According to the Straits Times, large quantities of invasive snail eggs have been discovered at Lower Seletar Reservoir, sparking concerns among residents and environmentalists.
These bright pink egg clusters, attributed to the golden apple snail species, were brought to attention by observant Facebook user Elsa Xu on October 5.
Ms. Xu’s post on the Nature Society Singapore (NSS) Facebook page described the worrying presence of golden apple snail eggs scattered along the reservoir’s banks, rocks, and reeds, prompting a call for immediate action to address the issue.
The golden apple snail, scientifically known as Pomacea canaliculata and originally from South America, is considered one of the top 100 most invasive species in the world.
This species reached Southeast Asia through the aquarium trade and is known to out-compete native apple snails due to its prolific egg-laying nature. The pink egg clusters laid by the golden apple snail can number in the hundreds to up to a thousand, crowding out native species that lay fewer eggs.
In response to Ms. Xu’s findings, fellow nature enthusiasts from the NSS Facebook group expressed concerns about the potential impact of these invasive eggs on the local ecosystem.
Questions were raised about the eggs’ toxicity to humans and animals, as well as the damage they could cause to Singapore’s plant life.
However, some individuals injected humor into the situation by humorously comparing the pink eggs to “mentaiko,” a spicy Japanese dish made from cured pollack roe.
This is not the first instance of the golden apple snail’s presence at Lower Seletar Reservoir, as similar clusters were observed in 2021.
The national water agency PUB and the National Parks Board (NParks) have been actively removing these invasive eggs during maintenance works in nature areas and reservoirs to mitigate their impact on the local biodiversity.
Both organizations emphasize the importance of preventing the release of non-native species into Singapore’s reservoirs to preserve the delicate balance of the aquatic ecosystem.
