Alien Species

I have decided to do this post because I was one of the irresponsible pet owners. I abandoned my red eared terrapins many years back. My dear terrapins are William and Sammy. At that point of time, I still thought that I was doing a good deed by releasing my animals back to the wild. I loved my terrapins but they were growing at a speed my storage container could not hold them in anymore. Naughty Sammy had escape from his "house" and every time he does that, I would change their "house"to a bigger storage box. But they grew till this point that unless I fix a pond in the house, there was no way I could keep them anymore.

It was until I joined the docent program that I discovered that red eared terrapins are considered as pest. They are so overpopulated in the wild that native turtle species have to compete with them for food and resources. As a result, the number of native turtle species dwindled over the years.

If only someone told me that, I would not have bought my terrapins. They probably would have died in the pond by now. They were always so well fed by me when they were at home. But now they have to compete for survival with the rest of the terrapins.

How do alien species get introduced into Singapore?
1) commerce related pathway
pet/aquarium trade or the live food trade

2) travel related pathway
'hitch' hiking' on various transportation modes or in packaging materials

3) alien species for biological control of disease vectors

If you are interested to find out more about alien species in Singapore, do click on the below links.

Related articles:
http://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/6-alien-species-which-can-now-be-found-in-singapores-reservoirs
http://habitatnews.nus.edu.sg/pub/naturewatch/text/a063b.htm
http://mothership.sg/2015/05/8-non-native-animal-species-that-have-made-spore-home/

Greater Mousedeer

• Unlike other deer, these do not have any antlers, but the maleshave small tusks (elongated canine teeth) in their upper jaw.
• Found in dense undergrowth of rainforests and near rivers
• They are known to be solitary and very territorial. 
• In the wild, males and females usually only come together during breeding season
• Being small, prey animals, the mousedeer is very alert and has a very good sense of hearing
• Their diet includes fallen fruit, leaves, buds, aquatic plants and grasses (herbivoire).
• Thought to be extinct in Singapore until it reappeared in 2008 in Pulau Ubin.
• In the wild, they are threatened by hunting and habitat loss.

Hawksbill Turtle

• 7 species of marine turtle, 2 are found in Singapore. The hawksbill and green sea turtle. 
• Identifiable by the ‘spectacle’ markings around its eyes, the hawksbill is also hunted for its beautiful shell which is carved into ornaments 
• This was an AVA confiscation – note the hook on the shell, which indicates that this was meant to be a wall ornament
• Country's first sea turtle hatchery is to be set up at the southern lagoon on Small Sisters' Island by the end of 2017.
• CONSERVATION MESSAGE:Numbers have declined more than 80% in the last century mainly due to the trade in their shell. Hawksbill eggs are still eaten around the world despite its international protected status. All turtles lay eggs on land. Destruction of nesting sites and over-collection of turtle eggs have resulted in serious decline in turtle populations. Lights from coastal development confuse turtle hatchlings, causing them to move inland instead of the sea where they grow and develop.

Related Articles:
http://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/environment/move-to-save-singapores-endangered-sea-turtles

Pangolin

• Also known as the scaly anteater, the pangolin uses its sharp claws to raid ant and termite nests at night. 
• When threatened, it will curl into a tight ball of scales. Its scales are actually hair that is fused into scales that cover the entire body of the pangolin except its soft underbelly. 
• A young pangolin will ride on the base of its mother’s tail 
• Surprisingly arboreal, will spend the day sleeping in tree hollows 
• This specimen was a road kill – note the scales on the side that show the scars of the accident
•  The pangolin is one of the few large mammals that still exists in Singapore 
• They are difficult to maintain in captivity due to their specialised diet of ants and termites. 
• Our keepers formulated an artificial diet for the pangolins which is working well. 
• Secret formula is the use of termite mound soil to add in the ‘termite flavour’. 
• WRS also supports conservation projects on pangolins, to find out more about their natural behaviour, preferred diet and habitat. 
• CONSERVATION MESSAGE: Critically endangered species. Valued for their scales, which are used in traditional medicine. They are also hunted for their meat, which is prized as a delicacy in China and other parts of Asia

Video about Pangolin:

Video about Armadillo:

American visitors seem to be more familiar with this species than our Pangolin. Armadillo has certain features quite similar to our Pangolin- insect diet, hard shell, being a mammal. the 3 banded Armadillo even rolled itself into a ball like Pangolin.

Related articles:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/pangolins-extinction_us_5812e332e4b064e1b4b190bd
http://www.star2.com/living/living-environment/2017/02/18/its-world-pangolin-day-today-feb-18-but-will-they-become-extinct-soon/

Paradise Tree Snake

• Able to draw in the ventral part of its body, which enables them to fall at a controlled speed
• Can cover a horizontal distance of about 100 metres in a glide from the top of a tree
• Also known as a ‘flying snake’
• Spreads open its ribcage to form a gliding flap
• Can be found in Singapore
• Should you come face to face with a snake, stand still and then back away slowly. An unprovoked snake is likely to move away eventually. If it does not, call the pest control experts to remove it from your premises. Snakes may ‘play dead’, so do not attempt to handle them
• CONSERVATION MESSAGE: Snakes play a major role in control of rodent population. In Thailand, snakes have actually been introduced to the padi fields to help control the rats from damaging the rice crop.

These are the two common looking Paradise tree snake I have managed to find online. One type with the orange dotted back and one type without.