Rare Cinnamon bush frog tadpoles introduced into Pulau Ubin to boost their chances of survival

You may not have seen a Cinnamon bush frog before because it's a nocturnal species which tends to be more active at night.

It's also rather small. Just slightly bigger than a 50-cent coin!

Another reason is the fact that it is a vulnerable species in Singapore, which means their long-term survival is threatened if nothing is done.

Introducing Cinnamon bush frog tadpoles to Pulau Ubin

Previously, these bright orange frogs were mostly found in Bukit Timah and the Central Catchment Nature Reserves.

In 2017 and 2018, they were introduced to a primary rainforest area in the Botanic Gardens as part of the National Parks Board's (NParks') efforts to boost their population.

As part of an update on the next bound of the Ubin Project, an ongoing conservation efforts started in 2014 to retain Ubin's charm, biodiversity, environment and heritage, NParks announced on Jun. 28 that two batches of Cinnamon bush frog tadpoles have been introduced to two sites on the island where phytotelm habitats were installed.

What are phytotelm habitats you may wonder.

Phytotelms are water-filled cavities in large trees or fallen rotting logs that are rare microhabitats in the forest where Cinnamon bush frogs breed.

These artificial phytotelms imitate these microhabitats and have successfully provided the conducive environment for the frogs to make babies and grow their families in Botanic Gardens.

The introduction of Cinnamon bush frog tadpoles were carried out in two batches.

Some tadpoles in Ubin have grown into frogs

The good news is the first batch, which was introduced in June 2024, have matured into adult frogs and are now living outside the artificial phytotelm habitats, NParks said.

This is an early indication that Pulau Ubin may be a suitable habitat for this vulnerable species and a population may be established outside of mainland Singapore, NParks added.

The second batch of tadpoles were just introduced in March this year, and NParks is still monitoring the situation.

If the introduction of Cinnamon bush frogs proves to be a success, NParks will introduce this species to more places in Singapore to increase the chances of their long-term survival.

Other updates about the Ubin Project

In addition to the introduction of Cinnamon bush frog tadpoles into Ubin, NParks also shared other plans to improve the environment and to enhance Ubin as a place of heritage and education.

Headlands will be built near the coast and rock revetments will also be added to protect mangroves from further erosion, as part of the shoreline restoration works on the island.

Kampung houses will be restored and NParks will work with the community to explore possibly adaptive reuse.

To enhance Pulau Ubin's position as an outdoor classroom for experiential learning, biology student teachers from the National Institute of Education will be included in the Ubin School initiative where they learn about how to prepare for educational activities on Ubin for students to learn more about the island's rich biodiversity, heritage and culture.

Education Minister Desmond Lee, who was formerly the National Development Minister and has been working closely with the nature community, shared:

"In these living classrooms of Pulau Ubin, our students will learn not just about nature, but from nature itself. Discovering, for example, resilience from trees that weather storms, and cooperation and adaptability from mangrove organisms that thrive together in a healthy ecosystem. These lessons from Mother Nature shape not just the understanding of our heritage, but their character as future stewards of Singapore and our environment.

The partnership between NParks and our MOE educators has been instrumental all these years. We will continue to strengthen these collaborations to enrich our students learning experiences and, of course, to develop a love for our natural living heritage."

Top photos from NParks and Google Maps.