspkgp_IASuuKM0CgJhyphenhyphenI8psrI0Y_Ih3gjuXRh3Pb1APpLmw7nSsh/s400/cyr160610p11.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">With very short arms, it's hard to believe this is a sea star.<br />
<i>Photo by <a href="http://wondercreation.blogspot.com/2010/06/soft-coral-bleaching-at-cyrene-reef.html">Kok Sheng</a>.</i></td></tr>
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Sadly, as we move deeper into the reefs, we noticed lots of coral bleaching. Even though dark clouds have gathered over us, we press on with our exploration.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWdGh4Qj1PEY0xbyGoBmperN7HdwoOCR8H6xbiWgvlmZzMwffXx6wtfLppftKepORLsB3fy5heZgSDRjBXAMVq27TndlQsqUs5Yaptdrm0su4yHWk77pydGq20CS0WNZQjaP9Eifj9K-Uu/s400/IMG_5085m6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="293" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWdGh4Qj1PEY0xbyGoBmperN7HdwoOCR8H6xbiWgvlmZzMwffXx6wtfLppftKepORLsB3fy5heZgSDRjBXAMVq27TndlQsqUs5Yaptdrm0su4yHWk77pydGq20CS0WNZQjaP9Eifj9K-Uu/s400/IMG_5085m6.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bleaching hard and soft corals stand out starkly on the shore.<br />
<i>Photo by <a href="http://wildshores.blogspot.com/2010/06/bleaching-at-cyrene.html">Ria</a>.</i></td></tr>
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And we did see some interesting creatures!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0I3DhyxjDkKBY59SWraXJ9YCTOkQ7PMeD-lDdlIkVQcnpVW2bIEOiXTVG9CiPiCiLqnitDoTF5nmhyk2M4wLP3CUqoAbyolqtUchQZfKfRbvZ5gAsg_hHoSWoh76wHqrn7o4-HRUJ2yHl/s400/IMG_5102m6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="293" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0I3DhyxjDkKBY59SWraXJ9YCTOkQ7PMeD-lDdlIkVQcnpVW2bIEOiXTVG9CiPiCiLqnitDoTF5nmhyk2M4wLP3CUqoAbyolqtUchQZfKfRbvZ5gAsg_hHoSWoh76wHqrn7o4-HRUJ2yHl/s400/IMG_5102m6.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The shell of a recently dead heart urchin! <br />
Our first encounter on Cyrene!<br />
<i>Photo by <a href="http://wildshores.blogspot.com/2010/06/bleaching-at-cyrene.html">Ria</a>.</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRDDW8taSGz6RGF3BKzCGuH9HsXaZc5YtH5jSG1P1TW_a1x6owFzNsP5Yiyd5wpJ0Ir-TNA_Ll6ZKj-AXXce7ABZkm0LqHkdB8MM2jGH3AVxcNEtv7roO7VhqViUrdGAWhHXJvsP2L-H0b/s400/cyr160610p16.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRDDW8taSGz6RGF3BKzCGuH9HsXaZc5YtH5jSG1P1TW_a1x6owFzNsP5Yiyd5wpJ0Ir-TNA_Ll6ZKj-AXXce7ABZkm0LqHkdB8MM2jGH3AVxcNEtv7roO7VhqViUrdGAWhHXJvsP2L-H0b/s400/cyr160610p16.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Of course we get an overdose of Knobbly sea stars.<br />
<i>Photo by <a href="http://wondercreation.blogspot.com/2010/06/soft-coral-bleaching-at-cyrene-reef.html">Kok Sheng</a>.</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMByB1jVWdOGXbd5p6NWpVfQVRdQmZGV-QHo-5xdjKABlRrv-BFoOMTge8cxWaZSdeJdO5gHmOqCnCPnFwC25ocQkQ1HDCgSp9r8mYq3O3TLosYarwrDA1HK0_huGNf7utm_wh6APwV3C-/s320/IMGP8917.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="380" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMByB1jVWdOGXbd5p6NWpVfQVRdQmZGV-QHo-5xdjKABlRrv-BFoOMTge8cxWaZSdeJdO5gHmOqCnCPnFwC25ocQkQ1HDCgSp9r8mYq3O3TLosYarwrDA1HK0_huGNf7utm_wh6APwV3C-/s400/IMGP8917.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chay Hoon spots this intriguing sea star that we have yet to identify.<br />
<i>Photo by <a href="http://colorclouds.blogspot.com/2010/06/wet-day-at-cyrene-reef.html">Chay Hoon</a>.</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
Tsen Yang found the Fluted giant clam that we have been looking for over several trips! Yay!<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7YpE1U3LO4_2OpXBdCGEyT6l3MQmxrruGroX81Nf31jrucEYwyDSaCt-N6O1gPF8hsJI2IuPNwnq-CWGDTJNlsz2KiGsfhZEZQUyac7qNCwivTtFj6T6dHkhvoVcY-BuSYpJM4jhXfxci/s400/cyr160610p10.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7YpE1U3LO4_2OpXBdCGEyT6l3MQmxrruGroX81Nf31jrucEYwyDSaCt-N6O1gPF8hsJI2IuPNwnq-CWGDTJNlsz2KiGsfhZEZQUyac7qNCwivTtFj6T6dHkhvoVcY-BuSYpJM4jhXfxci/s400/cyr160610p10.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Giant clam finally found!<br />
<i>Photo by <a href="http://wondercreation.blogspot.com/2010/06/soft-coral-bleaching-at-cyrene-reef.html">Kok Sheng</a>.</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
The weather turned evil towards the end of our walk and we hurried off Cyrene in high waves.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb4Wu6gVx0B1otn7OLTCbY3axOOdrpZhvltuY6Qs2sP35786XBNmN9yR2lakeRc28CKWFAYLgb1chws_zHxCo22wc6kHmuRAM6ciSVYeVyzak-quammRMxitsPQJlal_yJVrSbkXedP4FF/s400/IMG_5144m6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="235" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb4Wu6gVx0B1otn7OLTCbY3axOOdrpZhvltuY6Qs2sP35786XBNmN9yR2lakeRc28CKWFAYLgb1chws_zHxCo22wc6kHmuRAM6ciSVYeVyzak-quammRMxitsPQJlal_yJVrSbkXedP4FF/s320/IMG_5144m6.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Photo by <a href="http://wildshores.blogspot.com/2010/06/bleaching-at-cyrene.html">Ria</a>.</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>We had a safe departure and it only started storming once we were on the boat. It was only later when we arrived on the mainland that we discovered the intense rainfall had caused massive flooding on Orchard Road that is now so famous.<br />
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During the trip, we also launched the new "I've Been to Cyrene" badge! Mei Lin says it's the 'pre-dawn' version! Indeed, this badge features one part of the <a href="http://cyrenereef.blogspot.com/2010/04/reef-in-industrial-triangle-and-why-we.html">'industrial triangle'</a> around Cyrene: our world-class container terminals and the city skyline during our <a href="http://wildshores.blogspot.com/2010/05/stunning-cyrene-at-sunrise.html">dawn trip a few weeks ago</a>. With the spectacular <a href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/echinodermata/asteroidea/pentaceraster.htm">Pentaceraster sea star</a> (<span style="font-style: italic;">Pentaceraster mammilatus</span>) that was <a href="http://wildsingaporenews.blogspot.com/2008/05/new-star-for-singapore-discovery-of-sea.html">first recorded</a> for Singapore <a href="http://wildfilms.blogspot.com/2008/04/stars-of-cyrene.html">from Cyrene Reef</a>! It also features this Cyrene Reef Exposed blog.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmkkC3C-lMu0VXeFePmKm5u7HY-syEEM2wUzUeaxB6Z3s8rUHhmaGwH131i6XpBgRoL3i-G7KlxxEn5PYOdJCCt5wvsGQnNqFfrv87ig3lFMcQ7U4KH1aqhhrg8jH-JPlXW4ACoZexVAjX/s400/IMG_5152m6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="293" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmkkC3C-lMu0VXeFePmKm5u7HY-syEEM2wUzUeaxB6Z3s8rUHhmaGwH131i6XpBgRoL3i-G7KlxxEn5PYOdJCCt5wvsGQnNqFfrv87ig3lFMcQ7U4KH1aqhhrg8jH-JPlXW4ACoZexVAjX/s400/IMG_5152m6.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
It was a productive trip with good finds (especially the Clam) and we hope URA had an enjoyable trip too!<br />
<br />
More about this trip in posts by:<br />
<ul><li><a href="http://wildshores.blogspot.com/2010/06/bleaching-at-cyrene.html">Ria </a></li>
<li><a href="http://wondercreation.blogspot.com/2010/06/soft-coral-bleaching-at-cyrene-reef.html">Kok Sheng</a></li>
<li><a href="http://colorclouds.blogspot.com/2010/06/wet-day-at-cyrene-reef.html">Chay Hoon</a></li>
</ul>Ria Tanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09770926654830427210noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5488737561174329643.post-86638774621298452752010-07-19T09:47:00.000+08:002010-07-19T09:47:04.305+08:00Been to Cyrene: "Am I in Singapore?"It's truly surreal, says Russel, to be standing in the middle Cyrene, basking in the rays of the rising sun, against the backdrop of the heavy industries in the distance and being nonchalant about the large vessels just sailing by. One can't help but wonder, "Am I in Singapore?<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT6r88yd_yYc-0fyqPdVetjYMRT7F2ChtxxulXRMi81RC7yQ2u68PkR6GQsBBrya8x2AkyKxH41nbDgSNlPMS_oq2UjrwB4fin36X3KsLZ2EYA3JPLE8YdB7zVblj26CIYMpa1Tv5z9l8/s1600/IMG_3090.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT6r88yd_yYc-0fyqPdVetjYMRT7F2ChtxxulXRMi81RC7yQ2u68PkR6GQsBBrya8x2AkyKxH41nbDgSNlPMS_oq2UjrwB4fin36X3KsLZ2EYA3JPLE8YdB7zVblj26CIYMpa1Tv5z9l8/s400/IMG_3090.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Surreal Cyrene! Photo by Russel</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Russel shares more about his first trip to Cyrene on his awesome blog <a href="http://intothewildsingapore.blogspot.com/">into the wild</a><br />
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<a name='more'></a>Here's a small sample of his many gorgeous photos of Cyrene.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitd8eoXcVNMt2050uMUhyFHLJRAOfzI_HcrFnjxWvqkkobMoQ0J5saCvx3B00lQD_fdhBULtD00ADKUHp7FptLIpTICAmW61Q1r942dXjWIaF4iqFfGK-v2bUqgTgtNwCu4IyNwBPFw1Y/s1600/russel.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="395" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitd8eoXcVNMt2050uMUhyFHLJRAOfzI_HcrFnjxWvqkkobMoQ0J5saCvx3B00lQD_fdhBULtD00ADKUHp7FptLIpTICAmW61Q1r942dXjWIaF4iqFfGK-v2bUqgTgtNwCu4IyNwBPFw1Y/s400/russel.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
See also his beautiful shots of <a href="http://intothewildsingapore.blogspot.com/2010/07/sunrise-at-cyrene.html">sunrise over Cyrene</a>.<br />
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Russel is a nature lover and avid photographer. <a href="http://intothewildsingapore.blogspot.com/2010/07/another-cat.html">More about Russel</a> on his blog.Ria Tanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09770926654830427210noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5488737561174329643.post-6243056496114574382010-07-18T17:54:00.003+08:002010-07-18T18:00:50.411+08:00Been to Cyrene: "A mesmerizing gem"Jane and Terry Heppell join us for their first trip to Cyrene. And among our first night trips there!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_gZeJG2kfzw4/TD2j00ZGdhI/AAAAAAAAG34/l28sPFAHPpo/s720/DSC_5652.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_gZeJG2kfzw4/TD2j00ZGdhI/AAAAAAAAG34/l28sPFAHPpo/s400/DSC_5652.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A glorious sunrise at the end of the night trip to Cyrene<br />
Photo by Terry Heppell</td></tr>
</tbody></table>They are amazed to be standing almost as if in the middle of the sea surrounded by the bright lights of the nearby petro-chemical facilities. They share what they saw in their brand new blog: <a href="http://urchinsundertakings.blogspot.com/">Urchin's World</a>.<br />
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<a name='more'></a>Among their awesome sightings, a Long-horned cowfish! Unlike our other shores, these fishes are regularly encountered among the lush seagrasses of Cyrene.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_gZeJG2kfzw4/TD2jSSyurYI/AAAAAAAAG3E/KZEHc6ouaSc/s720/DSC_5636.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_gZeJG2kfzw4/TD2jSSyurYI/AAAAAAAAG3E/KZEHc6ouaSc/s400/DSC_5636.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A cowfish is seen!<br />
Photo by Terry Heppell</td></tr>
</tbody></table>The Heppells declare "Any visitor would be mesmerized by what we saw." And they consider Cyrene a "gem" which shows that Man and Nature can co-exist as we progress, through our actions to preserve Nature whenever we can.<br />
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Read all about their trip on <a href="http://urchinsundertakings.blogspot.com/">Urchin's World</a> and see more of their <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/terry.heppell/20100713Cyrene#5493732408259643826">photos on Picasa</a>.<br />
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Jane and Terry are retired. Terry shares that he was formerly an engineer and worked in the petroleum industry so he is well aware of how the activities done offshore can affect our environment and understand the need for conservation. They both started volunteering at Pulau Ubin about four years ago when they were both working and now they have been guiding on Pulau Ubin at Chek Jawa and the Sensory Trail. Now that they have more time they are trying to be more active and also recently joined the Nature Society (Singapore) to learn more about conservation and the importance of biodiversity. Photography and birding are some of the current activities they are spending time on.Ria Tanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09770926654830427210noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5488737561174329643.post-3478855997921602652010-07-13T19:45:00.000+08:002010-07-13T19:45:23.788+08:00Cyrene on Channel NewsAsia videoclipCyrene is seen in a video clip about the BiodiverCity photo competition on MediaCorp's newly launched <a href="http://www.youtube.com/user/NewsSingapore">News In Singapore on YouTube</a>.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtH1JH2dATACn09WmDe7YCRAyUTgcDAqGgBFz_bfKINkiMZl29JVtRU-crSX0TMKYBwdJr6Dif_Xe4sTsu1c8mNCoajjUz-oN15snbNw4gUgkroOSjWs_YKtfY8tCo9aAAKrQbGfe8V7w/s1600/cyreneoncna.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="282" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtH1JH2dATACn09WmDe7YCRAyUTgcDAqGgBFz_bfKINkiMZl29JVtRU-crSX0TMKYBwdJr6Dif_Xe4sTsu1c8mNCoajjUz-oN15snbNw4gUgkroOSjWs_YKtfY8tCo9aAAKrQbGfe8V7w/s400/cyreneoncna.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Minister Mah looking at a photo of Cyrene Reef!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Here's the clip!<br />
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<a name='more'></a><object height="344" style="background-image: url("http://i2.ytimg.com/vi/mH3N2Wtl1h0/hqdefault.jpg");" width="400"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/mH3N2Wtl1h0&hl=en_US&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/mH3N2Wtl1h0&hl=en_US&fs=1" width="425" height="344" allowScriptAccess="never" allowFullScreen="true" wmode="transparent" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"></embed></object><br />
"This channel aims to widen the reach of news from Singapore by tapping into the growing online and social media audience. News clips will be come largely from Channel NewsAsia's nightly Singapore Tonight bulletin and will be made available within three days of its telecast" says <a href="http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/1068969/1/.html">Channel NewsAsia</a>.<br />
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<a href="http://wildshores.blogspot.com/2010/07/mediacorp-videoclips-on-nature-issues.html">More video clips of Singapore nature news</a> on the wild shores of singapore blog.Ria Tanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09770926654830427210noreply@blogger.com0