Join us for Pedal Ubin this June (30 places x 2 days)!

NUS Toddycats offer free, guided bicycle rides through central Pulau Ubin annually during Pesta Ubin. We are pleased to share stories of nature, heritage and geography of the island for some two decades now. The event originated from a 1998 Ubin Challenge event.

This ride of fellowship is an enjoyable way to meet others and discover just some parts of the island through the simple joy of cycling!

This year, we are offering rides on Saturday 18th June or 25th June 2022, approximately 30 places each. We will meet at 8.00am in front of the Wayang stage at the Village centre, and end about 12.00pm, in time for lunch.
Register here: https://www.eventbrite.sg/e/pedal-ubin-2022-explore-pulau-ubin-with-nus-toddycats-tickets-336105589867

For an idea of what the ride is like, see this video by Airani S, inspired by the 2019 photos of Kenneth Pinto.

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Come say hi to NUS Toddycats! at FOB2022 (21-22 May 22, Botany Centre, SBG)

NUS Toddycats! are glad to be back in face to face action at the Festival of Biodiversity 2022!

The Festival of Biodiversity (FOB) is an annual biodiversity outreach event since 2012, by the National Parks Board in collaboration with the Biodiversity Roundtable. We are delighted to share stories with members of public curious about Singapore’s biodiversity during this event.

FOB2022 details:

• Sat 21st & Sun 22nd May 2022
• 9.00am – 6.00pm
• Botany Centre, Singapore Botanic Gardens

The FOB2022 team warmed up with a visit to Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve where we refreshed ourselves with encounters with the flora and fauna, all in the good company of new and old friends!

The indoor preparatory workshop was held at LKCNHM where it was lovely to meet up with the NUS Toddycats! team once again. Activities and specimens combined with guiding tips shared by seniors made the learning event active and enjoyable!

FOB2022 is our first face-to-face outreach for the public in two years, and our volunteers are raring to share stories of our local biodiversity specimens.

Curious about wildlife in Singapore? Visit FOB2022 and chat with us and the many other nature groups at Botany Centre, Singapore Botanic Gardens, 21 – 22 May, 2022!

Cheers,
Theresa & Weiting
Toddycats FOB Organising Committee 2022

Toddycats supports Singapore’s first Climate Rally, a call for urgent climate action

Toddycats went down to Hong Lim Park on 21 Sep 2019 Sat, 3.00 – 6.00pm to show support to Singapore’s First Climate Rally, organised by youths to call on the government and industries to take on more drastic climate action. The rally is also timed to be a part of the worldwide climate strikes, started by climate activist, Greta Thunberg.

Once emerging from the MRT station, I realised it wasn’t just a few people gathering. There were so many others who also shared the same sentiments that more could be done in Singapore and we have to take climate action now. It was really heartening to see that people of all ages (not only the youths) viewed the climate crisis seriously enough to come down to Hong Lim Park on a hazy Saturday afternoon to be a part of this rally.

Participants were asked to come in red as it signified that current situation of our climate

After entering the area, we were all ready to listen to the speeches.

There were six speeches given by Lad Komal Bhupendra, Karen Sim, Ellen Wu, N. Sivasothi, Oliver Chua and Ho Xiang Tian. All of them delivered speeches with fire and passion. Each of the speakers shared their sentiments, and also included systemic solutions which were pitched to various levels of society, industries and the government to adopt.

The climate rally might be the first, but it wouldn’t be the last time you hear people asking for action to be done. The chance to reverse climate crisis is getting smaller and smaller. Now is the time to make big changes for the climate. The climate actions need to happen at all levels of society and fast. We don’t want the climate crisis to become a climate disaster, do we?

 

Join NUS Toddycats to battle marine trash at Sungei Loyang mangrove on Sat 12 Oct 2019: 3.30pm

As part of the annual International Coastal Cleanup Singapore zone captains Joleen Chan & Joys Tan are organising a cleanup at Sungei Loyang mangrove, located at the eastern end of Pasir Ris Park, on Sat 12th Oct, 3.30pm – 6.00pm.

Trash has accumulated since the last cleanup in 2016 and we will need some rugged help to tackle the burden on this small but lovely mangrove. You must have covered, hard-soled shoes or booties to join us.

If you wish to join us, please register at Eventbrite.

Sungei Loyang mangrove

“Work is a four letter word” series were introduced to the trash problem
at Sungei Loyang (watch from 26:00 here)

Ubin Day 2019 – bringing focus to marine biodiversity and the threat of marine trash!

Sat 29 June 2019 – Crowds flowed into Pulau Ubin for Ubin Day as volunteers and staff tirelessly put up booths to showcase the brilliant diversity of nature and heritage found on Pulau Ubin. Toddycats put up our booth on marine biodiversity, highlighting the key issue of marine debris affecting them.

This year Otterman intern Natalie Quah coordinated our lovely ICCS Otters, site captains Elizabeth Lim, Tan Chia Wu, Chong Siew Men, Olivia Lee and Elsa Lillford valiantly stepped up to volunteer at our booth, together with Toddycats volunteer Delia Quek. Special thanks also to Tina Liow who helped with transporting all the specimens to Ubin, which saw a traumatic break of our old dugong specimen jar (all fixed, no fear)!

Guests for Ubin Day this year included many families, visitors, participants of Pedal Ubin and of course our regular visitor and chair of the Friends of Ubin Network, Minister Desmond Lee.

Volunteers say the shark specimen was the conversation starter about marine life which still persists in our waters. That we have turtles surprises people, especially that they are still beaching on our shores to lay eggs. Then they are concerned. to learn about about the dangers of marine trash in our waters.

It was a great day of community fun and learning and we were happy to be there! Until next year!

Our shift 1 volunteers! Still smiling after setting up in the wee hours of the morning on Ubin! From left: Chong Siew Men, Elizabeth Lim, Tan Chia Wu

Minister Desmond Lee playing our iconic game to match each marine animal to its habitat!

Chia Wu was great with kids that day, bringing specimens around the assembly area to attract them to our booth! Hurrah!

Finally, it was time to tear down. From left: Elsa Lillford, Natalie Quah, Delia Quek, Olivia Lim