Aug. 14, 2003 — A new, landmark study shows that Singapore has
lost about half its animal species in the last 200 years, and that
the rest of the region is likely to follow suit very soon.
The study, published in the science journal Nature, was carried out
by researchers from the National University of Singapore and
Australia's Northern Territory University.
Given the extensive destruction of habitat, the researchers
predicted the loss of up to 42 percent of animal populations in
Southeast Asia by the end of this century.
After examining detailed documentation of the state of mammals,
birds, fish and butterflies on the island, they found that at least
881 of 3,196 recorded species, or 28 percent, are now gone
forever.
Taking into account the probable number of animals in the area
before the keeping of detailed records in the late 1800s, the
researchers stated that the loss is actually higher than 28
percent, and probably represents as much as 50 percent of
Singapore's animals.
The researchers stated, "Large-scale conservation efforts need to
be implemented if these rates of extinction are to be
abated."
Habitats have been destroyed by a number of factors. Agriculture
and urban development are the two main culprits behind the mass
extinctions, but over-hunting and fishing, and the heavy shelling
of nature reserves during World War II, also played a part in the
destruction.
Among the animals most threatened with extinction are two mammals
found only in Singapore: the cream-colored giant squirrel and the
banded leaf monkey, said one of the study's authors, Associate
Professor Peter Ng of the National University of Singapore’s
Department of Biological Sciences.
The populations of these two mammals have thinned out so
dramatically that there is no hope for their survival, according to
Ng.
"These are effectively the living dead," said Ng, who is also
director of the Raffles Museum of Biodiversity Research.
According to the study, the prospects for Singapore's surviving
animals look bleak, since 77 percent of species are already under
threat, and most of them are concentrated in nature reserves.
The researchers recommended that action be taken to save as many
animals as possible as soon as possible.
"It's imperative to hang on to all our protected areas," Ng said.
"We can't change history, but we can try to hang on to what we have
now."