Code Of Conduct - Butterfly Watching And Photography In Singapore

CODE OF CONDUCT – BUTTERFLY WATCHING AND PHOTOGRAPHY IN SINGAPORE

ButterflyCircle warmly welcomes each and every member here and we hope that you will have a fruitful association with this forum, enjoy yourself with our common passion in butterfly photography and the study of butterflies and their early stages.

Singapore is a small island of about 700 sq km. Our natural heritage is precious, and survives precariously in the face of intense development and human intervention. Our flora and fauna survive, with the government’s careful planning and preservation of as much green and nature areas as long as these are not required for economic development. Singapore’s City in-a-Garden reputation is well known worldwide, and for a heavily built-up urbanized society that we are, we are always thankful that there is nature and life in our parks, gardens and nature reserves that reflect the biodiversity of a tropical island that Singapore is.

Through the work of ButterflyCircle, and our hardworking members’ constant observing, monitoring and recording data on butterfly biodiversity, we have located over 280 species of butterflies in Singapore. The life histories of many species – hitherto unknown, have been recorded and documented in photographic sequences par excellence. Indeed, the photographic accomplishments, specifically of butterflies, of the members here, far exceed any other society or group and the current available nature guides or books’ pictures of butterflies of Singapore shot in the wild pale in comparison to the work depicted on ButterflyCircle.

As our membership grows, and more and more photographers and butterfly enthusiasts join us, we feel that there is a pressing need for a code of conduct for the study and photography of butterflies. Hence we urge all members, new and old, to refer to this Code of Conduct regularly, and to remind yourselves of the do’s and don’t’s of butterfly watching and photography. Failure to respect the Code of Conduct may result in a member being banned from ButterflyCircle, and also, where an act is in contravention of any of the local Acts, a member may also be prosecuted and charged according to the offence committed.

The Code of Conduct is hence drafted as a guideline to ensure that we can all help in the conservation of butterflies in Singapore for our future generations to enjoy.

Administrator, ButterflyCircle


1. Butterfly Watching and Photography - Damage to the Environment

1.1 Do as little damage to the environment as possible. Remember the needs of other flora and fauna. Avoid destroying the plants, pulling them out, or generally damaging the areas where you are observing or photographing butterflies.

1.2 In public parks, gardens and nature areas, please be aware that the plants are paid for and cultivated by the relevant agencies. Any damage to the landscaping material would be subject to compensation of the damage if evidence of such act is brought against you.

2. Breeding

2.1 In instances where a permit has been granted, or you are taking butterflies, or any stages of its life history from private land or premises, breeding from a fertilised female or pairing in captivity is preferable to taking a series of specimens in the field.

2.2 Never collect more larvae than can be supported by the available supply of host plant. If you are uncertain, do not take any caterpillars home to breed. Not having an adequate supply of the host plants is as good as killing the caterpillar!

2.3 If you do breed caterpillars, please ensure that you take all precautions and care to keep the caterpillar safe and healthy until eclosion. In an artificial and non-natural environment, caterpillars should not be traumatized nor left in neglect. Remember that even an insect is a living life form for which you are responsible, if you take it out from its natural environment!

2.4 Adult butterflies that have been reared and eclosed successfully should be released in the original locality where the egg, caterpillars or pupae have been found, not just anywhere.

2.5 Before undertaking introductions, re-introductions or re-establishments of Lepidoptera populations please consult the senior members of ButterflyCircle.

3. Collection - General

3.1 In general, collection of adult butterflies, eggs, caterpillars and pupae is strictly prohibited in Singapore. In most areas which are under the jurisdiction of the Parks and Trees Act, the various Land Laws, CITES and so on, any collection or damage to the environment would subject the offender to be prosecuted under the various laws of Singapore.

3.2 Where relevant, application for research permits should be made to the National Parks Board for any need to collect, study or take specimens in the field.

3.3 If any member observes or is aware of any such illegal activities by anyone, you are requested to post your observation in the Forums so that the Administrators can refer the offender to the relevant Authorities.

4. Collecting - Permission and Conditions

4.1 Where applicable, always seek permission from the landowner or occupier when collecting on private land and obtain the appropriate permits when collecting on nature reserves or government land.

4.2 Always comply with any conditions laid down by the granting of permission to collect.

4.3 When collecting on nature reserves, or sites of known interest to conservationists, supply a list of species collected to the appropriate authority by whom the permit is granted.

?2008 ButterflyCircle