I don't even know how to begin to describe this heinous crime that happened recently at Yishun Ring Road. When I first heard about this act of abuse, it didn't occur to me how terrible it was.
But when I saw this photo of a decapitated kitten head with a missing left ear and two legs, it brought some tears to my eyes because I couldn't imagine how anyone could bring himself (I presume it is just a guy although there could be more than one person) to commit this horrendous and inhumane act of mutilating and dismembering two kittens.
I don't know if the abuse was performed when the kittens were alive and the individual body parts were cut off limb by limb, followed sequentially by the body and then the head. If the kittens were subjected to these when they were conscious, they must have suffered tremendous trauma and shock. How can anyone in their right mind carry out this unforgivable deed? What was going on in his mind and how was he feeling? Even if the person suffered abuse at the hands of someone else, it did not give him any right to inflict pain and suffering on these harmless and defenseless animals.
Anyway, this horrific news has gone viral everywhere and SPCA and a British Permanent Resident offer rewards of $2,000 and $8,000 each to anyone who can provide information and leads to help nab the culprit. Two small lives were lost and I hope the authorities apprehend the offender soon.
It was a day with a clear good weather, as evident by the photos of the still water and reflection of the park surrounding the Yishun Pond, taken from Khoo Teck Puat Hospital.
The Enterolobium cyclocarpum planted along the promenade of the pond has hardly grown much, as observed by the sparse crown of few leaves. The string of floating platforms of marginal aquatic plants, on the other hand, are growing so well. It is an innovative way of creating an island of plants in a pool of water.
Back at the hospital compound, the picturesque garden has established so much since the hospital first opened its doors. I was lucky to capture a photo of a lady bug and managed to focus a ray of light on it for better effect. They have also cleaned up the pond water considerably and it was sparkling clear. However, I noticed most of the fishes e.g. Tiger Barbs, Archer Fish, I spotted previously were nowhere to be found. I wonder if they were deliberately or accidentally removed in the cleaning process?
I found that the new leaf flushes of the Flacourtia inermis were slightly distorted and when I turned the orange leaves over, I discovered colonies of young and adult black and brown aphids. Yes, they looked absolutely disgusting but I guess this is part of the natural ecological cycle.
In an earlier post on this hospital, I highlighted some terrestrial plants that were grown in water. Here, one can see clusters of the common culinary Pandanus amaryllifolius with aerial roots growing in the water too. Unfortunately, they were not emitting the typical pandan fragrance in the air.
Anyway, this is the benchmark for new hospitals that are developed in Singapore. It is no longer just an institution where the sick or injured patients receive medical or surgical treatment. It has to be green and well-landscaped for aesthetics and to promote therapeutic recovery. Green is now the new black.
Today's weather - sunny
This is a new structure that was built beside the Yishun Pond. Unfortunately, I didn't have the time to check it out but I must say it is an interesting lookout point.
I don't know what to make of this. I see the Bauhinia kockiana planted in narrow planting troughs more and more frequently these days and it really irks me.
Like I posted before, sooner or later, the plants will develop severe nitrogen nutrient deficiency symptoms, as evident by the pale green leaves and pale orange flowers, when planted under such conditions without being given adequate fertilizers. So unless one is willing or able to keep up with the fertilizing regime required by Bauhinias, I would suggest not to plant them in such small confined spaces where nutrient availability will always be an issue.
On this floor, one can have a great bird's eye view of the Yishun pond. As expected by me, the bare crown Enterolobium cyclocarpum has not recovered from the transplanting shock, especially since the planting space is limited and on higher grounds.
