On the Wings of Nature

Like many Singaporeans who lived in the days of nature-filled kampungs (villages), Gan Cheong Weei grew up catching spiders, fish and butterflies in the 1970s. It was the latter that most captured the imagination of the young boy. “Initially, it was all about the excitement of chasing after an elusive and colourful insect,” he told Singapore. Later he came to appreciate much more about the winged insects, particularly the “fascinating” process of metamorphosis when “clumsy and drably coloured caterpillars transform into graceful and colourful flying jewels.”

Today, as the new chairperson of the Butterfly Interest Group (BIG), Cheong Weei – known as Gan among his friends – continues his passion for butterflies along with fellow enthusiast Simon Chan, the self-professed ‘Butterfly Guys’ of BIG. BIG is a special interest group under the auspices of the Nature Society of Singapore (NSS) and works to build awareness of butterfly conservation in Singapore, said Gan, who actively spots, records and tracks the butterfly population.

While the population of butterflies is quite “healthy” in Singapore – thanks to abundant greenery – numbers have dwindled over the years, down from the 300 or more species in colonial times, he said. Just as the term ‘butterfly effect’ denotes the sensitive dependence of related elements in nature, changes to habitat and climate change that affect the butterfly population can have drastic follow-through effects on the ecosystem.

Butterflies, like many insects, play a crucial role in pollination and the life cycle of plants and trees, explained Gan. “They are also food for frogs, geckos and birds … therefore if there is a significant decrease in the density of insects, including butterflies, the likelihood of these other animals moving away or dying out is greater.” But much can be done to support the butterfly population. For instance, those living in landed houses with gardens can set aside caterpillar host plants in a corner of their gardens, he suggested.

The group conducts butterfly walks and talks regularly to increase the awareness about butterflies and highlight the insect’s role in the ecosystem. BIG also establishes new habitats for butterflies here, working with schools, hospitals and even Changi Airport, to create butterfly gardens. “Our most successful one to date is the Alexandra Hospital Butterfly Trail,” said Gan, a garden where butterflies flutter freely. “We are now working closely with the National Parks Board to set aside some green areas to plant caterpillar host plants in the forests as well as in the urban areas.”

Singapore has many of the same species of butterfly as neighbouring Peninsular Malaysia, but there are some unique species too, Gan said, “Butterflies considered rare in Malaysia that seem to be relatively more common here are the Palm Bob skipper, Green Baron and Blue Nawab.”

Seeing these in flight makes a delightful occasion for many Singaporeans as it offers a close encounter with some of the natural wonders in the city state.

Apart from appealing to locals, BIG also has won favour with visiting enthusiasts. One former participant, Briton Mike Martin, who spent ten years in Singapore recalls BIG outings with pleasure. “On one walk we saw a female Horsfield’s Baron, a large, grey and brown butterfly with a strong majestic flight pattern and then, a few minutes later, a completely different looking butterfly (but from the same species) – a much smaller black and pale violet-blue one with a manic flight pattern … We saw 30 other species of butterfly that morning but the highlight was the dimorphic Horsfield’s Baron.”

“In a country where shopping is widely considered to be the most important national pastime, I had wondered if naturalists might be even more endangered than nature!” – American, Kim Bailey, butterfly enthusiast

For American Kim Bailey, an environmental educator and amateur butterfly observer who spent three weeks in Singapore, she was “excited and a bit surprised” to learn about NSS and BIG. During her trip, the ‘Butterfly Guys’ of BIG invited her on one of their own jaunts, which became the “highlight” of her trip. “We saw at least 40 different species at MacRitchie Reservoir and the Alexandra Hospital Butterfly Garden,” she said, going away with a great appreciation for the “knowledge, helpfulness, and enthusiasm” of Gan and Simon. “I was thrilled to learn that so many butterfly species still existed in such a modern metropolitan city as Singapore,” she said, “and to also discover there were still some people in Singapore who preferred to spend their time studying butterflies! In a county where shopping is widely considered to be the most important national pastime, I had wondered if naturalists might be even more endangered than nature!”

WHERE TO WATCH!

Butterflies prefer undisturbed green areas and can be spotted in most parks. Some good places include the central catchment area, Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve and the Singapore Botanic Gardens.

Some tips for butterfly watching:

• Wear comfortable and neutral colours to blend in with the surroundings
• Bring plenty of water
• The best time to spot butterflies is 10am to 3pm
• Do not make sudden movements when approaching butterflies; move slowly and approach when their backs are facing you
• Do not go alone into the forest as you may get lost
• Contact BIG at butterfly.nss.org.sg for details on walks and talks