Bukit Timah Nature Reserve
Bukit Timah Nature Reserve | |
---|---|
Hutan Simpanan Bukit Timah (Malay) 武吉知馬自然保護區 (Chinese) புக்கிட் திமா நேச்சர் ரிசர்வ் (Tamil) | |
Type | Nature Reserve |
Location | Bukit Timah Hill, Singapore |
Nearest town | Bukit Panjang |
Coordinates | 1°21′10″N 103°46′42″E / 1.35278°N 103.77833°E |
Established | 1883 |
Operated by | National Parks Board |
Status | Open |
Website | www |
The Bukit Timah Nature Reserve (abbreviation: BTNR) is a 1.7-square-kilometre (0.66 sq mi) nature reserve near the geographic centre of Singapore, located on the slopes of Bukit Timah Hill, the country's highest natural peak standing at a height of approximately 165 metres (541 ft), and parts of the surrounding area, located actually in Bukit Panjang. The nature reserve is about 15 kilometres (9.3 miles) from the Downtown Core, Singapore's central business district (CBD).
Together with the neighbouring
Etymology
The name Bukit Timah is borrowed from the tallest hill found in the area of the same name, which is also the tallest geographical location in all of Singapore. Bukit means hill in the Malay language, while Timah means tin. It is directly translated to English as "Tin Hill".
The hill served as a granite quarry for many years, but since the mid-1900s, all operations of which has since been abandoned and converted into recreational areas and even filming locations.
History
In 1882, Nathaniel Cantley, then Superintendent of the Singapore Botanic Gardens, was commissioned by the Government of the Straits Settlements to prepare a report on the forests of the settlements. On Cantley's recommendation, several forest reserves were created on Singapore island over the next few years. Bukit Timah was one of the first forest reserves established in 1883.
All the reserves were worked for timber with the exception of Bukit Timah Reserve.[4] By 1937, the forest reserves were depleted under economic pressures for development. However, three areas, including the Bukit Timah Reserve, were retained for the protection of flora and fauna under the management of the Singapore Botanic Gardens.
In 1951, further protection of the reserves were provided by the enactment of a Nature Reserves Ordinance and the establishment of a Nature Reserves Board for the administration of the reserves, now designated as nature reserves, which total some 28 square kilometres in area.
Today, the nature reserves are set aside for the
Activities
The primary activities at Bukit Timah are strolling, running and hiking. There are also smaller groups of people who
The Reserve is popular among athletes training for mountain-climbing. There are a number of hiking trails. The blue trail is rated as "easy" and is 0.7 kilometres (0.43 mi) long, ending overlooking Hindhede Quarry.[6][7] The red trail is also rated as "easy" and is 1.2 kilometres (0.75 mi) long.[6][7] The green trail is rated as "moderate to difficult" and is 1.9 kilometres (1.2 mi) long.[6][7] The yellow trail is rated as "difficult" and is 1.8 kilometres (1.1 mi) long.[6][7] The red, green and yellow trails all end at the hut at the summit of Bukit Timah hill.[7]
The park has been designated with the code 9V-0007 by the international
Wildlife
Flora
Some of the common plants there are the
Fauna
Insects and arachnids
Insects found within the reserve include
Arthropods
The
Reptiles
Reptiles in the reserve include the
Mammals
The
Birds
The
Eco-Link
In 2011 the National Parks Board and the Land Transport Authority announced a plan to construct an ecological corridor, the Eco-Link@BKE, at the Bukit Timah Expressway to connect Bukit Timah Nature Reserve with the nearby Central Catchment Nature Reserve.[12] Construction was completed in late 2013.[13] The Eco-Link is an hourglass shaped bridge passing over the expressway, permitting wildlife to pass between the two reserves.[12] Trees and shrubs native to Singapore are planted along the bridge, which provide food for the animals.[13][14] The reserves had been separated since the expressway was built.[12] After monitoring its effectiveness for a few years, the National Parks Board intends to consider opening the bridge to the public for guided walks.[12][15]
See also
References
- ^ "Bukit Timah Nature Reserve". National Parks Board. Archived from the original (visitors' guide) on 22 September 2014. Retrieved 19 October 2011.
- Channel NewsAsia. 19 October 2011. Archived from the originalon 30 December 2011. Retrieved 19 October 2011.
- ^ "President endorses ASEAN Heritage Park". AsiaOne. 19 October 2011. Archived from the original on 20 October 2011. Retrieved 19 October 2011.
- ^ "Bukit Timah Nature Reserve" (article). National Parks. Retrieved 23 November 2016.
- ^ "Bukit Timah Nature Reserve". National Parks Board. Retrieved 8 May 2016.
- ^ a b c d e f "Bukit Timah Nature Reserve". Singapore National Parks Board. Archived from the original on 20 October 2013. Retrieved 19 October 2013.
- ^ a b c d e "Bukhit Timah Nature Reserve Map". Singapore National Parks Board. Archived from the original on 20 October 2013. Retrieved 19 October 2013.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s "A Guide to Bukit Timah Nature Resreve Trail" (PDF). Singapore National Parks Board. Archived from the original (PDF) on 20 October 2013. Retrieved 19 October 2013.
- ^ "Hope remains for last monkeys". Singapore Press Holdings. 8 April 2002. Archived from the original on 29 October 2013. Retrieved 23 October 2013.
- ^ "Eco-Link@BKE". National Parks Board. Retrieved 28 January 2019.
- ^ "Central Forest". Important Bird Areas factsheet. BirdLife International. 2014. Archived from the original on 28 November 2001. Retrieved 18 March 2014.
- ^ a b c d "Construction Starts for Southeast Asia's First Ecological Corridor. Eco-Link@BKE to Link Two Nature Reserves Across the Expressway". Singapore National Parks Board. 30 July 2011. Archived from the original on 20 October 2013. Retrieved 19 October 2011.
- ^ a b Poh, I. (5 October 2013). "Start of 'greening' phase of first-of-its-kind $16 million eco-bridge". The Straits Times. Archived from the original on 11 December 2014. Retrieved 25 November 2014.
- ^ "Southeast Asia's First Biological Corridor across the BKE". Land Transport Authority. 15 August 2003. Archived from the original on 29 October 2013. Retrieved 23 October 2013.
- ^ "Eco-Link@BKE: Safe passage for creatures over busy highway". The Straits Times. The Straits Times. Retrieved 14 December 2015.