Its rare to see wild piglets up close, all five of them, including an older sibling watching over them. NPark workers have also seen another family group of nine piglets, they are seldom seen after poachers tried to catch them. Their baby stripes will soon fade so don’t miss the chance to take pictures of them when they emerge from the bushes near Punai Hut.
Updated June 2011.
Durian season 2010
The durians in Ubin are dropping at its peak. It will be all over in a week or so. We camped overnight determined not to miss out. The durian trees nearby are known to have the best tasting durians.
Unlike commercially harvested durians, Ubin durians are harvested from the jungle floor as the ripe ones drop, sometimes from a great height, its spiky skin strong enough to absorb any hard landing.
We can only hear muffled thuds so its not easy to locate durians by sound. The first step is shine our flashlights at the tree to check where the durians are hanging in numbers, this will give us an idea where to look as they roll hidden in the bushes. Still, they are easy to miss, you need a keen nose to catch a slightest whiff, so we would not consume any durians until the hunt is over in order to preserve maximum sense of smell.
Durian night hunt
Picture of durian tree. Click to zoom in.
Suddenly a durian dove straight towards us. There is no time to react, it shatters right between us with a loud thump. The durian exploded inches from my feet, bounced and spikes into my friend’s calf, drawing blood. We have been lucky, it could have smash our faces as we looked up. The durian was already rotting. Durians get watery and some rot on the branches from too much rains.
The durian that nearly hit us.
The rains also brought in mosquitoes in huge numbers, we covered ourselves with expensive spray repellents and planted no less than 10 mosquito coils around our camp area, having run out of egg cartons to burn.
Although the harvest is plentiful, we were contented with 7 durians. Other diligent groups got more. There are small shelters built under the trees, keeping the occupants dry and safe from falling durians. Others use electric bikes, criss-crossing the island revisiting each durian grove.
Updated: 10 July 2010
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Took leave. Camped overnight for the past 2 weekends. We heard that Ubin durians are beginning to fall and were excited. Unfortunately we were too early. There were unriped durians on the grounds with teeth marks. Like us humans, monkeys are also excited and plucked the durians too early before they ripen. We sheepishly accepted durians from Mr. Lim, a Ubin villager staying at Marman “Orchid farm”.
We were again unsuccessful on the second week. There were durians pickers camped under the trees. One sat motionless for hours, coming into life on sounds of durians dropping. They would race towards the spot where they heard the durians drop. These people must have heard tales of thousands of dollars earned picking free durians. There is a family of 10 brothers earning $10,000 picking free durians or $1,000 for each brother. Small sums for many but there are lots of poor folks in Singapore.
We only managed to get one before they came running over. During to the rainy season and the cooler weather this year, the durians were watery and bland, quickly fermenting within space of several hours, unlike the previous seasons where they tasted a lot better.
It looks like we have to go to remote parts of Ubin for our durian hunt.
Updated: July 01, 2010.
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Durian seasons come to Ubin twice a year. The major one lasts a few weeks and no one knows the exact dates. The first sign is the abundance of durian flowers, indicating the season is about to due in a few months.
Some durians will fall earlier but these are usually premature durians. Fully ripened durians will fall a few weeks later and lasting for about 6 weeks. Other tropical fruits also ripen at the same time including rambutans, mangosteens, dukus and langsat.
Ubin durians are a treat. In the midst of the hot season, the durians are expected to be more fragrant too They are your organic varieties having been left abandoned by islanders who resettled a long time ago. Being older varieties without the benefits of modern cultivating techniques, Ubin durians are tough to open with flavors that vary from tree to tree. Use gloves and a “durian knife” to pry open.
During durian season, entire families would converge heedless of snakes that may hide in the bushes. Ubin villagers usually wear “phua chu kang” boots to protect themselves while gathering durians. Some even use umbrellas to protect themselves from falling durians.
Q. Why durians drop at night
Durians drop during the day too, although more at night. From the same tree, its durians will drop over several weeks, but sometimes they hang tantalizingly for weeks and are suddenly gone in a week or so. Once ripen, the frequency seems to in favor when temperatures dip or rise quickly when night come or when dawn breaks. Strong gusts of wind will also bring about unexpected bonus. Which is why picking durians is a waiting but rewarding game.
As durians usually drop at night, there are brave ones who stake out at cemeteries waiting for the loud thuds of durians falling. You need a trained eye plus a strong flashlight to find them as they roll into shrubs and bushes.
Update: 19 June 2010.
Durians are beginning to fall and we were excited for a night of adventure and durian hunting. Have bought a couple of new flashlights to try out including my favorite lights. They include:
Zebralights H60 Headlamp 18650 Flood.
HDS CR123a Ra Clicky ExecutiveTM Flashlight (General purpose)
Quark CR123x² Turbo (For throw)
I am bringing LED lights for its weight, excellent run-times, super brightness, and good color rendition. Qualities that are essential for durian searching.
If you intend to find some. Just follow your nose and look for them on the forest floor. Sometimes you hear a lucky thump of durians which has just fallen. Make sure you rent a bicycle with basket, like this lucky couple did. You also need repellents to deter mosquitoes from feasting on you.
Don’t congratulate yourselves too soon if you find durians on the floor. They are probably bad if they are discolored and smell a bit off, Those with bites marks are from frustrated monkeys who cannot get through the though shell.
Unseen, the wild boars are waiting too. During the night, they would push the durians against the forest floor with their tough snouts until the durians split open like flower petals. By morning only empty husks remained. Many ‘ghosts encounters’ were results of mistaking these pigs or islanders trying to scare people away from collecting durians.
Although durian gathering can be fun, there are ‘geylang types’ from mainland Singapore who act as if the trees are theirs. They would intimidate others including Ubin villagers who come near, loudly proclaiming their ‘ownership’. Its not true of course.
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Their scientific name is Sus scrofa
This is Jack, probably the most photographed pig in Pulau Ubin.
With a population of 500 boars, they managed very well to hide themselves.
Instead you will see a lot of freshly churned top soil as they dig with their snouts for earthworms. Their favorite snacks include rubber seeds and durians.
Consider yourself lucky when you encounter them. The older big ones may do a mock charge. Just shout to frighten it away.
Smaller younger ones may even feed close to you and are not wary of humans.
Even up close they are so pre-occupied with eating that we were able to take pictures up close.
Avoid baby pigs with little stripes. Mum is around and she can be very protective.
Striped piglet. Photo taken at Chek Jawa.
Sometimes you may come across their nest. Be cautious, the nest are used by other boars to hide in also.
Coconuts torn open by boars. Their snouts are that strong.
Coconuts are also used as bait to set traps. Report to Nparks should you encounter such traps. Some poachers even use leg clamp traps that are danger to unsuspecting humans and pets.
Update: Jan 2011
Wilds pigs also feed on shorelines and mangrove swamps for their favorite shellfish. Herds would sometimes swim across the Straits of Johore looking for new source of food. To them, and to tigers when Singapore is just a fishing village, the Johore Straits is just another large river similar to those in Malaysia. Which is one one hear news of occasional wild pigs that lost their way into mainland Singapore. Its too bad they are seen as free pork like free fruits during Ubin’s durian season. People here would launch themselves in avid discussions how how they should be cooked instead of viewing them as living links to mother earth.
Lokan clams with ample meat are among their favorites. Speaking of lokan clams, an old Malay lady was gathering them when she came face to face with a boar which she mistook for a tiger, causing a tiger scare where signs were put out warning everyone by authorities. There are still false alarms since. Anyone with photo of the warning signs to share?
Jack, the most famous wild boar in Pulau Ubin has died on 11 of September after falling ill, probably due to old age. His departure will be missed as he is a favorite among many visitors to the island.
I am going to miss him too. Besides offering him treats from the jungle like rubber seeds and rambutans, I discovered lately that he loves his back scratched. He would be startled when his back is touched, but would soon stand still quietly enjoying the experience and began to grunt loudly with pleasure begging for more.
Before its illness, Jack had a visit from a buddhist group. The monk teaching the group said Jack was an re-incarnation and prayed for its next journey that is expected soon. It sounds presience, but Jack was quite healthy then and I was looking forward to scratch his belly using a spaghetti ladle for reach. I was very skeptical of the monks remarks then.
Dharma teaching and Jack’s future by Thai Monk
Prayers for Jack
Wild pigs are highly intelligent, although wary of humans who also hunt for them, they can be very friendly. This pig would recognize van drivers who are friendly to it and would quickly come when it hear their vehicle approaching. So next time, spend some time at Punai Hut and offer it some rubber seeds for a memorable encounter.
Curious boar at Chek Jawa
Pigs play an important role in human society. In parts of India, and Egypt Cairo garbage pigs help to clear away organic waste from human settlements. Pork economics was cited by Goh Keng Swee on Singapore hotel industry. He even earned the moniker “pig minister” when he eliminated pork farming in Singapore in 1990.
Trail cameras are used by hunters. They are also also used by wildlife researchers. My friend lent it to me and I am hoping it can help capture pictures of rarely seen mouse-deer and leopard cat.
We took late boat to Ubin on Saturday (May 8, 2010). At 9pm there were people going fishing or camping on weekends. The van driver was contacted ahead to pick us on arrival.
We headed to Chek Jawa to camp at Punai Hut. The spaced rows of rubber trees nearby would give the camera unobstructed view and allow us to learn its functions. This time, I am hoping to get pictures of wild boars and if lucky, get pictures of mixed domesticated/wild breeds. These have short legs and look closer to pot bellied pigs. If we are extremely lucky, we may capture pictures of an albino or white haired boar which some villagers claimed to have seen.
Unfortunately, it rained heavily earlier and air is dense with humidity which carried noisy sounds from jets taking off from Changi Airport three km away. Most animals including boars tend to be less active on wet weather.
We only managed to catch pictures of ourselves with the trail cam. It was just as well as the camera was angled too high.
Initial impressions. Despite being an expensive Reconyx trail camera, its main failings is narrow point of view, cumbersome size and lack of picture preview. Such cameras are not ready for prime time and expensive at more US$600 considering the lack of local sales support.
Our night is not wasted however. We met young campers trail walking with laser pointers looking for glow-in-the-dark mushrooms and fireflies. There is always something interesting to do in Ubin.
Soon it was dawn and the jungle is alive with bird calls especially of Ubin jungle fowl with its distinctive choked crowings. Chek Jawa is open from 8.30am to 6pm but you can talk to the caretaker for permission to visit earlier. Took pictures of the famous English bungalow House No. 1 which is restored and converted into a visitor centre. Chek Jawa is worth a visit for its coastal view and organized walk on its mudflats. Entrance is free for now.
The first visitors started arriving from 9am. This time there were about 50 retired ladies on a field trip organized by Sembawang Community Club. One lady was a nurse midwife who was stationed for a 2 years in Ubin in the early 60s. There is a dispensary at Ubin village now converted into a restaurant (Ubin First Stop). She recounted the number of babies she delivered during her time when Ubin numbered more than 2000 residents then.
For the benefit of visitors looking for information on Negasunt, this is an update on the original article on my field experience with Negasunt powder.
Matt is a large dog that is always getting into trouble. He had a large hole on the back of his left upper hind leg that is already swollen. Managed to squirt some Negasunt powder into the hole. Gave a villager a bottle of negasunt but unfortunately there was no follow-up and the hole was not treated for 2 weeks. In addition the poor dog managed to hurt its paws with a deep gash. Am pleased that its no longer limping and the hole is getting smaller after 2 further treatments 7 days apart.
Matt being treated with Negasunt.
Jack the wild pig has a wound on its cheek and flies are bothering him. He would put his affected cheek against the floor. But Jack would not allow anyone to come near. The best we can do is to sprinkle the powder at the spot where it lays its cheek. Cost us a total of 3 Negasunt powder after several failed attempts to treat him. Hopefully he recover soon.
My friend Andy who have been photographing Ubin wildlife told me Ubin wild fowl can be difficult to photograph. One can only get fleeting glimpses as they dash through the jungle floor.
If you are lucky you may come across a brood of chicks following its parents. The chicks are vulnerable to natural predators including monitor lizards, monkeys and wild pigs. Wild pigs would churn up jungle floor for earthworms, removing undergrowth and giving the fowls less place to hide. There are worrisome signs as some Ubin villagers notice their numbers are declining.
My concerns turn to elation when I saw 17 adults, male and female while walking along coastal walk at Chek Jawa. Chek Jawa is now a secured area and is closed after 6.30 pm. Thanks Nparks for keeping them safe from poachers.
This is Jack. This wild boar was a piglet when it was injured and rescued about 14 years ago. Today, Jack’s growing tusk is about poke into its cheeks, causing lots of discomfort. Its about time for it to be cut.
Update: 9 February 2009. Jack should be happier now. It was sedated before several volunteers were able to hold it still before cutting its tusks.
Some visitors felt that Jack should be returned back to the wild. Its too domesticated for that now. Ubin lovers remember Priscilla, the female boar at Chek Jawa.
Photo courtesy of Wild Shores of Singapore
You can see Jack at “Orchid Farm”, 180 meters south of Maman beach. Make sure you collect lots of rubber seeds from the rubber trees nearby that area. Jack loves them.
Here is a link of another picture of Jack by Thomas Hoven. We all shared his feelings of Ubin.
January would be the best month to visit Ubin. The December rainy season is just over. The island is dry and breezy, skies are blue and the air is bright and clear. You don’t get weather like that too often. Its also perfect for photography.
A superzoom point-and-shoot camera is an ideal tool. A great all-round camera. Here are the pictures we got in a single day outing.
Its a lucky day. Having a camera ready also make you more observant too.
A buffy fish owl
A golden web spider (Nephila pilipes)
The pictures below are blurred. We were too excited.
The elusive jungle fowl
A foraging bush pig
Nestled at the rubber plantation, this shelter referred to as Murai hut is our favorite.
It would be our base camp when we set out exploring at night.
A family of small bats sometimes hide on the roof, making sounds that even spook paranormal investigators.
Tap…tap…tap…tap…tap…tap….
For thing for sure, it doesn’t sound like dirt raining down. Doesn’t sound like a rat or squirrel or some other rodents, cause they don’t “tapped.” Sticks falling? Leaves dropping? Stones? Its impossible. The sounds made were going slow, then randomly. Like beats playing on the drum. And going fast at the same time.
This is where, fear had gripped us cold….
Not like what others have imagined but this is a peaceful place. In the quiet of the night you may even see or hear wild pigs foraging for rubber seeds. Although getting rare, you can also see fireflies. Try turning off all lights for better night vision.
The shelters are all lightning protected. Probably the safest place to be at during thunderstorms. They also serve as useful checkpoints with given names like “Murai”, “Punai”, “Pekakak”, “Beberek”. All four are good observation points to watch for wildlife.
The names of the huts are Malay names for native birds.
Murai – Magpie Robin (Copsychus saularis)
Punai/Punai Tanah – Green-winged Pigeon, Emerald Dove (Chalcophaps indica)
Pekakak – Kingfisher
Beberek/Beberek Leher Biru – Blue-throated Bee-eater (Merops viridis)
Kelichap – Hummingbird
Belatok – Woodpecker
Lang – Falcon?
Chamar/Camar Batu – Tern
Kedidi – Sandpiper
Merbah – Bulbul
Bubut – Coucal
Update: 6th April 2009. Mousedeers were sighted in the rubber plantation nearby. They are shy and nocturnal animals so you can only spot them at night.
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