Sisters' Islands Marine Park happenings: April 2015

Happy visits to the Marine Park in April, thanks to the volunteer guides!

Volunteer guides and NParks officers at another public walk!

Alas, we are also sad to report the death of one of the Giant clams at the Park.

It is easy to explore the intertidal shores at low tide!

Photo by Tan Soi Hoong on facebook.

The view from the Jetty is usually great! You can see corals and fishes on the reef slope there. On the opposite side, Small Sisters Island!

Photo by Tan Soi Hoong on facebook.

Here's some of the awesome marine life seen during the walks shared by Ian Siah on facebook.

Some of the fascinating corals shared by Richard Kuah on facebook.

Khoo Ee Hoon shared on facebook this awesome clip of a slug that I've not seen before!

Kwan Siong found a crab that has just moulted. Can you tell which is the crab and which is the moult?

Photo by Koh Kwan Siong on facebook.

You will see more and do less damage to the shore if you go with an experienced guide. Here's more about why you should go on a guided walk instead of visiting on your own.

Koh Kwan Siong guiding visitors.

Photo by Tan Soi Hoong on facebook.

Here's a great video clip of a portion of the public walk thanks to U Volunteers.

UV - 23Apr - Sisters Island - Crab moult
Posted by U Volunteers on Thursday, 23 April 2015

Among the highlights of the walk is the Giant clam near the middle of the reef flat. This wild Giant clam is doing quite well!

Photo by Tan Soi Hoong on facebook.

Unfortunately, another Giant clam is not doing so well. This is all that is left of the wild Giant clam found nearer the seawall which is in deeper water.

Photo by Richard Kuah Boon Tiong on facebook.

Here's my last photo of it when it was alive in Jul 2013.

We are not sure what killed it, but Dr Neo Mei Lin, Singapore's Giant clam expert, did a blog post to explain what might have caused its death. These include: reduced visibility in the water (these clams need sunlight to make food), sedimentation, disease as well as stresses such as high water temperature.

In fact, high water temperatures are predicted in 2015, which results in coral bleaching that can kill corals and animals like the Giant clam. Dr Karenne Tun has started coral bleaching monitoring in Singapore, read more about it in this facebook post. More about coral bleaching and why it matters on the Bleach Watch Singapore blog.

Thanks to all the volunteers who make the Marine Park public walks happen!

Photo by Khoo Ee Hoon on facebook.

Catch up with all the happenings at the Marine Park through the Sisters' Islands Marine Park facebook page. You can share your encounters, ideas and thoughts for the Marine Park here.

Share your finds on the facebook group called 'Things found in Sisters Islands'.

More about guided walks at the Sisters' Islands Marine Park on the NParks website.

More about what to expect at a guided walk.

Why should I visit with an experienced and trained guide? Why are places limited on a public walk? Which other shores are accessible to the public? and more in this wildsingapore page.