New ‘Singapore Pokedex’ aims to turn hikes into wildlife-spotting adventures
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A screenshot of the free wildlife library on Just Keep Thinking’s website, where readers can learn about fauna in Singapore.
PHOTO: JUST KEEP THINKING
DeeperDive is a beta AI feature. Refer to full articles for the facts.
Letitia Chen
SINGAPORE – Wildlife exploration in Singapore just got easier and much more accessible with the launch of a free online wildlife library.
Started by teacher-turned-science communicator Kong Man Jing, 32, the “Singapore Pokedex” available at justkeepthinking.sg features fun facts about native fauna.
Each entry is accompanied by drawings of the animal’s anatomy and images of “wow-life” (wildlife) encounters. Videos of these creatures in their native habitats are also available.
Similar to the Pokedex – which records data on various species from the video game Pokemon – the website catalogues native wildlife for users to find creatures easily and browse information about them.
For example, people can use the library to learn more about the blue-spotted fantail ray, including its features, such as the venomous spines on its tail, along with the types of habitats it is found in. These include coral reefs and sandy beaches.
On Just Keep Thinking’s website, people can learn about intertidal creatures such as the blue-spotted fantail ray. There are engaging drawings and bite-sized information.
PHOTO: JUST KEEP THINKING
Such information is also used to highlight the safety precautions needed when exploring Singapore’s wild spaces. People should, for instance, wear covered shoes when exploring intertidal zones to prevent injuries.
Ms Kong, who is more popularly known by her social media handle Biogirl MJ, is the creator of edutainment company Just Keep Thinking. The company also conducts educational tours at intertidal zones and mangroves, and holds outreach events such as school talks and beach clean-ups.
She highlights issues on local biodiversity and sustainability through her fun, light-hearted videos, and is often recognisable for her signature bright yellow outfits and black-rimmed glasses.
As at April 5, the wildlife library has around 80 entries, featuring species of intertidal creatures found in Singapore’s waters such as sea stars and sharks.
The plan is to gradually add more species to the library, said Ms Kong. While the team is currently focused on refining the website, it hopes to include at least 100 species by the end of the year, she added.
Teacher-turned-YouTuber Kong Man Jing, who is better known as Biogirl MJ on her science and nature channel, Just Keep Thinking.
PHOTO: JUST KEEP THINKING
According to the Biodiversity of Singapore wildlife database by the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum, Singapore is estimated to host more than 50,000 species of animals, plants and fungi.
The team kicked off the library with intertidal biodiversity as it noticed from its tours that many people were curious about wildlife there, yet information about them tends to be less accessible for the public, said Ms Kong.
She added: “We hope to bring more attention to our marine shores, which may sometimes be overlooked, and gently raise awareness of ongoing challenges such as habitat changes and development pressures, while encouraging greater appreciation for these environments.”
The 10 person-strong team created each entry by referring to sources such as books, research papers and existing local databases such as the Singapore Red Data Book, a publication on endangered plants and animals found here.
They also compiled wildlife footage that had been recorded since the launch of Just Keep Thinking in 2019.
She hopes to work with environmental organisations such as Bird Society of Singapore and Herpetological Society of Singapore to include other wildlife such as birds and reptiles, making knowledge about local wildlife more accessible.
Ms Kong added that the wildlife library’s aim is to present information about wildlife differently.
There are currently several online databases about local plants and animals, such as the Flora and Fauna Web by the National Parks Board.
She noted that these databases play an important role in supporting local biodiversity knowledge. However, she added that they may not be the most user-friendly or provide information that can be easily understood by the public.
Just Keep Thinking’s website features photos of animals encountered by its team members during their intertidal explorations.
PHOTO: JUST KEEP THINKING
To make information more approachable, her wildlife library has a greater focus on presenting information through engaging visuals and illustrations, and more succinct, bite-sized write-ups, she added.
The library aims to attract a broader mainstream audience, before guiding users towards other existing platforms to continue their exploration, said Ms Kong.
She added that the library could also serve as a reference for people during real-world exploration.
“Some participants on our guided intertidal tours express curiosity about what they see, but sometimes struggle to find information that is easy to understand or quick to access,” said Ms Kong.
“That’s really what sparked the idea – to create a search function where people can easily find out more about animals they might have come across in the wild,” she added.
As at April 5, the wildlife library has around 80 entries, featuring species of intertidal creatures found in Singapore’s waters such as sea stars and sharks.
PHOTO: JUST KEEP THINKING
For now, the wildlife library will focus on animals, though Ms Kong hopes to include other forms of biodiversity such as plants in the future.
“Many public questions stem from fauna sightings in the wild, so this is where we see an immediate opportunity to support curiosity and learning,” she said.
“When people can find information easily, that curiosity does not end there, and it may grow into a stronger appreciation for nature and the environment.”
