Reflective Journal 2

I learnt that 'the latest predictions state that tigers will be extinct in the wild by the year 2015 which is less than 12 short years from now. Thus, there is little time left to preserve these animals so immediate action is required. Tigers are an important part of the ecosystem which is the population community, and a major link in the food chain. Tigers have been revered as gods. All living creatures of mother earth depend on one another for survival. We as human beings are brothers and sisters to every living being, from the plants to the animals to each other.
Crimes like these - the killing of tigers - must be stopped - PERIOD. They are often killed in the most barbaric, the most unbelievably cruel ways.'

For the Iguanas, I learnt that '16,306 of 41,415 species on the IUCN Red List are threatened with extinction, reports the World Conservation Union (IUCN). The total number of known extinct species now stands at 785. “The rate of biodiversity loss is increasing and we need to act now to significantly reduce it and stave off this global extinction crisis”, said Julia Marton-Lefèvre, Director General of the World Conservation Union (IUCN).
The IUCN Red List is considered the most authoritative assessment of the global status of plants and animals as it classifies species according to their extinction risk and is available online as a searchable database.'

I think although there are already groups that help to conserve tigers and iguanas, we as being human-beings, though cannot do much to solve this over-poaching problem, but at least we can try our best to educate the people in those countries where these two animals appeared more and pass the message of the consequences when this endangered animals are being killed, which can affect the environment.

(303 Words)

Taken from http://www.furville.com/Dave/tigers.html
http://news.mongabay.com/2007/0912-redlist.html

Reflective Journal 1

I learnt that it was still legal for people in India to hunt tigers to export skins in recent 1970s and India contains 60% of the world's tigers. Tiger are the most magnificent, rare, endangered charismatic and powerful among all the cats and it is recorded that more than 3,000 tigers lost their lives to trophy hunter which most are being tourists from 1950s to early 1960s. Hence, Project Tiger launched on the 1st April 1973 at Corbett National Park and it's aims were to ensure maintenance of a viable population of tigers in India for scientific, economic, cultural and ecological values, preserve, for all times, areas of such biological importance as a national heritage for the benefit, education and enjoyment of the people, early development.
With the co-operation of the Indian Government, Project Tiger initially established a reserves, across different ecosystems which is the population community. These were devoted specifically to saving the tiger and eliminating those factors which were contributing to the decline of the tiger:
1. Habitat destruction.
2. Disturbance.
3. Loss of prey.
4. Hunting.
5. Competition with local villagers and animals

For the Iguanas side, I had learnt that all iguanas have strong jaws, long tails and strong legs with long, sharp claws, and the iguana family includes about 30 different species. The iguanas in West Indian (including the iguanas in the Bahamas) are a very special group of iguanas. They are among the most endangered of the world’s lizards and their habitats are also being destroyed for housing or farming. People have also introduced foreign animals to island or forest which iguanas lived on, and eat them up which destroys their habitat even further more.

It was really very shocking to me when I was doing my research because I had never knew that it was still legal for people in India to hunt tiger in 1970s.
I think that although Tigers may not be considered good to human beings in some ways as they are a type of ferocious animals which may kill and eat up people but they are also living things and they also need a comfortable place for their homes. It is also the time we should stop on the actions of abusing and neglecting on the Tigers and Iguanas.

(367 Words)

Taken from http://www.wildlife-tour-india.com/indian-wildlife/tiger-in-india.html
http://www.ardastra.com/iguanainfo.html

Journey of places where I have not visit, but wish to go...

Actually, there are quite a lot of places I wish to go, but have not go yet, but if I were really given an oppurtuinity, I would love to go England and Italy.

I wishes to go to these two high-development country is because of the soccer match. When I was young, I would always love to watch soccer, but there was very, very low chances as I had no starhub cable to watch. As I grow older, I learnt how to use computer and I would always make use of the computer to watch the live telecast soccer match on computer which has a very small screen which makes me feel uncomfortable and dizzy whenever I watch it. When I reached there and watch the first match, I am sure that I will be very excited and nervous as there will be a lot international world-class professional soccer player there and that will be the first I am visiting a world most popular soccer league. I am also sure that it will be more thrilling to watch it there than at home.

I always had this idea of bringing my parents along with me to these two countries when I had enough money because other than the soccer, I would also be able to shop, play and eat the their traditional food there and I do not want my parents to miss out the opportunity. I would also be able to see and take down the nice, beautiful scenery there. I think that I would be going to these countries for at least two times because I would want to go to these destinations in winter also. In that case, I would be able to masochist the feeling of being in the snow as I always wonder how would the feeling be like in the snow. Other than that, I can also ski in the snow which I think skiing is a very fun sport.

Because of these, I intended to learn Italian when I'm grow up and be able to afford it so that it would be more easier and convenient for me to communicate with the Italian when I'm lost or encounter problems in Italy. In that case, I will have more feel of safe secure as it would be more easy for me to interact with Italy people.

Childhood Memories

When I was a children, I love playing soccer a lot. I would always play with my elder brother or friends for almost everyday. At that time, my soccer skills was atrocious as compared to my friends but I not sure about now and I would always play with happiness no matter I lose or win. As long as I enjoyed the process, it is the greatest achivement to me.

But as I grow older, I was more greedy as I always hate to lose and always scared to admit defeat. When I was about 8 years old, I met up with some of my friends to play at the nearest soccer field to my house. In order not to lose, I tried very, very hard to get the ball and always run around and never think of the consequences. Until now, I can still vividly remember that my friend kicked a high ball and pass it to me. Not knowing that someone is coming to snatch my ball, I run towards the ball and kicked it. Never thought or imagine, my friend accidentally tripped and kicked my leg. At that time, I was in a very, very bad situation as I was in a very, very bad pain. I felt that it was very strange as I had kicked soccer for years already and that is the first time I felt the most painful in my life currently.

I lie on the ground for about 5 to 10 minutes before I caught the attention of my friend. My friend run towards me and asked what happened. I told them I was in a great pain and they wanted to lift me up but in vain as my foot was really very pain that I could not even stand. So, they went up to my house and told my mother what happened. My mother came and quickly called the ambulance. After that, I knew that I had broke one of the bone on my left leg. I was hospitalized for about 3 to 4 weeks. At that time, I felt very terrified as I thought that I could never play soccer again. It was when that I knew that soccer is one of the important things in my life.

When I was discharge from hospital, I had to rely on wheelchair and also had to go back to hospital for physicology for some times before I can rely on the clutches and go back to school . After that terrifying incident, I had learnt my lesson and not to play soccer with rough attitude. I learnt that safety is the most important as I knew that there were a lot of people who cares for me and I don't want them to disappoint them especially my parents. I also usually don't play soccer with some of the people as they are rough and I also found out that soccer is meaningful and also important in my life after that incident.

Reflections on Virtual trip to Chek Jawa

During the English lessons, our teacher gave us an assignment which was going on a virtual tour of Chek Jawa. I did not even know where exactly is Chek Jawa. After doing some researches on the Google website, Chek Jawa was actually located in Pulau Ubin, Singapore.

This was what fascinated me. This is actually the sea stars. This is the one which is knobby with purple branching sponge. Sea stars exhibit a superficially radial symmetry. They typically have five "arms" which radiate from a central disk. However, the evolutionary ancestors of echinoderms are believed to have had bilateral symmetry. Sea stars do exhibit some superficial remnant of this body structure, evident in their larval pluteus forms.

Sea stars do not rely on a jointed, movable skeleton for support and locomotion (although they are protected by their skeleton), but instead possess a hydraulic water vascular system that aids in locomotion. The water vascular system has many projections called tube feet on the ventral face of the sea star's arms which function in locomotion and aid with feeding. Sea stars usually hunt for shelled animals such as oysters and clams. They have two stomachs. One stomach is used for digestion, and the other stomach can be extended outward to engulf and digest prey. This feature allows the sea star to hunt prey that is much larger than its mouth would otherwise allow. Sea stars are able to regenerate lost arms. A new sea star may be regenerated from a single arm attached to a portion of the central disk.

I always thought that some of the rare species found in Chek Jawa can be seen in Singapore. After finding where is Chek Jawa, the rare species of animals and plants are actually found there. If I have the opportunity to go on the tour in Chek Jawa (located in Pulau Ubin), I will definitely go and have some pictures taken with the sea stars.Information are taken from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sea_starPictures are taken from: http://chekjawa.nus.edu.sg/ria/text/223.htmhttp://chekjawa.nus.edu.sg/ria/text/194.htm

Confession of Achluophobia

Everyone in the world have phobia which means frightened of something,which includes me.I realised I have a phobia of Achluophobia when I was the age of about 8 or 9. Its means that I am scared of darkness.

On a one fine afternoon, I was reading my book when all of a sudden, I thought that my art teacher wanted us to buy art materials so I asked my mother for money to go and buy. At first, my mother wanted to accompany me as she was worried but I refused as the stall was just below my block and I wanted to learnt independent. After much time of conviction, my mother finally agreed.

When I went down and bought my things, I went back home. After I went into the lift, it suddenly stopped and the lights went off. The whole lift was in a dark condition. I felt nervous and frightened at the point of time. I immediately shouted to my highest point of voice and called for help. At the same time, I also press every button in the lift. After much time spending in the lift, the door suddenly opened and I saw my parents and lift technicians who opened the door for me. After that incident, I realised that I have a phobia of Achluophobia.

School Holiday-An Embarassing Incident

During my holiday, I went back to Malaysia to visit my Grandparents and my families. At there, I would accompany my uncle to have breakfast in the market and also but takeaway for the rest of my family everyday. It was as normal as everyday until one day, my uncle has to back home earlier because of stomachache so I will help to buy takeaway for the rest of my family alone. When I was about pay the money for the food, I realise that I have not enough money to pay for it and I felt so embarrassed at the point of time. I also didn't know what to do as well. Luckily, an idea suddenly occured to my mind and I immediately called back home and asked for help. My another uncle came and help me paid for it. After that incident, I felt that I was so careless and did not check properly of my wallet. I think that it is okay as it was the first time of careless for me but the most important thing is I had already learnt my mistakes. I will be more careful the next time round.