1 00:00:02,890 --> 00:00:05,530 Speaker 1: What if the monkey's blocking your door, then you can't 2 00:00:05,530 --> 00:00:07,210 Speaker 1: leave the room. Is it? I must show my teeth 3 00:00:07,210 --> 00:00:08,609 Speaker 1: to scare him. Are your teeth that bad? 4 00:00:10,210 --> 00:00:13,770 Speaker 1: I'm not a fan of crows. What purpose do you serve? Oh, 5 00:00:14,850 --> 00:00:15,529 Speaker 1: sound bite. 6 00:00:22,450 --> 00:00:24,159 Speaker 1: Hey everyone and welcome back to the Hot Pot where 7 00:00:24,159 --> 00:00:27,120 Speaker 1: we hop into different transitions in life. I'm Q. I'm Joey. 8 00:00:27,239 --> 00:00:29,959 Speaker 1: I'm Nick and today's topic is something um some of 9 00:00:29,959 --> 00:00:33,119 Speaker 1: us may have experienced in our lives before and that 10 00:00:33,119 --> 00:00:37,580 Speaker 1: is wildlife encounters. Who better to join us for this 11 00:00:37,580 --> 00:00:39,880 Speaker 1: episode than our special guest, Chun Ming? 12 00:00:40,540 --> 00:00:43,659 Speaker 2: Hi, I'm Chun Bing, and I'm from the National Parks Board, 13 00:00:44,029 --> 00:00:47,309 Speaker 2: and we deal with wildlife encounters in Singapore. 14 00:00:47,430 --> 00:00:49,580 Speaker 1: Actually, wildlife sounds quite like happening. Yeah. Oh, OK, OK. 15 00:00:52,990 --> 00:00:55,470 Speaker 1: So what exactly do you handle or what do 16 00:00:55,470 --> 00:00:55,630 Speaker 2: you 17 00:00:55,630 --> 00:00:55,939 Speaker 1: do? 18 00:00:56,110 --> 00:00:59,709 Speaker 2: Anybody has a problem with wildlife, be it pigeons, 19 00:00:59,790 --> 00:01:00,590 Speaker 1: crows. 20 00:01:01,360 --> 00:01:04,239 Speaker 2: Wild pigs, boars, you know, snakes and all that. That's 21 00:01:04,239 --> 00:01:04,839 Speaker 2: our department 22 00:01:04,839 --> 00:01:07,680 Speaker 1: actually. Actually, are you in tune with nature? You all 23 00:01:07,680 --> 00:01:10,839 Speaker 1: like to go hiking. Oh, I love hikes. I love 24 00:01:10,839 --> 00:01:14,679 Speaker 1: the smell of rain. I can smell when rain is coming. No, 25 00:01:14,760 --> 00:01:17,120 Speaker 1: I can smell. I will literally be like there's a 26 00:01:17,120 --> 00:01:19,610 Speaker 1: smell 27 00:01:19,610 --> 00:01:20,069 Speaker 1: that's right. 28 00:01:20,319 --> 00:01:23,120 Speaker 2: That phenomenon is known as ozone. I think you're smelling ozone. 29 00:01:23,995 --> 00:01:27,104 Speaker 1: Ozone lah I got the ozone sensitivity. 30 00:01:27,834 --> 00:01:30,425 Speaker 2: We are actually a new unit relatively, so it started 31 00:01:30,425 --> 00:01:33,425 Speaker 2: about 4 or 5 years ago. The human-wildlife conflict, right? 32 00:01:33,714 --> 00:01:36,355 Speaker 2: The easier part actually is dealing with the wildlife is 33 00:01:36,355 --> 00:01:37,114 Speaker 2: the humans that 34 00:01:37,114 --> 00:01:38,035 Speaker 1: are a bit more tricky. 35 00:01:39,595 --> 00:01:41,105 Speaker 2: I think you all know what I mean, right? 36 00:01:41,355 --> 00:01:43,635 Speaker 1: To start off, we have pulled out some of the 37 00:01:43,635 --> 00:01:46,694 Speaker 1: animal encounters in Singapore in the last decade, since we 38 00:01:46,694 --> 00:01:46,794 Speaker 1: have 39 00:01:46,839 --> 00:01:49,650 Speaker 1: The expert here, Chunming, we can discuss more about how 40 00:01:49,650 --> 00:01:53,029 Speaker 1: we can properly deal with these situations. So if in 41 00:01:53,029 --> 00:01:55,580 Speaker 1: the future we have similar encounters, right, people know what 42 00:01:55,580 --> 00:02:00,029 Speaker 1: to do. This story is about monkeys. Monkeys causing havoc 43 00:02:00,029 --> 00:02:03,870 Speaker 1: in university dormitory. This student says, I live in university 44 00:02:03,870 --> 00:02:06,349 Speaker 1: hall and there have been two occasions where my room 45 00:02:06,349 --> 00:02:08,830 Speaker 1: was ransacked from the inside by monkeys while I was 46 00:02:08,830 --> 00:02:09,589 Speaker 1: at lectures. 47 00:02:09,714 --> 00:02:12,195 Speaker 1: The first time they took half of my biscuits and 48 00:02:12,195 --> 00:02:15,705 Speaker 1: the 2nd time all of my Oreos. OK, this person 49 00:02:15,705 --> 00:02:18,785 Speaker 1: likes to snack a lot. Alright. I live in no 50 00:02:18,785 --> 00:02:21,494 Speaker 1: aircon room, so closing the windows at night is very hot. 51 00:02:21,744 --> 00:02:24,413 Speaker 1: How do I prevent monkeys from stealing all my stuff? 52 00:02:24,695 --> 00:02:30,425 Speaker 1: Put the signage, no monkeys allowed. Then the monkey too bad. Yeah. Actually, 53 00:02:30,505 --> 00:02:31,945 Speaker 1: I'll be very stressed if I got a monkey in 54 00:02:31,945 --> 00:02:32,505 Speaker 1: my house. Like 55 00:02:32,505 --> 00:02:32,513 Speaker 2: how 56 00:02:33,945 --> 00:02:35,895 Speaker 2: how to stop the monkey from stealing all his stuff. 57 00:02:36,085 --> 00:02:36,823 Speaker 2: Some is OK. 58 00:02:37,990 --> 00:02:40,149 Speaker 1: So like share a bit compromise. 59 00:02:40,758 --> 00:02:42,478 Speaker 2: To be fair to the school, we knew that they 60 00:02:42,479 --> 00:02:44,720 Speaker 2: tried everything, they did a lot of stuff. They changed 61 00:02:44,720 --> 00:02:46,919 Speaker 2: all the dustbins, but in one simple thing is just 62 00:02:46,919 --> 00:02:48,508 Speaker 2: close the windows when you go for lectures and that 63 00:02:49,110 --> 00:02:51,119 Speaker 2: that really solves the whole thing lah. 64 00:02:51,440 --> 00:02:53,478 Speaker 1: I feel like some of the monkeys. 65 00:02:54,339 --> 00:02:55,940 Speaker 1: Push open. They are very, I mean if they don't 66 00:02:55,940 --> 00:02:58,070 Speaker 1: lock it if they don't not pick the lock they 67 00:02:58,070 --> 00:03:02,300 Speaker 1: got the emergency hammer. But you know they're so smart 68 00:03:02,300 --> 00:03:05,410 Speaker 1: these days, right? Even when you travel to Bali or Indonesia, 69 00:03:05,630 --> 00:03:08,380 Speaker 1: there's a lot of stories of like monkeys grabbing people's 70 00:03:08,380 --> 00:03:10,940 Speaker 1: phones and they will trade food for it, right? Then 71 00:03:10,940 --> 00:03:12,139 Speaker 1: how do we navigate that 72 00:03:12,139 --> 00:03:12,570 Speaker 1: situation? 73 00:03:12,699 --> 00:03:15,740 Speaker 2: I think monkeys because they're so intelligent, but they see us. 74 00:03:16,132 --> 00:03:20,723 Speaker 2: Of another type of apes, but probably a less evolved 75 00:03:20,893 --> 00:03:24,821 Speaker 2: one as we evolved, 76 00:03:24,832 --> 00:03:24,843 Speaker 1: yeah, 77 00:03:24,852 --> 00:03:27,613 Speaker 2: like I was so slow, cannot climb like reaction slow. 78 00:03:27,651 --> 00:03:29,772 Speaker 2: I delay, you know, I go there, I grab the food, 79 00:03:29,813 --> 00:03:31,542 Speaker 2: then one second later a fellow respond 80 00:03:31,542 --> 00:03:35,162 Speaker 1: question, um, monkeys generally aggressive. 81 00:03:35,373 --> 00:03:37,572 Speaker 2: They are not. They are actually frightened of us. 82 00:03:37,695 --> 00:03:41,445 Speaker 2: But sometimes you encounter a fierce monkey, right? What they're 83 00:03:41,445 --> 00:03:43,645 Speaker 2: doing is they're doing a bluff, so they try to 84 00:03:43,645 --> 00:03:46,406 Speaker 2: charge at you and see whether you run away. Of course, 85 00:03:46,526 --> 00:03:49,565 Speaker 2: if you deem grabbing a foot aggression, then yes, they 86 00:03:49,565 --> 00:03:51,735 Speaker 2: will grab food because they know that you know you 87 00:03:51,735 --> 00:03:52,735 Speaker 2: guys are just going to let go. 88 00:03:52,886 --> 00:03:54,626 Speaker 1: OK, so we got two scenarios. One is when I'm 89 00:03:54,626 --> 00:03:56,485 Speaker 1: in their environment, and another one is when they are 90 00:03:56,485 --> 00:03:58,606 Speaker 1: in my environment. If I'm on a hike and then 91 00:03:58,606 --> 00:03:59,326 Speaker 1: they grab my foot. 92 00:03:59,899 --> 00:04:00,619 Speaker 1: Then just 93 00:04:00,619 --> 00:04:00,740 Speaker 2: give 94 00:04:00,740 --> 00:04:03,740 Speaker 2: up going by National Parksport advice it 95 00:04:03,740 --> 00:04:05,110 Speaker 1: is kept in harbor, 96 00:04:05,259 --> 00:04:05,669 Speaker 2: right? Yeah, 97 00:04:05,820 --> 00:04:08,220 Speaker 1: so sometimes they will try to because I've seen like 98 00:04:08,220 --> 00:04:10,740 Speaker 1: I like in MacRitchie, right, then they will try to 99 00:04:10,740 --> 00:04:11,720 Speaker 1: like open bags and 100 00:04:11,720 --> 00:04:11,860 Speaker 1: things 101 00:04:11,860 --> 00:04:12,020 Speaker 2: like 102 00:04:12,020 --> 00:04:12,139 Speaker 1: that 103 00:04:12,139 --> 00:04:15,220 Speaker 2: untended bags unattended bags, but if you're holding on to 104 00:04:15,220 --> 00:04:18,119 Speaker 2: your bag, it's OK. So don't leave your stuff untended 105 00:04:18,119 --> 00:04:19,519 Speaker 2: like if you go any place. 106 00:04:20,209 --> 00:04:21,679 Speaker 2: In the world, you're not going to leave your bag 107 00:04:21,678 --> 00:04:22,238 Speaker 2: there unattended, 108 00:04:22,299 --> 00:04:24,760 Speaker 1: right, right, right, right. Then the other scenario is if 109 00:04:24,760 --> 00:04:27,839 Speaker 1: they come into like my apartment. Meanwhile, like say you 110 00:04:27,839 --> 00:04:30,359 Speaker 1: take 10 minutes, 15 minutes to come, right, then I 111 00:04:30,359 --> 00:04:32,720 Speaker 1: help just go to the room and hide. 112 00:04:32,959 --> 00:04:33,040 Speaker 2: If 113 00:04:33,040 --> 00:04:33,160 Speaker 1: it 114 00:04:33,160 --> 00:04:34,669 Speaker 2: does come into your room, right? 115 00:04:35,279 --> 00:04:38,320 Speaker 2: Leave the room, close the doors and windows, and then 116 00:04:38,320 --> 00:04:39,000 Speaker 2: wait for us to turn 117 00:04:39,000 --> 00:04:39,119 Speaker 2: up. 118 00:04:39,279 --> 00:04:41,839 Speaker 1: What if the monkeys blocking your door, then you can't 119 00:04:41,839 --> 00:04:44,160 Speaker 1: leave the room. Then like, how do you, this is 120 00:04:44,160 --> 00:04:45,970 Speaker 1: my biggest nightmare. Oh my goodness 121 00:04:45,970 --> 00:04:47,919 Speaker 2: because I feel like it's standing between you and the door. 122 00:04:48,440 --> 00:04:51,320 Speaker 2: The monkey is probably more terrified than you, right? And 123 00:04:51,320 --> 00:04:53,519 Speaker 2: the first thing he's gonna do is gonna leave by 124 00:04:53,519 --> 00:04:55,959 Speaker 2: the way he came in. Don't go there and then 125 00:04:55,959 --> 00:04:57,070 Speaker 2: block his way. He's just gonna run 126 00:04:57,070 --> 00:04:57,279 Speaker 2: out. 127 00:04:57,720 --> 00:05:00,720 Speaker 1: I must show my teeth to scare him. They are 128 00:05:00,720 --> 00:05:01,479 Speaker 1: your teeth that bad? 129 00:05:02,869 --> 00:05:05,130 Speaker 1: They always like that. No, but I feel like, right, 130 00:05:05,350 --> 00:05:07,910 Speaker 1: this is what I think. Then they beat their chest. No, no, no, 131 00:05:07,988 --> 00:05:09,690 Speaker 1: I think that if you do that, they might attack 132 00:05:09,690 --> 00:05:13,279 Speaker 1: you because you're trying to trigger them that oh you 133 00:05:13,279 --> 00:05:18,790 Speaker 1: are the alpha, you know. So you cannot, you should not. Alright, 134 00:05:18,910 --> 00:05:23,549 Speaker 1: next story, close encounter with a crocodile. Scary. I was 135 00:05:23,549 --> 00:05:26,659 Speaker 1: based at Sungai Buo Wetland Reserve in my old job 136 00:05:26,660 --> 00:05:29,109 Speaker 1: and crocodiles were part and parcel of a typical. 137 00:05:29,897 --> 00:05:33,036 Speaker 1: Wow, can't relate. Yeah, can't relate. For the most part, 138 00:05:33,065 --> 00:05:36,316 Speaker 1: the crocodiles avoided people. Once in a while, a large 139 00:05:36,315 --> 00:05:39,226 Speaker 1: crocodile would crawl out of the water onto the trail 140 00:05:39,226 --> 00:05:46,157 Speaker 1: to bask. He got licenses. This was before the barriers 141 00:05:46,157 --> 00:05:49,236 Speaker 1: were installed along the trails. I had some very muddy 142 00:05:49,236 --> 00:05:52,657 Speaker 1: containers to clean and rinse out. I foolishly decided to 143 00:05:52,657 --> 00:05:55,587 Speaker 1: stand on the boat ramp and wash them in the river. 144 00:05:56,014 --> 00:05:59,313 Speaker 1: I approached the water's edge and took a quick glance around. 145 00:05:59,444 --> 00:06:02,902 Speaker 1: All clear, I squatted down and started washing my containers. 146 00:06:03,204 --> 00:06:06,003 Speaker 1: At short intervals, I would pause, look up and scan 147 00:06:06,003 --> 00:06:09,003 Speaker 1: the area for crocodiles before resuming. They sound like zebra crossing. 148 00:06:09,213 --> 00:06:11,204 Speaker 1: And this person quite vigilant, but OK. Yeah, but he 149 00:06:11,204 --> 00:06:14,003 Speaker 1: really made a wrong decision. Correct. As I continued washing, 150 00:06:14,123 --> 00:06:16,604 Speaker 1: I must have been distracted and stopped looking up for 151 00:06:16,604 --> 00:06:20,313 Speaker 1: some time. A large adult crocodile, some 2 to 3 152 00:06:20,313 --> 00:06:22,644 Speaker 1: m in length, was slowly cruising. 153 00:06:22,740 --> 00:06:26,651 Speaker 1: Passed me several meters away. It wasn't approaching me, just 154 00:06:26,651 --> 00:06:29,971 Speaker 1: heading upstream. The moment I spotted the crocodile, it was 155 00:06:29,971 --> 00:06:33,330 Speaker 1: already passing my position along the riverbank, which means that 156 00:06:33,330 --> 00:06:36,700 Speaker 1: I had been extremely careless, had kept my head down 157 00:06:36,700 --> 00:06:39,210 Speaker 1: for way too long and had failed to notice the 158 00:06:39,210 --> 00:06:42,609 Speaker 1: crocodile while it was downstream and swimming closer. I read 159 00:06:42,610 --> 00:06:44,371 Speaker 1: before they say if a crocodile bite you, you punch 160 00:06:44,371 --> 00:06:48,440 Speaker 1: the nose. Oh yes, yes, yes. Right. Boobs. Oh. 161 00:06:50,019 --> 00:06:52,738 Speaker 1: He's not Steve, he's not Steve Irwin. He's not 162 00:06:52,738 --> 00:06:53,519 Speaker 1: Steve Irwin. 163 00:06:54,130 --> 00:06:56,489 Speaker 2: There's a YouTube video of this, this guy who lives 164 00:06:56,488 --> 00:06:59,179 Speaker 2: in Darwin, Australia. He's an old guy. He lives on 165 00:06:59,178 --> 00:07:01,500 Speaker 2: an island in the middle of the river, and he's 166 00:07:01,500 --> 00:07:03,339 Speaker 2: so used to having crocodiles, and then he took the 167 00:07:03,339 --> 00:07:04,420 Speaker 2: pen and I 168 00:07:04,420 --> 00:07:05,390 Speaker 1: saw that one 169 00:07:05,390 --> 00:07:07,350 Speaker 2: that's where you got inspiration from the book. 170 00:07:08,820 --> 00:07:11,089 Speaker 1: But this is such a rare story. Not not every 171 00:07:11,089 --> 00:07:14,059 Speaker 1: Singaporean will encounter this. OK, but let's say in this 172 00:07:14,059 --> 00:07:18,959 Speaker 1: situation the crocodile actually started swimming towards this person. Then what? 173 00:07:19,660 --> 00:07:20,359 Speaker 1: Should the person 174 00:07:20,359 --> 00:07:20,910 Speaker 1: have done this 175 00:07:21,519 --> 00:07:24,339 Speaker 2: this will be the easiest to avoid, right? I mean, 176 00:07:24,559 --> 00:07:26,309 Speaker 2: first of all, don't be there. 177 00:07:26,609 --> 00:07:29,839 Speaker 2: And then next thing is that a crocodile is approaching you, 178 00:07:29,890 --> 00:07:31,089 Speaker 2: then you just back away lah. 179 00:07:31,209 --> 00:07:31,609 Speaker 1: Anywhere 180 00:07:31,609 --> 00:07:33,769 Speaker 1: else in Singapore, we would encounter 181 00:07:33,769 --> 00:07:34,459 Speaker 1: crocodiles. 182 00:07:34,649 --> 00:07:38,600 Speaker 2: We have crocodiles in Sungaibulo. That's where most of them are. 183 00:07:39,170 --> 00:07:42,799 Speaker 2: But then crocodiles, you know, they do fight their territorial 184 00:07:42,799 --> 00:07:44,970 Speaker 2: and then if they reproduce, they're just going to be 185 00:07:44,970 --> 00:07:48,380 Speaker 2: moving out. So you can have crocodiles that might move 186 00:07:48,380 --> 00:07:51,279 Speaker 2: outside of Songgauru, and that's what we are keeping a 187 00:07:51,279 --> 00:07:52,079 Speaker 2: lookout for lah. 188 00:07:53,279 --> 00:07:55,359 Speaker 1: Where's the wildest place you have seen a crocodile or 189 00:07:55,359 --> 00:07:56,880 Speaker 1: had a crocodile sighting? 190 00:07:57,079 --> 00:07:59,730 Speaker 2: I think we had a few instances in East Coast 191 00:07:59,730 --> 00:08:02,549 Speaker 2: where we had crocodiles, East Coast a few times, yeah. 192 00:08:02,679 --> 00:08:04,679 Speaker 1: I was waiting for you to say Yishun because 193 00:08:04,679 --> 00:08:05,119 Speaker 2: even though this is a saltwater crocodile. 194 00:08:09,779 --> 00:08:10,359 Speaker 1: Yeah, right, la salt water. 195 00:08:19,000 --> 00:08:19,809 Speaker 2: You got saltwater. It actually got so although we don't 196 00:08:19,809 --> 00:08:22,369 Speaker 2: hear about crocodile attacks in Singapore, but you know, don't 197 00:08:22,369 --> 00:08:24,809 Speaker 2: be complacent because it can happen if you do the 198 00:08:24,809 --> 00:08:26,920 Speaker 2: wrong thing, be at the wrong place at the wrong time. 199 00:08:27,049 --> 00:08:29,369 Speaker 2: The crocodiles used to come out and and bask a 200 00:08:29,369 --> 00:08:33,130 Speaker 2: lot without a license. When they bus, right, they really 201 00:08:33,130 --> 00:08:36,489 Speaker 2: busk for a long time, can be hours, and they're 202 00:08:36,489 --> 00:08:37,010 Speaker 2: just there. 203 00:08:37,400 --> 00:08:41,979 Speaker 2: So they've erected all these slow fences to stop coles 204 00:08:41,979 --> 00:08:43,949 Speaker 2: from coming up. It's not for people to sit on. 205 00:08:44,059 --> 00:08:46,020 Speaker 2: So a lot of people end up sitting on those fences. 206 00:08:46,219 --> 00:08:46,299 Speaker 2: Not 207 00:08:46,299 --> 00:08:46,690 Speaker 1: a good idea. 208 00:08:47,830 --> 00:08:50,739 Speaker 1: I mean, it does look quite aesthetic to sit around 209 00:08:50,739 --> 00:08:54,119 Speaker 1: the fences living your best life, but it's for the crocodiles, 210 00:08:54,380 --> 00:08:57,010 Speaker 1: not for you guys. OK, next story. 211 00:08:57,539 --> 00:09:01,229 Speaker 1: The otter law in Singapore. I feel very passionate about 212 00:09:01,229 --> 00:09:04,270 Speaker 1: this topic, but I'll share my thoughts in a bit. OK. 213 00:09:04,390 --> 00:09:08,429 Speaker 1: Otters were spotted crossing the road diagonally from Funan to 214 00:09:08,429 --> 00:09:12,539 Speaker 1: Saint Andrew's Cathedral. A commenter from a Reddit thread added on, 215 00:09:12,869 --> 00:09:16,049 Speaker 1: Otters have become a part of Singapore's urban environment, so 216 00:09:16,049 --> 00:09:18,989 Speaker 1: much so that they recently got ushered across the busy 217 00:09:18,989 --> 00:09:19,669 Speaker 1: Orchard Road. 218 00:09:20,159 --> 00:09:23,549 Speaker 1: By Istana's police guards who stopped traffic for 2 minutes 219 00:09:23,549 --> 00:09:27,400 Speaker 1: to ensure the animals' safety. My hot take is that 220 00:09:27,400 --> 00:09:32,000 Speaker 1: they only we only so tolerant because they're cute. 100%. OK, 221 00:09:32,229 --> 00:09:35,640 Speaker 1: say like snake, maybe people won't stop. No, I think 222 00:09:35,640 --> 00:09:35,969 Speaker 1: people will 223 00:09:35,969 --> 00:09:36,520 Speaker 1: stop because. 224 00:09:38,599 --> 00:09:42,750 Speaker 1: Then they don't want to like yeah because like not 225 00:09:42,750 --> 00:09:44,858 Speaker 1: one time eh, 2 times at the because you got 226 00:09:44,859 --> 00:09:47,460 Speaker 1: the front tire back tire. No, but I think we 227 00:09:47,460 --> 00:09:49,900 Speaker 1: know that otters can be vicious. We've seen the stories 228 00:09:49,900 --> 00:09:52,699 Speaker 1: of them like literally just taking bites of people's fish 229 00:09:52,700 --> 00:09:55,218 Speaker 1: and then never eat the whole fish. But then we 230 00:09:55,219 --> 00:09:57,460 Speaker 1: also have those greeting cards where it's like, oh we 231 00:09:57,460 --> 00:09:57,979 Speaker 1: all beet. 232 00:09:58,885 --> 00:10:01,984 Speaker 1: last time the Together app got author. You remember it 233 00:10:01,984 --> 00:10:02,265 Speaker 1: was a 234 00:10:02,265 --> 00:10:02,734 Speaker 1: feature. 235 00:10:02,905 --> 00:10:05,905 Speaker 2: I'm always trying to be very fair lah, right? Our 236 00:10:05,905 --> 00:10:09,734 Speaker 2: authors are actually very well behaved. I think they are, 237 00:10:09,864 --> 00:10:13,645 Speaker 2: they are not aggressive actually. All the incidents of people 238 00:10:13,645 --> 00:10:17,744 Speaker 2: being named, right, is either they go for selfie go 239 00:10:17,744 --> 00:10:18,223 Speaker 2: too near. 240 00:10:18,530 --> 00:10:21,020 Speaker 2: And then the authors get a bit uneasy and it's 241 00:10:21,020 --> 00:10:24,530 Speaker 2: always when the authors have pubs, 242 00:10:24,659 --> 00:10:30,020 Speaker 1: not, not go to the pub, founder of the pubs. 243 00:10:33,330 --> 00:10:35,640 Speaker 2: If you could photosynthesize like a plant, but I had 244 00:10:35,640 --> 00:10:38,239 Speaker 2: to give up eating food, would you do it? I 245 00:10:38,239 --> 00:10:41,400 Speaker 2: think I would be like a Venus flytrap. I would 246 00:10:41,400 --> 00:10:43,880 Speaker 2: still eat food, but I can also photosynthesize. 247 00:10:45,239 --> 00:10:47,079 Speaker 1: This is Nick's ideal answer. Oh. 248 00:10:49,750 --> 00:10:50,250 Speaker 1: I do. 249 00:10:51,690 --> 00:10:55,479 Speaker 1: What's this? Would you rather shrink to the size of 250 00:10:55,479 --> 00:10:57,479 Speaker 1: an ant or expand to the height of a giraffe? 251 00:10:57,559 --> 00:11:00,469 Speaker 1: Giraffe lah, shrink to the size of ant can become like, 252 00:11:00,479 --> 00:11:04,280 Speaker 1: I don't want to be insignificant. You don't really notice them, 253 00:11:04,320 --> 00:11:06,640 Speaker 1: but giraffe, you're like, wow, the neck long. You want 254 00:11:06,640 --> 00:11:08,799 Speaker 1: to be giraffe. I feel like giraffe very inconvenient. Also 255 00:11:08,799 --> 00:11:10,710 Speaker 1: my neck quite long, so I relate to a giraffe. 256 00:11:11,440 --> 00:11:13,729 Speaker 1: You are trapped on an island and a mysterious boat 257 00:11:13,729 --> 00:11:15,559 Speaker 1: shows up with an offer to bring you home. 258 00:11:16,250 --> 00:11:18,380 Speaker 1: Do you take the chance or stay on the island? 259 00:11:18,630 --> 00:11:20,919 Speaker 1: You better go home. Your wife is watching. But they 260 00:11:20,919 --> 00:11:25,869 Speaker 1: never say the island how good. Yeah, but your wife 261 00:11:25,869 --> 00:11:28,409 Speaker 1: is not there. Your wife's not there. If you could 262 00:11:28,409 --> 00:11:31,320 Speaker 1: try any job for a week, what would it be? 263 00:11:31,380 --> 00:11:33,229 Speaker 1: Maybe president. I want to go and like wave at 264 00:11:33,229 --> 00:11:35,539 Speaker 1: the residents, then they must wave back at me. 265 00:11:36,869 --> 00:11:41,460 Speaker 1: Can I ask, why do otters go towards the city area? 266 00:11:41,669 --> 00:11:45,630 Speaker 1: I mean, isn't it a foreign space and area for 267 00:11:45,630 --> 00:11:48,510 Speaker 1: them as compared to like somewhere that's closer 268 00:11:48,510 --> 00:11:49,699 Speaker 1: to the water, for example? 269 00:11:49,909 --> 00:11:51,750 Speaker 2: I think it says a lot about how clean our 270 00:11:51,750 --> 00:11:55,608 Speaker 2: waterways are. PUB owes me for that one. PUB. Another. 271 00:11:57,650 --> 00:12:00,760 Speaker 2: The otters are moving along a lot of our waterways 272 00:12:00,760 --> 00:12:02,659 Speaker 2: and our waterways connect to a lot of places. 273 00:12:03,280 --> 00:12:04,890 Speaker 2: Even to the city, so they go on a city 274 00:12:04,890 --> 00:12:10,189 Speaker 2: hall Istana. So that that's that's what's happening. 275 00:12:10,400 --> 00:12:12,000 Speaker 1: Then they quite territorial one, right? I know got a 276 00:12:12,000 --> 00:12:15,559 Speaker 1: different gang one totally how many gangs you think a 277 00:12:15,559 --> 00:12:17,799 Speaker 1: lot because I, I, I joined the Facebook group for 278 00:12:17,799 --> 00:12:21,329 Speaker 1: a while. Oh, I thought you joined the gang gang 279 00:12:21,330 --> 00:12:25,679 Speaker 1: gang you from? I'm the Bishan one because like there's 280 00:12:25,679 --> 00:12:28,609 Speaker 1: like the Otter watch Facebook group. Then I joined for 281 00:12:28,609 --> 00:12:30,200 Speaker 1: a while. Then people were really like. 282 00:12:30,479 --> 00:12:32,530 Speaker 1: Oh, this gang got how many of them. One is 283 00:12:32,530 --> 00:12:34,710 Speaker 1: the mother, one is the father, how many children they 284 00:12:34,710 --> 00:12:36,630 Speaker 1: know the family tree and it. Then after that, like 285 00:12:36,630 --> 00:12:39,090 Speaker 1: got fight, right, it will be documented. Then after that 286 00:12:39,090 --> 00:12:41,780 Speaker 1: they will post the results of the fight like, oh, 287 00:12:42,030 --> 00:12:43,669 Speaker 1: this one injured or I think that one died. I 288 00:12:43,669 --> 00:12:46,030 Speaker 1: never see. Can I just say something every time when 289 00:12:46,030 --> 00:12:48,869 Speaker 1: animals fight, right, then people will film and then someone 290 00:12:48,869 --> 00:12:49,229 Speaker 1: will comment. 291 00:12:49,530 --> 00:12:56,739 Speaker 1: And no one stopped them and no one chimed in. 292 00:12:56,750 --> 00:12:57,359 Speaker 1: You want me to go do that. It's not you 293 00:12:57,359 --> 00:12:59,320 Speaker 1: look at me. But I think Singapore has also done 294 00:12:59,320 --> 00:13:01,760 Speaker 1: so much to kind of like make way for them. 295 00:13:01,820 --> 00:13:05,280 Speaker 1: Like we have the ecoli. We have a we have 296 00:13:05,280 --> 00:13:07,959 Speaker 1: a literal bridge for them and then we even made 297 00:13:07,960 --> 00:13:10,650 Speaker 1: like cutouts of the animals and it's like a little 298 00:13:10,650 --> 00:13:13,359 Speaker 1: link bridge and the animals can cross. So we give 299 00:13:13,359 --> 00:13:15,608 Speaker 1: them space to cross so that it doesn't affect our 300 00:13:15,609 --> 00:13:17,478 Speaker 1: traffic and then it's still safe for 301 00:13:17,479 --> 00:13:17,719 Speaker 1: them. 302 00:13:17,840 --> 00:13:18,880 Speaker 2: But that's not for otters lah. 303 00:13:19,359 --> 00:13:20,500 Speaker 1: Oh, but they use it, right? 304 00:13:20,799 --> 00:13:21,299 Speaker 2: Not so much. 305 00:13:21,429 --> 00:13:23,190 Speaker 1: Oh really? What animal use that one? So 306 00:13:23,190 --> 00:13:23,369 Speaker 2: that 307 00:13:23,369 --> 00:13:26,150 Speaker 2: one will be used by all the other land animals. 308 00:13:26,349 --> 00:13:29,309 Speaker 1: OK, so actually, right, it seems like otters in general 309 00:13:29,309 --> 00:13:33,069 Speaker 1: are quite domesticated. So does this mean they are safe 310 00:13:33,070 --> 00:13:34,500 Speaker 1: to like approach? 311 00:13:34,900 --> 00:13:37,510 Speaker 1: Actually, I got friends say they want a tapao bring home. Tao, 312 00:13:37,900 --> 00:13:38,140 Speaker 1: yeah, 313 00:13:38,299 --> 00:13:38,500 Speaker 2: in 314 00:13:38,500 --> 00:13:38,820 Speaker 1: Japan 315 00:13:38,820 --> 00:13:40,090 Speaker 2: they have cafes. 316 00:13:40,260 --> 00:13:40,659 Speaker 1: Oh, so 317 00:13:40,659 --> 00:13:41,780 Speaker 2: cute. Have you not 318 00:13:41,780 --> 00:13:42,820 Speaker 1: heard of it? They're very cute and 319 00:13:42,820 --> 00:13:45,218 Speaker 1: they eat salmon and then when they eat it they're 320 00:13:45,219 --> 00:13:46,549 Speaker 1: really very cute, but I don't think 321 00:13:46,549 --> 00:13:46,739 Speaker 2: all 322 00:13:46,739 --> 00:13:48,020 Speaker 2: otters are like this different species. 323 00:13:48,739 --> 00:13:49,739 Speaker 1: Ours is not like that. 324 00:13:49,940 --> 00:13:55,020 Speaker 2: Ours. Oh, that's so cute. So anyway, the word is 325 00:13:55,020 --> 00:13:58,140 Speaker 2: not domesticated. These animals are just used to. 326 00:13:58,312 --> 00:14:02,502 Speaker 2: And we, we don't threaten them and then they don't 327 00:14:02,502 --> 00:14:04,262 Speaker 2: see us as trash. So they do allow us to 328 00:14:04,263 --> 00:14:07,982 Speaker 2: get quite close, but cannot be pet la. No way, man. 329 00:14:08,143 --> 00:14:12,122 Speaker 2: So we don't, uh, humanize them because first of all, we, 330 00:14:12,242 --> 00:14:16,692 Speaker 2: we gauge feelings by a lot of things like our eyebrows, 331 00:14:17,143 --> 00:14:19,492 Speaker 2: like you know, whether it's moving up or down, our 332 00:14:19,492 --> 00:14:21,742 Speaker 2: lips and all that, and most animals don't have that. 333 00:14:21,835 --> 00:14:24,585 Speaker 2: So it would be very inaccurate for us to actually 334 00:14:24,585 --> 00:14:27,026 Speaker 2: try to guess what animal is thinking. And even if 335 00:14:27,026 --> 00:14:29,585 Speaker 2: you know what animal is thinking, you got to remember 336 00:14:29,585 --> 00:14:31,676 Speaker 2: that the animal's first instinct is still survival. 337 00:14:31,955 --> 00:14:36,745 Speaker 1: Alright, next story. Biker encounters two snakes. I caught my 338 00:14:36,745 --> 00:14:39,916 Speaker 1: bike on some ground netting and ended up crashing. My 339 00:14:39,916 --> 00:14:43,065 Speaker 1: bike fell onto a pair of black spitting cobras and 340 00:14:43,065 --> 00:14:45,226 Speaker 1: was tangled heavily with the snakes and the netting. 341 00:14:45,679 --> 00:14:47,950 Speaker 1: One was in an attack position while the other one 342 00:14:47,950 --> 00:14:51,239 Speaker 1: died immediately as it got crushed under the tire. I 343 00:14:51,239 --> 00:14:54,119 Speaker 1: called Acres, who advised me to stay away and watch 344 00:14:54,119 --> 00:14:57,159 Speaker 1: if or where the snakes moved to. So everyone, please 345 00:14:57,159 --> 00:14:59,320 Speaker 1: do not attempt to move or harm a living black 346 00:14:59,320 --> 00:15:03,440 Speaker 1: cobra as it is extremely venomous. It can bite bracket fatally. 347 00:15:03,909 --> 00:15:08,950 Speaker 1: Or spray venom from over 2 m away. 2 m. Sorry, 348 00:15:09,099 --> 00:15:12,940 Speaker 1: I just, I just 2 m is taller than Nick. Yeah, 349 00:15:13,109 --> 00:15:15,630 Speaker 1: means if I lie down, then the cobra at my feet, 350 00:15:15,830 --> 00:15:18,030 Speaker 1: then you're standing at my head, right? He can spit 351 00:15:18,030 --> 00:15:21,429 Speaker 1: on you. I can, but it's a snake. 352 00:15:22,219 --> 00:15:24,770 Speaker 1: So this reminds me of secondary school days, right? Sometimes 353 00:15:24,770 --> 00:15:28,900 Speaker 1: you spit the point, then you shoot at people, black 354 00:15:28,900 --> 00:15:34,900 Speaker 1: spitting cobra not good and not good the garden snake 355 00:15:34,900 --> 00:15:35,890 Speaker 2: you're humanizing 356 00:15:35,890 --> 00:15:36,210 Speaker 1: them. 357 00:15:38,109 --> 00:15:43,380 Speaker 1: Uh, not so safe, right? Yeah. Are snakes commonly found 358 00:15:43,380 --> 00:15:44,979 Speaker 1: in Singapore and in which 359 00:15:44,979 --> 00:15:46,349 Speaker 1: area usually 360 00:15:46,349 --> 00:15:48,539 Speaker 2: because like we have so much nature in our midst, 361 00:15:48,580 --> 00:15:50,900 Speaker 2: so it's not too difficult to actually come across a 362 00:15:50,900 --> 00:15:53,000 Speaker 2: snake la. If it's black for sure call us la. 363 00:15:54,030 --> 00:15:54,729 Speaker 2: You don't want to take a chance. 364 00:15:55,219 --> 00:15:58,419 Speaker 1: But how do we differentiate between venomous and non-venomous 365 00:15:58,419 --> 00:15:58,559 Speaker 1: one? 366 00:15:58,700 --> 00:16:00,979 Speaker 2: That's part of what we do in national parks. We 367 00:16:00,979 --> 00:16:04,000 Speaker 2: actually spend a lot of time educating people. A few 368 00:16:04,000 --> 00:16:05,460 Speaker 2: years ago when you got a call in the middle 369 00:16:05,460 --> 00:16:07,969 Speaker 2: of the night at a condominium where the resident, like 370 00:16:08,359 --> 00:16:10,820 Speaker 2: I say that she caught a snake and all that, 371 00:16:10,940 --> 00:16:12,820 Speaker 2: and then she managed to grab the snake and put 372 00:16:12,820 --> 00:16:14,659 Speaker 2: it inside a plastic bag and cars to come and 373 00:16:14,659 --> 00:16:16,020 Speaker 2: retrieve it. So we went down, I was in the 374 00:16:16,020 --> 00:16:18,099 Speaker 2: middle of the night and then contractors went down and 375 00:16:18,099 --> 00:16:19,599 Speaker 2: then we opened the NTUC pass bag. It was an 376 00:16:19,599 --> 00:16:22,330 Speaker 2: earthworm that's still rigging, rigging, ringing. 377 00:16:23,450 --> 00:16:26,250 Speaker 2: Was it a prank? No, no, she was dead serious 378 00:16:26,250 --> 00:16:29,880 Speaker 2: it was. So no matter how big our phone is, 379 00:16:30,049 --> 00:16:31,090 Speaker 2: it's not gonna be a snakes to 380 00:16:31,090 --> 00:16:36,599 Speaker 1: grab I grab I think I can chopstick snake. 381 00:16:37,359 --> 00:16:40,700 Speaker 1: And this one is not a competition. But let's say 382 00:16:40,700 --> 00:16:43,729 Speaker 1: in this situation there was a snake that died, right? 383 00:16:43,830 --> 00:16:46,789 Speaker 1: Like you or you see an animal that you think 384 00:16:46,789 --> 00:16:48,260 Speaker 1: is dead. Should you move 385 00:16:48,260 --> 00:16:48,539 Speaker 1: it? 386 00:16:49,150 --> 00:16:51,830 Speaker 2: There's no reason for you to do it because like 387 00:16:51,830 --> 00:16:54,479 Speaker 2: if a snake, right, is injured, it can still bite 388 00:16:54,479 --> 00:16:57,030 Speaker 2: and bite, right? And if it's something that you want 389 00:16:57,030 --> 00:16:58,789 Speaker 2: to help, then in the process of moving it might 390 00:16:58,789 --> 00:16:59,979 Speaker 2: cause even more injuries. 391 00:17:00,630 --> 00:17:02,729 Speaker 1: If I cannot ben already, right, then how? 392 00:17:03,424 --> 00:17:05,464 Speaker 1: Last time, like young time they say you suck the 393 00:17:05,464 --> 00:17:09,014 Speaker 1: blood out. I think it's. Oh, it's just like the 394 00:17:09,015 --> 00:17:11,905 Speaker 1: jellyfish sting, right? Then you must pee on it, but 395 00:17:11,905 --> 00:17:14,323 Speaker 1: then they say wrong. So it's a lot of like 396 00:17:14,324 --> 00:17:16,304 Speaker 1: don't suck out, 397 00:17:16,385 --> 00:17:18,814 Speaker 2: right? It doesn't work and also worse if there's still 398 00:17:18,814 --> 00:17:20,385 Speaker 2: venom on the skin and all that, and then you 399 00:17:20,385 --> 00:17:23,024 Speaker 2: got ulcer in your mouth and say one person, you 400 00:17:23,025 --> 00:17:24,145 Speaker 2: got two person die. So 401 00:17:24,145 --> 00:17:24,344 Speaker 1: just 402 00:17:24,344 --> 00:17:26,224 Speaker 1: call ambulance and hope that they can 403 00:17:26,224 --> 00:17:26,504 Speaker 1: get 404 00:17:26,505 --> 00:17:29,185 Speaker 2: you get bitten, that's when you don't call parts anymore. 405 00:17:29,900 --> 00:17:32,640 Speaker 2: For ambulance. There's a lot of fear in in in 406 00:17:32,640 --> 00:17:35,560 Speaker 2: our population about snakes, which is understandable. I mean, from 407 00:17:35,560 --> 00:17:37,319 Speaker 2: all the movies you watch and all that, but by 408 00:17:37,319 --> 00:17:40,439 Speaker 2: and large, most of our snakes are not venomous and 409 00:17:40,439 --> 00:17:42,520 Speaker 2: even if it's venomous, the first instinct of snake is 410 00:17:42,520 --> 00:17:45,389 Speaker 2: to get away. It's just not snakes, it's just all animals. 411 00:17:45,640 --> 00:17:47,089 Speaker 2: They want to get away from from us. 412 00:17:47,270 --> 00:17:50,099 Speaker 2: And the best thing you can do is to allow 413 00:17:50,099 --> 00:17:52,900 Speaker 2: them that that corridor, that space for them to go 414 00:17:52,900 --> 00:17:53,609 Speaker 2: where they need to go. 415 00:17:53,859 --> 00:17:54,060 Speaker 1: Alright, 416 00:17:54,300 --> 00:17:59,319 Speaker 1: next story in Bishan. Wow, I'm not a fan of crows. 417 00:17:59,380 --> 00:18:02,260 Speaker 1: I think I like the most don't like crows. No, 418 00:18:02,420 --> 00:18:05,458 Speaker 1: I think I can fight you. Like they really like 419 00:18:05,459 --> 00:18:06,479 Speaker 1: what purpose do you serve? 420 00:18:08,109 --> 00:18:14,510 Speaker 1: Oh, a freebie, as in they look evil, yeah, but let's, 421 00:18:14,589 --> 00:18:16,410 Speaker 1: I mean, let's hear the story. Let's hear the story first. 422 00:18:16,630 --> 00:18:19,819 Speaker 1: Crows attack passersby on the back of their heads. At 423 00:18:19,819 --> 00:18:23,469 Speaker 1: a common pathway in Bishan, a resident who encountered this 424 00:18:23,469 --> 00:18:25,550 Speaker 1: says a few days ago I had a crow fly 425 00:18:25,550 --> 00:18:26,430 Speaker 1: over me once or twice. 426 00:18:27,030 --> 00:18:30,280 Speaker 1: But this is weird behavior because the crow flies really 427 00:18:30,280 --> 00:18:33,319 Speaker 1: close to your head. Another resident recounts. Last week I 428 00:18:33,319 --> 00:18:35,959 Speaker 1: was walking my dog and then suddenly one crow flew 429 00:18:35,959 --> 00:18:38,719 Speaker 1: above my head and tried to attack me. After that, 430 00:18:38,800 --> 00:18:41,310 Speaker 1: I thought of calling the town council, but I thought, 431 00:18:41,479 --> 00:18:43,319 Speaker 1: what if they catch the crows and kill them? That's 432 00:18:43,319 --> 00:18:45,199 Speaker 1: what I wouldn't want. That's why I don't like them. 433 00:18:46,000 --> 00:18:47,639 Speaker 1: Like people will never do anything, then they come and 434 00:18:47,640 --> 00:18:48,829 Speaker 1: like DC you 435 00:18:48,829 --> 00:18:54,399 Speaker 2: actually 99.99999% of the time when crows attack people, it's 436 00:18:54,400 --> 00:18:56,939 Speaker 2: because they have a nest. Anybody who goes too near, 437 00:18:57,079 --> 00:18:59,069 Speaker 2: they're just gonna swoop down and attack you. 438 00:19:00,400 --> 00:19:02,369 Speaker 1: How near is too near? Like if the tree like 439 00:19:02,369 --> 00:19:04,920 Speaker 1: 30 m tall, then I walk underneath. It 440 00:19:04,920 --> 00:19:06,949 Speaker 2: depends on the crows. Some of them are more sensitive 441 00:19:06,949 --> 00:19:07,550 Speaker 2: than others. 442 00:19:08,849 --> 00:19:10,180 Speaker 2: Some of them are more protective. 443 00:19:10,349 --> 00:19:13,310 Speaker 1: So actually, our birds very territorial in general? Crows, 444 00:19:13,459 --> 00:19:15,438 Speaker 2: they are protective and that's the main thing. That's why 445 00:19:15,439 --> 00:19:17,948 Speaker 2: people get attacked. And and when that happens, right, and 446 00:19:17,949 --> 00:19:21,030 Speaker 2: then people call and pass and we go down and 447 00:19:21,030 --> 00:19:23,430 Speaker 2: then we look for the nest where this occurred and 448 00:19:23,430 --> 00:19:24,188 Speaker 2: we spot the nest we have. 449 00:19:24,319 --> 00:19:27,430 Speaker 2: to remove it and then it's like almost without fail 450 00:19:27,719 --> 00:19:28,319 Speaker 2: the stop. 451 00:19:28,599 --> 00:19:30,640 Speaker 1: Is there a main difference because you said we're talking 452 00:19:30,640 --> 00:19:33,229 Speaker 1: about crows and not birds. Is there a big difference 453 00:19:33,229 --> 00:19:34,469 Speaker 1: in their behavior? 454 00:19:34,640 --> 00:19:37,359 Speaker 2: Other birds you don't hear all these attacks 455 00:19:37,359 --> 00:19:38,438 Speaker 1: pigeon 456 00:19:38,439 --> 00:19:40,920 Speaker 1: attack my face before, huh? I think the one like 457 00:19:40,920 --> 00:19:45,839 Speaker 1: pigeons my face. No, no, they didn't. OK. They just 458 00:19:45,839 --> 00:19:49,369 Speaker 1: fly into your face. That's just my, my childhood. So 459 00:19:49,369 --> 00:19:52,439 Speaker 1: actually like in terms of population control, right, because like 460 00:19:52,439 --> 00:19:53,680 Speaker 1: crows are invasive, right? 461 00:19:53,979 --> 00:19:56,969 Speaker 2: Yeah, so they are, they're exotic, that means they're not 462 00:19:56,969 --> 00:20:00,880 Speaker 2: part of our original fauna, but crows are super intelligent. 463 00:20:01,130 --> 00:20:03,489 Speaker 2: I think I think they are like probably the smartest 464 00:20:03,489 --> 00:20:06,050 Speaker 2: birds around. So they're up there and then way at 465 00:20:06,050 --> 00:20:08,530 Speaker 2: the bottom are pigeons. So it's very difficult for us 466 00:20:08,530 --> 00:20:11,329 Speaker 2: actually in national parks to be catching crows because they 467 00:20:11,329 --> 00:20:13,920 Speaker 2: are so smart, but pigeons, it is much easier. 468 00:20:14,050 --> 00:20:17,319 Speaker 1: So what's your approach to population management for like 469 00:20:17,482 --> 00:20:18,161 Speaker 1: These sort of 470 00:20:18,161 --> 00:20:19,361 Speaker 1: species, crows, 471 00:20:19,442 --> 00:20:22,081 Speaker 2: there's so many of them because they really live very 472 00:20:22,082 --> 00:20:24,452 Speaker 2: well with humans because there's a lot of human waste. 473 00:20:24,682 --> 00:20:26,651 Speaker 2: That's one thing that we try to climb down on 474 00:20:26,651 --> 00:20:29,482 Speaker 2: like stop the littering, you know, the refuse, even the 475 00:20:29,482 --> 00:20:32,120 Speaker 2: hawker centers and so if you reduce the amount of rubbish, 476 00:20:32,202 --> 00:20:34,102 Speaker 2: you're going to have less presence of crows. But of 477 00:20:34,102 --> 00:20:36,121 Speaker 2: course the other thing is to tell people like, don't 478 00:20:36,121 --> 00:20:38,501 Speaker 2: feed the animals, don't feed the crows. You're just gonna 479 00:20:38,501 --> 00:20:39,702 Speaker 2: create a population problem. 480 00:20:40,763 --> 00:20:42,792 Speaker 1: I actually don't realize that all these measures are put 481 00:20:42,792 --> 00:20:45,713 Speaker 1: in place for an actual cause. Like people always think 482 00:20:45,713 --> 00:20:47,274 Speaker 1: like aiya clean lah, like why I need to clean? 483 00:20:47,323 --> 00:20:49,072 Speaker 1: Why do I need to not litter? Singapore is so 484 00:20:49,073 --> 00:20:52,394 Speaker 1: obsessed with being clean or maintaining this image of being 485 00:20:52,394 --> 00:20:55,514 Speaker 1: very uptight. But there are actual reasons as to why 486 00:20:55,513 --> 00:20:59,394 Speaker 1: like the birds. All things considered. Singapore, I have, I 487 00:20:59,394 --> 00:21:01,864 Speaker 1: don't like crows, but I've not really been like disturbed 488 00:21:01,864 --> 00:21:03,913 Speaker 1: by like crows or any other birds. 489 00:21:04,156 --> 00:21:06,666 Speaker 1: But then when I go overseas, right, especially like the 490 00:21:06,666 --> 00:21:11,234 Speaker 1: seagull kind of places, it's wings don't flap one. It's 491 00:21:11,234 --> 00:21:15,546 Speaker 1: like they hover for fries, you must like that they're 492 00:21:15,546 --> 00:21:18,715 Speaker 1: not afraid of humans. Pigeons in New York, like here 493 00:21:18,715 --> 00:21:24,765 Speaker 1: hello and then the pigeon pigeon. hello really and they 494 00:21:24,765 --> 00:21:26,264 Speaker 1: go by and then you just what you do wave 495 00:21:26,265 --> 00:21:27,335 Speaker 1: or like. 496 00:21:28,160 --> 00:21:30,780 Speaker 1: OK, so actually, after hearing about all these encounters, right, 497 00:21:30,859 --> 00:21:33,889 Speaker 1: it seems like it's quite inevitable that living in Singapore, 498 00:21:33,939 --> 00:21:36,099 Speaker 1: at least once or twice in your life, you will 499 00:21:36,099 --> 00:21:40,699 Speaker 1: encounter wildlife. So I think um the real question here 500 00:21:40,699 --> 00:21:44,099 Speaker 1: is how does wildlife and nature actually benefit us? Do 501 00:21:44,099 --> 00:21:46,640 Speaker 1: you all think Singaporeans are too caught up with the 502 00:21:46,640 --> 00:21:49,819 Speaker 1: city life? I think, I think it's important for us 503 00:21:49,819 --> 00:21:52,929 Speaker 1: to learn how to live with people we don't understand. 504 00:21:53,290 --> 00:21:56,339 Speaker 1: People and animals we don't understand. We are moving in a. 505 00:21:56,699 --> 00:21:58,849 Speaker 1: where we only want to be around people we agree 506 00:21:58,849 --> 00:22:01,968 Speaker 1: with and then it's becoming very intolerant to people who 507 00:22:02,109 --> 00:22:04,530 Speaker 1: differ from you. So I think this is a good 508 00:22:04,530 --> 00:22:06,719 Speaker 1: reminder that like Singapore is still a space that has 509 00:22:06,939 --> 00:22:10,819 Speaker 1: a lot of different kinds of people and species and 510 00:22:10,819 --> 00:22:13,300 Speaker 1: I think it is important that we take care of 511 00:22:13,300 --> 00:22:13,649 Speaker 1: this. 512 00:22:14,020 --> 00:22:14,859 Speaker 2: I really like that. 513 00:22:15,270 --> 00:22:18,579 Speaker 2: I mean, to, to equate animals with people, neighbors, and 514 00:22:18,579 --> 00:22:21,079 Speaker 2: all that, right? And it's very precious because not every 515 00:22:21,079 --> 00:22:23,139 Speaker 2: city in the world can lay claim to having so 516 00:22:23,140 --> 00:22:25,130 Speaker 2: much biodiversity at our doorstep. 517 00:22:25,339 --> 00:22:27,319 Speaker 1: But I think with all these stories like you, you 518 00:22:27,319 --> 00:22:29,540 Speaker 1: always have this sentiment like, but you're coming into my space, 519 00:22:29,660 --> 00:22:32,339 Speaker 1: like it's my house. It is your house because you 520 00:22:32,339 --> 00:22:35,399 Speaker 1: exist in a civilization where you can own property, but 521 00:22:35,400 --> 00:22:38,780 Speaker 1: for animals, they don't live like that. Like anywhere is 522 00:22:38,780 --> 00:22:40,819 Speaker 1: free for all rights. Because if you look at like 523 00:22:40,819 --> 00:22:43,229 Speaker 1: our parents' generation or our grandparents' generation, right. 524 00:22:43,619 --> 00:22:47,010 Speaker 1: Their exposure to like the outdoors because they grew up 525 00:22:47,010 --> 00:22:49,729 Speaker 1: in Kampong and all that right it's so much like 526 00:22:49,729 --> 00:22:52,630 Speaker 1: more than ours. So then we always like scared to 527 00:22:52,630 --> 00:22:54,410 Speaker 1: like kill cockroach scared of 528 00:22:54,410 --> 00:22:57,839 Speaker 2: it's very sometimes yeah, everything was scared and then like 529 00:22:57,839 --> 00:23:00,329 Speaker 2: I used to work in Uin right and then when 530 00:23:00,329 --> 00:23:02,369 Speaker 2: he had bring groups here, the children did not recognize 531 00:23:02,369 --> 00:23:04,550 Speaker 2: what a chicken was, and the only chicken they recognized 532 00:23:04,550 --> 00:23:07,310 Speaker 2: was if it is like steamed or deep fried. 533 00:23:07,569 --> 00:23:10,530 Speaker 1: Oh my, oh my, I think fried better. 534 00:23:10,969 --> 00:23:13,750 Speaker 1: No, same. Jumping on the point about like us being 535 00:23:13,750 --> 00:23:18,709 Speaker 1: scared of killing things. I have a little story in Malaysia. 536 00:23:18,790 --> 00:23:20,349 Speaker 1: It was Chinese New Year and then there was a 537 00:23:20,349 --> 00:23:23,310 Speaker 1: very big rat that came out running at me. So 538 00:23:23,310 --> 00:23:25,430 Speaker 1: I ran to the room and I shut the door, right. 539 00:23:25,640 --> 00:23:28,150 Speaker 1: And then I was just screaming, Mummy, papa. I was 540 00:23:28,150 --> 00:23:31,869 Speaker 1: quite grown up by the way, just I was like 541 00:23:31,869 --> 00:23:34,219 Speaker 1: maybe um 23 or something. 542 00:23:34,969 --> 00:23:37,050 Speaker 1: And then my grandfather, right, because he grew up in 543 00:23:37,050 --> 00:23:39,369 Speaker 1: a kampong, he's like, all these rats are nothing, right? 544 00:23:39,449 --> 00:23:40,890 Speaker 1: He just grab it by the tail, right? He just 545 00:23:40,890 --> 00:23:44,969 Speaker 1: like bam on the corner. All of us like, wow, 546 00:23:45,130 --> 00:23:50,050 Speaker 1: you're my hero. Ahkong, yeah, really, really, then he's just like, 547 00:23:50,119 --> 00:23:53,300 Speaker 1: Nim more. You're scared what? Wow. So I think the 548 00:23:53,300 --> 00:23:54,679 Speaker 1: main takeaway here is that. 549 00:23:55,229 --> 00:23:58,228 Speaker 1: Whenever your first instinct or reaction, right, is to be 550 00:23:58,229 --> 00:24:02,430 Speaker 1: scared of a certain like species of animal, try to rationalize, 551 00:24:02,469 --> 00:24:05,189 Speaker 1: I actually need to scare like snakes, for example, right, 552 00:24:05,500 --> 00:24:07,468 Speaker 1: garden snakes can be quite cute, but because they are 553 00:24:07,469 --> 00:24:08,709 Speaker 1: framed in a way like. 554 00:24:09,459 --> 00:24:14,060 Speaker 1: Movies, pop culture, like, ah, snake, then people scared. So 555 00:24:14,060 --> 00:24:15,179 Speaker 1: try to like keep 556 00:24:15,180 --> 00:24:16,099 Speaker 1: calm. Yeah, I 557 00:24:16,099 --> 00:24:19,300 Speaker 2: think this fear of animals, right, is, is something we 558 00:24:19,300 --> 00:24:21,579 Speaker 2: can understand why you have it, but if you really 559 00:24:21,579 --> 00:24:23,698 Speaker 2: take the effort to understand or to know more about 560 00:24:23,699 --> 00:24:26,140 Speaker 2: the animal, then I think the fear will dissipate. Yeah, 561 00:24:26,300 --> 00:24:28,979 Speaker 1: like there are no butterflies without caterpillars. They all come 562 00:24:28,979 --> 00:24:29,969 Speaker 1: in a package. 563 00:24:33,050 --> 00:24:34,810 Speaker 1: Thanks so much for watching this episode of The Hot Pot. 564 00:24:34,849 --> 00:24:37,270 Speaker 1: You can listen to us on Spotify, Apple Podcast and 565 00:24:37,270 --> 00:24:40,099 Speaker 1: me listen and subscribe to us if you haven't already. 566 00:24:40,319 --> 00:24:42,130 Speaker 1: And of course, a huge thanks as well to Chun 567 00:24:42,130 --> 00:24:44,589 Speaker 1: Being from the National Parks Board for joining us. Thank you. 568 00:24:45,050 --> 00:24:46,488 Speaker 1: Thank you, thank you, and we will see you on 569 00:24:46,489 --> 00:24:48,469 Speaker 1: the next episode. Bye bye. 570 00:24:57,349 --> 00:24:57,599 Speaker 2: I share my snack with the monkey like wow monkey 571 00:24:57,599 --> 00:24:57,689 Speaker 2: is the kind of behavior that 572 00:24:57,689 --> 00:24:58,250 Speaker 1: cause all these kind of things in Singapore. He sat 573 00:24:58,250 --> 00:25:00,890 Speaker 1: next to me eating like, oh, let me just share 574 00:25:00,890 --> 00:25:01,449 Speaker 1: like this. 575 00:25:02,359 --> 00:25:04,000 Speaker 2: Oh, he took one bite, you took one bite. Yeah, 576 00:25:04,300 --> 00:25:07,438 Speaker 1: I break my biscuit we eat like that. no sellable exchange. 577 00:25:08,920 --> 00:25:08,959 Speaker 1: It 578 00:25:08,959 --> 00:25:09,469 Speaker 1: was like.