In pictures_ Nature is thriving in locked-down Singapore—is it time to rethink the city in a garden_ _ News _ Eco-Business _ Asia Pacific
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owers grow<strong>in</strong>g on <strong>the</strong> lawn outside <strong>the</strong> National Museum of S<strong>in</strong>gapore, which <strong>is</strong> currently closed <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> public amid <strong>the</strong><br />
Wild<br />
coronavirus pandemic. Image: Rob<strong>in</strong> Hicks/<strong>Eco</strong>-Bus<strong>in</strong>ess<br />
ongo<strong>in</strong>g<br />
Rob<strong>in</strong> Hicks<br />
By<br />
20, 2020<br />
May<br />
23/06/2020 <strong>In</strong> <strong>pictures</strong>: <strong>Nature</strong> <strong>is</strong> <strong>thriv<strong>in</strong>g</strong> <strong>in</strong> <strong>locked</strong>-<strong>down</strong> S<strong>in</strong>gapore—<strong>is</strong> <strong>it</strong> <strong>time</strong> <strong>to</strong> reth<strong>in</strong>k <strong>the</strong> c<strong>it</strong>y <strong>in</strong> a <strong>garden</strong>? | <strong>News</strong> | <strong>Eco</strong>-Bus<strong>in</strong>ess | <strong>Asia</strong> <strong>Pacific</strong><br />
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<strong>pictures</strong>: <strong>Nature</strong> <strong>is</strong> <strong>thriv<strong>in</strong>g</strong> <strong>in</strong> <strong>locked</strong>-<strong>down</strong> S<strong>in</strong>gapore—<strong>is</strong> <strong>it</strong><br />
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<strong>to</strong> reth<strong>in</strong>k <strong>the</strong> c<strong>it</strong>y <strong>in</strong> a <strong>garden</strong>?<br />
<strong>time</strong><br />
Wild ora and fauna that many S<strong>in</strong>gapore residents have never seen before are popp<strong>in</strong>g up all over<br />
<strong>the</strong> neatly manicured c<strong>it</strong>y-state dur<strong>in</strong>g Covid-19 lock<strong>down</strong>. Should wilder green spaces become a<br />
permanent feature of <strong>the</strong> 'c<strong>it</strong>y <strong>in</strong> a <strong>garden</strong>'?<br />
Share<br />
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The coronavirus has given S<strong>in</strong>gapore’s usually meticulously ma<strong>in</strong>ta<strong>in</strong>ed grass patches, play<br />
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delivered <br />
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areas and roadside verges <strong>the</strong> chance <strong>to</strong> live a l<strong>it</strong>tle, and prompted a public d<strong>is</strong>cussion about<br />
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<strong>the</strong> coronavirus<br />
How<br />
<strong>is</strong> chang<strong>in</strong>g<br />
pandemic<br />
23/06/2020 <strong>In</strong> <strong>pictures</strong>: <strong>Nature</strong> <strong>is</strong> <strong>thriv<strong>in</strong>g</strong> <strong>in</strong> <strong>locked</strong>-<strong>down</strong> S<strong>in</strong>gapore—<strong>is</strong> <strong>it</strong> <strong>time</strong> <strong>to</strong> reth<strong>in</strong>k <strong>the</strong> c<strong>it</strong>y <strong>in</strong> a <strong>garden</strong>? | <strong>News</strong> | <strong>Eco</strong>-Bus<strong>in</strong>ess | <strong>Asia</strong> <strong>Pacific</strong><br />
whe<strong>the</strong>r <strong>the</strong> neat, image-conscious c<strong>it</strong>y-state should make wilder green spaces a permanent<br />
feature after <strong>the</strong> lock<strong>down</strong> <strong>is</strong> lifted.<br />
The sight of rarely seen wild owers and <strong>the</strong> noticeable <strong>in</strong>crease <strong>in</strong> butter ies, dragon ies,<br />
grasshoppers and bees has delighted some residents, particularly children, <strong>in</strong> a c<strong>it</strong>y not known<br />
for <strong>it</strong>s <strong>to</strong>lerance of nature, lead<strong>in</strong>g <strong>to</strong> calls for less severe management of grassy areas that<br />
allows biodivers<strong>it</strong>y <strong>to</strong> thrive even <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> busier parts of <strong>the</strong> c<strong>it</strong>y.<br />
S<strong>in</strong>gapore’s small but vocal commun<strong>it</strong>y of nature lovers has<br />
taken <strong>to</strong> social media <strong>to</strong> propose a reduction <strong>in</strong> grass-cutt<strong>in</strong>g<br />
<strong>to</strong> help wildlife proliferate, and reduce labour costs. Local<br />
natural areas have come <strong>to</strong> feel like new dest<strong>in</strong>ations and, for<br />
some, <strong>the</strong> wilder green spaces around <strong>the</strong> c<strong>it</strong>y br<strong>in</strong>g back<br />
memories of a bygone era.<br />
and our planet<br />
people<br />
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Gary Lim, a supporter of <strong>Nature</strong> Society S<strong>in</strong>gapore, a nature<br />
conservation group, commented on Facebook: “<strong>In</strong> <strong>the</strong> 60s and<br />
70s, whenever you stepped <strong>in</strong><strong>to</strong> an open eld, grasshoppers<br />
would y <strong>in</strong> every direction. We would net grasshoppers <strong>to</strong><br />
use as bird feed. Nowadays <strong>the</strong> elds are empty. L<strong>it</strong>tle wonder<br />
that our birds d<strong>in</strong>e at hawker centres.”<br />
CARBON & CLIMATE<br />
Cuifen Pui, who focuses on commun<strong>it</strong>y build<strong>in</strong>g of a susta<strong>in</strong>abil<strong>it</strong>y network, Foodscape<br />
Collective, said that as a child she remembers see<strong>in</strong>g large elds of lalang, long grass native <strong>to</strong><br />
tropical <strong>Asia</strong>. Such elds are mostly “<strong>in</strong>terim” spaces planted w<strong>it</strong>h imported cow grass that will<br />
eventually be built on, she said.<br />
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a grass native <strong>to</strong> tropical <strong>Asia</strong>, grow<strong>in</strong>g near an underpass <strong>in</strong> Tiong Bahru, Central S<strong>in</strong>gapore, dur<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> coronavirus<br />
Lalang,<br />
period. Th<strong>is</strong> was previously a patch of short grass. Image: Rob<strong>in</strong> Hicks/<strong>Eco</strong>-Bus<strong>in</strong>ess<br />
lock<strong>down</strong><br />
23/06/2020 <strong>In</strong> <strong>pictures</strong>: <strong>Nature</strong> <strong>is</strong> <strong>thriv<strong>in</strong>g</strong> <strong>in</strong> <strong>locked</strong>-<strong>down</strong> S<strong>in</strong>gapore—<strong>is</strong> <strong>it</strong> <strong>time</strong> <strong>to</strong> reth<strong>in</strong>k <strong>the</strong> c<strong>it</strong>y <strong>in</strong> a <strong>garden</strong>? | <strong>News</strong> | <strong>Eco</strong>-Bus<strong>in</strong>ess | <strong>Asia</strong> <strong>Pacific</strong><br />
Dr Shawn Lum, president of <strong>the</strong> <strong>Nature</strong> Society S<strong>in</strong>gapore, <strong>to</strong>ld <strong>Eco</strong>-Bus<strong>in</strong>ess that <strong>the</strong> “circru<strong>it</strong><br />
breaker” lock<strong>down</strong> period has been a good <strong>time</strong> <strong>to</strong> re ect on how green areas could be<br />
managed di erently <strong>in</strong> S<strong>in</strong>gapore.<br />
S<strong>in</strong>gapore <strong>is</strong> famous for be<strong>in</strong>g one of <strong>the</strong> world’s lushest c<strong>it</strong>ies because of green<strong>in</strong>g e orts that<br />
began more than 30 years ago, and has branded <strong>it</strong>self a “c<strong>it</strong>y <strong>in</strong> a <strong>garden</strong>”. But much of <strong>the</strong> ora<br />
that adorns <strong>it</strong>s roadsides and verges are imported, ornamental species that do not host much,<br />
if any, wildlife. The rest <strong>is</strong> grass cut short.<br />
“Ra<strong>the</strong>r than uniformly manicured parks and walkways, we could try natural grassy patches at<br />
di erent stages of growth. Th<strong>is</strong> would give us a range of landscapes that support greater<br />
biodivers<strong>it</strong>y,” said Lum.<br />
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da<strong>is</strong>ies grow<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> a green space at Outram Park, central S<strong>in</strong>gapore. The space will eventually be developed <strong>in</strong><strong>to</strong> a<br />
Wild<br />
complex. Image: Rob<strong>in</strong> Hicks/<strong>Eco</strong>-Bus<strong>in</strong>ess<br />
condom<strong>in</strong>ium<br />
23/06/2020 <strong>In</strong> <strong>pictures</strong>: <strong>Nature</strong> <strong>is</strong> <strong>thriv<strong>in</strong>g</strong> <strong>in</strong> <strong>locked</strong>-<strong>down</strong> S<strong>in</strong>gapore—<strong>is</strong> <strong>it</strong> <strong>time</strong> <strong>to</strong> reth<strong>in</strong>k <strong>the</strong> c<strong>it</strong>y <strong>in</strong> a <strong>garden</strong>? | <strong>News</strong> | <strong>Eco</strong>-Bus<strong>in</strong>ess | <strong>Asia</strong> <strong>Pacific</strong><br />
But could neat, orderly S<strong>in</strong>gapore wear <strong>the</strong> “scru y” natural look? Th<strong>is</strong> <strong>is</strong> a c<strong>it</strong>y where a<br />
compla<strong>in</strong>t from a resident about unevenly cut grass <strong>in</strong> public areas made national<br />
headl<strong>in</strong>es. Lum said that aes<strong>the</strong>tic tastes change, as <strong>the</strong>y have done <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> Un<strong>it</strong>ed States and<br />
Un<strong>it</strong>ed K<strong>in</strong>gdom, where wild owers have replaced manicured <strong>garden</strong>s <strong>in</strong> horticultural design.<br />
“If people come <strong>to</strong> accept a more natural look and see <strong>the</strong> value <strong>in</strong> beautiful <strong>in</strong>sect life, <strong>it</strong> could<br />
become <strong>the</strong> new normal.” Alternated plots of longer grass that provide refuge for <strong>in</strong>sects when<br />
<strong>the</strong> grass <strong>is</strong> cut would be a good start<strong>in</strong>g po<strong>in</strong>t, he said.<br />
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23/06/2020 <strong>In</strong> <strong>pictures</strong>: <strong>Nature</strong> <strong>is</strong> <strong>thriv<strong>in</strong>g</strong> <strong>in</strong> <strong>locked</strong>-<strong>down</strong> S<strong>in</strong>gapore—<strong>is</strong> <strong>it</strong> <strong>time</strong> <strong>to</strong> reth<strong>in</strong>k <strong>the</strong> c<strong>it</strong>y <strong>in</strong> a <strong>garden</strong>? | <strong>News</strong> | <strong>Eco</strong>-Bus<strong>in</strong>ess | <strong>Asia</strong> <strong>Pacific</strong><br />
Wild grass grows through a <strong>to</strong>mb s<strong>it</strong>e <strong>in</strong> Ch<strong>in</strong>a<strong>to</strong>wn dur<strong>in</strong>g lock<strong>down</strong>. Image: Rob<strong>in</strong> Hicks/<strong>Eco</strong>-Bus<strong>in</strong>ess<br />
The bene ts of more natural surround<strong>in</strong>gs are well known, Lum said, not<strong>in</strong>g that lock<strong>down</strong> has<br />
forced people <strong>to</strong> slow <strong>down</strong> and appreciate <strong>the</strong>ir surround<strong>in</strong>gs more. People are less likely <strong>to</strong><br />
su er from stress and fall ill. They are more productive at work and perform better at school<br />
when given access <strong>to</strong> green areas.<br />
A study of <strong>in</strong>ner c<strong>it</strong>ies <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> Un<strong>it</strong>ed States found that elderly people surrounded by greenery<br />
are more likely <strong>to</strong> be sociable, and have a stronger sense of commun<strong>it</strong>y than seniors liv<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong><br />
greyer areas. Greener areas can even re-connect commun<strong>it</strong>ies and rek<strong>in</strong>dle a sense of<br />
neighbourl<strong>in</strong>ess, a tra<strong>it</strong> that <strong>is</strong> often said <strong>to</strong> be m<strong>is</strong>s<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> modern S<strong>in</strong>gapore.<br />
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s<strong>it</strong>e of what was once <strong>the</strong> Pearls Centre, a Ch<strong>in</strong>a<strong>to</strong>wn shopp<strong>in</strong>g mall, <strong>is</strong> now a patch of “<strong>in</strong>terim space” that will later be built on.<br />
The<br />
long grasses are grow<strong>in</strong>g dur<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> circu<strong>it</strong> breaker period. Image: Rob<strong>in</strong> Hicks/<strong>Eco</strong>-Bus<strong>in</strong>ess<br />
Now,<br />
23/06/2020 <strong>In</strong> <strong>pictures</strong>: <strong>Nature</strong> <strong>is</strong> <strong>thriv<strong>in</strong>g</strong> <strong>in</strong> <strong>locked</strong>-<strong>down</strong> S<strong>in</strong>gapore—<strong>is</strong> <strong>it</strong> <strong>time</strong> <strong>to</strong> reth<strong>in</strong>k <strong>the</strong> c<strong>it</strong>y <strong>in</strong> a <strong>garden</strong>? | <strong>News</strong> | <strong>Eco</strong>-Bus<strong>in</strong>ess | <strong>Asia</strong> <strong>Pacific</strong><br />
W<strong>it</strong>h many green spaces closed due <strong>to</strong> social d<strong>is</strong>tanc<strong>in</strong>g measures, accessible grassy verges<br />
become an even more important feature of c<strong>it</strong>y life dur<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> stressful shut<strong>down</strong> period. Pui<br />
noted that wild greenery evokes a sense of freedom and creativ<strong>it</strong>y that managed plants don’t.<br />
Wilder areas are also better su<strong>it</strong>ed for a more susta<strong>in</strong>able way of liv<strong>in</strong>g, and are more resilient<br />
<strong>to</strong> wea<strong>the</strong>r changes than managed planted areas, which require more care, Pui said. Recall<strong>in</strong>g a<br />
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construction s<strong>it</strong>e for <strong>the</strong> proposed Thomson-East Coast L<strong>in</strong>e subway <strong>is</strong> surrounded by wild greenery. Work on <strong>the</strong> l<strong>in</strong>e has<br />
A<br />
dur<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> coronavirus outbreak. Image: Rob<strong>in</strong> Hicks/<strong>Eco</strong>-Bus<strong>in</strong>es<br />
s<strong>to</strong>pped<br />
23/06/2020 <strong>In</strong> <strong>pictures</strong>: <strong>Nature</strong> <strong>is</strong> <strong>thriv<strong>in</strong>g</strong> <strong>in</strong> <strong>locked</strong>-<strong>down</strong> S<strong>in</strong>gapore—<strong>is</strong> <strong>it</strong> <strong>time</strong> <strong>to</strong> reth<strong>in</strong>k <strong>the</strong> c<strong>it</strong>y <strong>in</strong> a <strong>garden</strong>? | <strong>News</strong> | <strong>Eco</strong>-Bus<strong>in</strong>ess | <strong>Asia</strong> <strong>Pacific</strong><br />
major drought <strong>in</strong> 2014, she said that while <strong>the</strong> planted grass had turned yellow, natural areas<br />
were una ected.<br />
“I was rem<strong>in</strong>ded <strong>the</strong>n how forests and o<strong>the</strong>r natural spaces don’t need water<strong>in</strong>g or active<br />
management by people. They are well-adapted <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> cond<strong>it</strong>ions, and are more resilient <strong>in</strong><br />
extreme changes <strong>in</strong> wea<strong>the</strong>r,” she said.<br />
The same th<strong>in</strong>g happened dur<strong>in</strong>g ano<strong>the</strong>r dry spell last September. Patches of managed grass<br />
turned yellow, and native species started <strong>to</strong> grow naturally <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong>ir place, Pui recalled.<br />
“The wild ower<strong>in</strong>g plants made <strong>the</strong> street verges and road junctions come alive. V<strong>is</strong>ually,<br />
<strong>the</strong>se were more <strong>in</strong>terest<strong>in</strong>g <strong>to</strong> me than similar areas w<strong>it</strong>h di erent plants planted <strong>to</strong>ge<strong>the</strong>r.<br />
The wild owers were attract<strong>in</strong>g t<strong>in</strong>y butter ies and o<strong>the</strong>r <strong>in</strong>sect creatures,” she said.<br />
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23/06/2020 <strong>In</strong> <strong>pictures</strong>: <strong>Nature</strong> <strong>is</strong> <strong>thriv<strong>in</strong>g</strong> <strong>in</strong> <strong>locked</strong>-<strong>down</strong> S<strong>in</strong>gapore—<strong>is</strong> <strong>it</strong> <strong>time</strong> <strong>to</strong> reth<strong>in</strong>k <strong>the</strong> c<strong>it</strong>y <strong>in</strong> a <strong>garden</strong>? | <strong>News</strong> | <strong>Eco</strong>-Bus<strong>in</strong>ess | <strong>Asia</strong> <strong>Pacific</strong><br />
Mimosa pudica owers (p<strong>in</strong>k) grow on a roadside <strong>in</strong> S<strong>in</strong>gapore. Image: Rob<strong>in</strong> Hicks/<strong>Eco</strong>-Bus<strong>in</strong>ess<br />
The case for a grassier S<strong>in</strong>gapore <strong>is</strong> made stronger consider<strong>in</strong>g a future that <strong>is</strong> expected <strong>to</strong> be<br />
much hotter. Green areas abate <strong>the</strong> urban heat <strong>is</strong>land e ect, which—<strong>in</strong> comb<strong>in</strong>ation w<strong>it</strong>h<br />
climate change—has meant that <strong>the</strong> temperature <strong>in</strong> S<strong>in</strong>gapore <strong>is</strong> r<strong>is</strong><strong>in</strong>g at twice <strong>the</strong> global rate.<br />
Plants also provide natural pollution control, absorb<strong>in</strong>g pollutants from <strong>the</strong> air. The taller or<br />
bushier <strong>the</strong> foliage, <strong>the</strong> more e ective <strong>it</strong> <strong>is</strong> as a barrier <strong>to</strong> pollution, which <strong>in</strong> S<strong>in</strong>gapore <strong>is</strong> on<br />
average almost twice over <strong>the</strong> lim<strong>it</strong> considered healthy <strong>to</strong> brea<strong>the</strong> by <strong>the</strong> World Health<br />
Organ<strong>is</strong>ation.<br />
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23/06/2020 <strong>In</strong> <strong>pictures</strong>: <strong>Nature</strong> <strong>is</strong> <strong>thriv<strong>in</strong>g</strong> <strong>in</strong> <strong>locked</strong>-<strong>down</strong> S<strong>in</strong>gapore—<strong>is</strong> <strong>it</strong> <strong>time</strong> <strong>to</strong> reth<strong>in</strong>k <strong>the</strong> c<strong>it</strong>y <strong>in</strong> a <strong>garden</strong>? | <strong>News</strong> | <strong>Eco</strong>-Bus<strong>in</strong>ess | <strong>Asia</strong> <strong>Pacific</strong><br />
Wild mushrooms grow <strong>in</strong> a fenced o play eld by Alexandra Canal, S<strong>in</strong>gapore. Image: Rob<strong>in</strong> Hicks/<strong>Eco</strong>-Bus<strong>in</strong>ess<br />
Less busy c<strong>it</strong>y streets has meant more freedom for S<strong>in</strong>gapore’s fauna, as <strong>it</strong> has for animals <strong>in</strong><br />
o<strong>the</strong>r <strong>locked</strong> <strong>down</strong> c<strong>it</strong>es around <strong>the</strong> world. “More special<strong>is</strong>ed animals like pangol<strong>in</strong>s have<br />
tended <strong>to</strong> stay <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> forest. But more adaptable animals have ventured <strong>in</strong><strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> built<br />
environment,” said Lum.<br />
The most v<strong>is</strong>ible examples of th<strong>is</strong> have been smooth-coated otters, which have ventured <strong>in</strong><strong>to</strong><br />
what are usually <strong>the</strong> busiest areas of <strong>the</strong> c<strong>it</strong>y, <strong>in</strong>clud<strong>in</strong>g L<strong>it</strong>tle <strong>In</strong>dia, New<strong>to</strong>n and a hosp<strong>it</strong>al, as<br />
<strong>the</strong>y explore new terr<strong>it</strong>ory.<br />
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23/06/2020 <strong>In</strong> <strong>pictures</strong>: <strong>Nature</strong> <strong>is</strong> <strong>thriv<strong>in</strong>g</strong> <strong>in</strong> <strong>locked</strong>-<strong>down</strong> S<strong>in</strong>gapore—<strong>is</strong> <strong>it</strong> <strong>time</strong> <strong>to</strong> reth<strong>in</strong>k <strong>the</strong> c<strong>it</strong>y <strong>in</strong> a <strong>garden</strong>? | <strong>News</strong> | <strong>Eco</strong>-Bus<strong>in</strong>ess | <strong>Asia</strong> <strong>Pacific</strong><br />
Otters cru<strong>is</strong>e <strong>down</strong> a canal <strong>in</strong> S<strong>in</strong>gapore dur<strong>in</strong>g Covid-19 lo…<br />
“The Circu<strong>it</strong> Breaker period has meant less crowds and tra c which animals would avoid.<br />
There <strong>is</strong> more space for otters <strong>in</strong> areas adjacent <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> waterways,” said N Sivasothi, a senior<br />
lecturer w<strong>it</strong>h <strong>the</strong> Department of Biological Sciences at <strong>the</strong> National Univers<strong>it</strong>y of S<strong>in</strong>gapore,<br />
and part of local otter conservation group Otterwatch.<br />
But <strong>the</strong> <strong>in</strong>crease <strong>in</strong> animal activ<strong>it</strong>y has tested S<strong>in</strong>gapore’s amb<strong>it</strong>ion <strong>to</strong> become what <strong>the</strong><br />
country’s National Parks Board calls a “c<strong>it</strong>y <strong>in</strong> nature”. Last week, a local celebr<strong>it</strong>y compla<strong>in</strong>ed<br />
that her expensive ornamental sh were eaten by otters, prompt<strong>in</strong>g a public d<strong>is</strong>cussion over<br />
whe<strong>the</strong>r <strong>the</strong> mammals should be culled <strong>to</strong> control <strong>the</strong>ir numbers.<br />
Sivasothi went on a local radio show <strong>to</strong> expla<strong>in</strong> that while S<strong>in</strong>gapore’s otter population has<br />
<strong>in</strong>creased s<strong>in</strong>ce <strong>the</strong> 1990s, <strong>it</strong> has now stabl<strong>is</strong>ed and reached what appears <strong>to</strong> be a threshold.<br />
Cull<strong>in</strong>g would be a “prim<strong>it</strong>ive” reaction, he said.<br />
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A jungle rooster strolls through a taped o exerc<strong>is</strong>e area <strong>in</strong> Pearl’s Hill C<strong>it</strong>y Park, Ch<strong>in</strong>a<strong>to</strong>wn. Image: Rob<strong>in</strong> Hicks/<strong>Eco</strong>-Bus<strong>in</strong>ess<br />
The debate has ra<strong>is</strong>ed <strong>the</strong> question of how far a highly urban<strong>is</strong>ed c<strong>it</strong>y will go <strong>to</strong> embrace <strong>it</strong>s<br />
natural surround<strong>in</strong>gs. “We need <strong>to</strong> th<strong>in</strong>k of ways <strong>to</strong> share <strong>the</strong> urban space w<strong>it</strong>h wildlife,” said<br />
Lum. “Pandemics are bad th<strong>in</strong>gs. But out of an unfortunate s<strong>it</strong>uation we have <strong>the</strong> chance <strong>to</strong> reevaluate<br />
our relationship w<strong>it</strong>h nature.”<br />
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