Despite the Crimson Sunbird (Aethophyga siparaja) getting pushed onto the throne by the Nature Society’s Singapore Bird Group as Singapore’s official National Bird, things are not as they seem. Hawkwaaarrrd!
Various media outlets announced the news yesterday that the little red bird received official status as Singapore’s National Bird to the overt joy of a small segment of the population who are really into birds. It was confusing at first though — the Crimson Sunbird was actually voted for the mantle in a poll conducted more than a decade ago back in 2002.
The ‘official’ status was apparently perceived in a Singapore Bird Group blogpost, which stated that President of the Nature Society (Singapore) Dr. Shawn Lum announced it at the recent 6th Asian Bird Fair Fellowship Dinner. Dr. Lum also apparently made the declaration that the Common Rose (Pachliopta aristolochiae asteris) is Singapore’s National Butterfly.
Some digging from The Straits Times however has revealed that neither bird nor butterfly has received official status yet.
They were simply voted to the top of the polls, and should not be taken as a decree, Dr. Lum clarified to The Straits Times. The Nature Society had merely written in to three government departments to get the Crimson Sunbird and the Common Rose to receive official standing, i.e., nothing’s confirmed yet. In fact, the word “official” has been dropped from the original blogpost.
If you do want to make declarations about the Vanda Miss Joaquim orchid as Singapore’s official national flower, go wild though — its official status has been recognised and approved by the government since 1981.
Photo: Lip Kee via Flickr
