New Wireless Trail and Exhibition Launched at Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve

Singapore, 12 February 2011 - With the launch of a free wireless trail using the ColorCode™ technology today, visitors to Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve (SBWR) had the opportunity to learn about mangrove biodiversity through interactive media using their mobile devices. Visitors were also treated to a special exhibition, guided walks, on mangrove forests. Organised by the National Parks Board (NParks) in celebration of World Wetlands Day, these activities help enhance visitor experience to the Reserve, and highlight the importance of mangrove forests. 

New Wireless Trail

Open for the first time to the public, the free wireless trail using ColorCode™ enables visitors holding mobile devices with cameras and internet connection (such as smartphones) to learn about the flora and fauna at SBWR. After downloading the ColorCam™software onto their devices, visitors can explore the reserve and take pictures of 25 coded images when they spot them throughout the trail. Information about animals and plants found at SBWR will be sent to their devices, and visitors will be able to learn about mangrove biodiversity through videos, images, music, games and quizzes. By October this year, the number of codes at SBWR will be increased to 40. With the changing environment, NParks will also update the web-based content along the trail and change the content twice a year during the migratory season and non-migratory season.

Suitable for visitors aged nine and above, the new wireless learning trail at SBWR is supported by Colorzip SEA Pte Ltd. Jean Claude Donato, General Manager SEA at ColorZip, commented: "To ensure ubiquity of ColorCode™in Singapore, it is important to ensure a rich and great experience to all generations and especially the next generation. This new trail makes each journey in SBWR a more colourful experience and I can see fantastic opportunities to deliver cool, engaging and rich content to visitors, youth and pupils who will learn faster and with more fun!".

Fifteen visitors participated in a trail last November, and it was well-received. One of the participants, Brian Ong, 40, a nature educator, said: "More people are using smartphones, and this wireless trail is very timely. It is like providing visitors with electronic brochures, and this is more interesting because it incorporates videos. We are also saving more trees as the use of paper is reduced." 

New Exhibition on Mangroves

The exhibition at SBWR shares with visitors some of the interesting and rare mangrove species, why mangroves are important to us, their many uses and benefits, and how mangroves can adapt to daily tidal fluctuations. One of the rare mangroves featured in the exhibition is the Brugueira hanesii, also called 'Berus mata buaya' (which means 'Eye of the Crocodile' in Malay). It is considered the rarest mangrove tree in the world due to its very limited distribution. It is estimated that there are only 200 of such trees are left in the wild worldwide, of which four are found in Singapore. The exhibition, sponsored by HSBC, is open to the public until September this year. More talks and guided walks at the reserve will be organised throughout the year.

On the new features at SBWR, Ms Sharon Chan, Assistant Director of the reserve, said: "Not many people realise how important mangroves are to us. Mangroves shelter us from cyclones, storms, floods, increase in sea levels, and more. We hope that this series of activities will help more people to appreciate Singapore's rich biodiversity, and work together with us to conserve our natural heritage for generations to come."