The Singapore Red Data Book 2008
The first Red Data Book was published in June 1994, by Nature Society (Singapore) with Peter Ng and Wee YC as the editors, with 20 contributors covering many groups of flora and fauna. Pictures were in black and white, and in those days, film was still the mainstay of the authors' and contributors' photographic records.
A page from the flora section of the Singapore Red Data Book 2008
The Singapore Red Data Book 2008 starts with a chapter on Nature Conservation Laws in Singapore which gives a good overview of the legal protection of flora and fauna in Singapore. The legal framework with which our natural heritage in Singapore is protected has come a long way since 1994. There are now gazetted nature reserves covering specific areas, and new laws (and penalties) governing any breach of these laws.
- Bryophytes
- Ferns and Fern Allies
- Seed Plants
Fauna - Invertebrates
- Corals, Worms and Molluscs
- Springtails, Peripatus & Insects (to Moths)
- Butterflies
- Phasmids
- Spiders
- Horseshoe Crabs and Decapod Crustaceans
- Echinodemate
Fauna - Vertebrates
- Fishes
- Amphibians
- Reptiles
- Birds
- Mammals
The book concludes with comprehensive checklists of the threatened species covering the above groups of flora and fauna.
This 285-page book is the culmination of the efforts and hard work of the various expert contributors and will further the iconic status of the Singapore Red Data Book as the 'lighthouse' for nature conservation activities in Singapore.
A page from the fish section of the Singapore Red Data Book 2008
ButterflyCircle has contributed significantly in the section covering 14 pages (main write up) and 8 pages (checklist), featuring 26 species from the IUCN categories Vulnerable, Endangered and Critically Endangered, with the excellent photographs from Sunny Chir, Wong CM, Chan SC, Richard Ong and Khew SK. All butterflies featured are of live field shots, unlike the first Red Data Book, which had to feature dead specimens due to time constraints.
The Singapore Red Data Book 2008 is another successful book launched, and ButterflyCircle is proud to be the reference authority for butterflies in Singapore.
Two generations of authors - Steven Neo who wrote the butterflies section of the 1st Edition and Khew SK who wrote the butterflies section in the 2nd Edition of the Singapore Red Data Book, posing with Professor Tommy Koh at the book launch.
Read about the launch of the Singapore Red Data Book 2008 - courtesy of Ria Tan's Wild Shores of Singapore Blog.
Text by Khew SK ; Photos scanned from the Singapore Red Data Book 2008
The Singapore Red Data Book 2008 is available from Nature's Niche @ Orchidville and Nature Society (S) at a price of S$20.