ASEAN Protected Areas

Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve

ASEAN Heritage Park, Singapore

Location

Located on the north coast of Singapore close to the Kranji Reservoir. The 130 ha Sungei Buloh was officially gazetted as a nature reserve and renamed as Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve in 2002.

Habitats

The reserve is a mangrove swamp. Several types of mangrove are found – Sonneratia, Rhizophora and Brugiera zones are well developed. Small patches of Nypa are found. In addition, there are some freshwater ponds, offering quite different habitat. Tall figs, thickets of Simpoh Ayer Dillenia subfruticosa create habitats of their own. The Keranji trail includes some swampy grasslands, a hill dominated by Casuarina and remnants of an old botanic gardens even including exotic plants from America and Africa.

Wetland habitats include ponds, creeks, shallow sea and tidal mudflats.

Wildlife

The reserve has a long list of wetland birds, especially waders, rails, herons, kingfishers and fish-eating raptors. There are also many passerines such as orioles, tailor birds, munias, mynahs, shrikes and sunbirds.

Flocks of pink-necked doves are common in the reserve feeding on the many figs and Dillenia fruits. At night there are nightjars and owls.

A population of milky storks has arrived, boosted by escapes from the Singapore Zoo but this species probably formerly occurred in Singapore and may become resident again.

There are very high densities of huge monitor lizards up to two metres long and these are rather a feature of the reserve. Occasional small crocodiles are sighted but these probably escaped from the nearby crocodile farm. Mangrove snakes lie in wait in the trees. Smooth otters live in the reserve and are regularly seen playing along the creeks. There are great numbers of crabs, mollusks and fish in the reserve. Curious mudskippers dig mating ponds in the mud and chase each other in leaping, fin erecting displays. Archer fish squirts water droplets to dislodge flies from overhanging branches and long-nosed garfish are particularly common but exotic Tilapia have also made this their home.

Butterflies, spiders and dragonflies are abundant.

Other interests

The reserve headquarters has a fascinating education center. Nearby attractions include the Kranji reservoir and a crocodile farm.

Visiting

The reserve can be visited by car, taxi or bus. Board TIBS 925 from Woodlands Bus Interchange or Kranji MRT Station. This bus stops at the entrance on Sundays and public holidays. On weekdays and Saturdays, alight at the Kranji Reservoir Car Park and walk 20-min towards the entrance.

Free entry except on Saturdays, Sundays, public holidays and school holidays otherwise $1.00/adult, $0.50/child/student/senior citizen.

Conservation Programmes

Objectives of the reserve are met by four programmes:

1. Conservation - to function as an important site in the East Asian Migratory Flyway for waders and to maximise the carrying capacity of the reserve for birds and other wildlife;
2. Education - to provide education of the Natural Sciences, in the local context, through the natural and diverse interest within the reserve;
3. Recreation - to provide an alternative form of recreation to encourage appreciation of the beauty and diversity of wildlife; and
4. Research - to contribute to ornithology and biological knowledge regionally and internationally.

In 2002, Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve was recognized as a site of international importance for migratory birds with Wetlands International presenting the reserve a certificate to mark its formal entry into the East Asian Australasian Shorebird Site Network, which include Australia’s Kakadu National Park, China’s Mai Po and Japan’s Yatsu Tidal Flats.

Threats

The site is vulnerable because of its small size and changes in the local water flow patterns. The discharge from Keranji stram is blocked by a dam forming a reservoir. Pollution in the Malacca Straits has increased greatly. Much litter gets washed into the reserve and clearing it is a constant operation.

Another problem is feral dogs. Several dogs wander freely in the park chasing animals and scaring the birds. Alien invasive species also pose threats. Tilapia fish and African giant snail have become firmly established in the reserve. Changeable lizards, water hyacinth and lantana also pose problems.

The reserve is partly created by artificial dykes and ponds, planted with a fringe of Hybiscus tiliacae and other mangrove trees. The reserve thus lacks some of the original zonation typical of Malaysian mangroves.

Heavy levels of visitor use place some constraints upon the site. Lack of some original animals may place some imbalance on the fauna. For instance, large fruit bats, deer, wild pigs and monkeys and leopard are virtually absent from the ecosystem. The numbers of monitor lizards are unusually high. This may be due to the lack of ther carnivores or controlling species, this requires some control programme by reserve staff.