Christmas Island Red Exhibition Launch
Before the Christmas long weekend, we held the official launch of our new exhibition, Christmas Island Red!
Our Guest of Honour for the exhibition launch was Mr. Bruce Gosper, the Australian High Commissioner. Mr. Gosper, along with Polish Ambassador Zenon Kosiniak-Kamysz, NUS senior management, donors, and distinguished guests were given a tour of the Biodiversity Gallery by the head of the museum, Prof. Peter Ng.
After the short tour, Prof. Peter Ng and Mr. Gosper each gave a speech to welcome all the guests that have graced the exhibition launch event. After which, the both of them officiated the launch of Christmas Island Red, by opening the doors leading to the exhibition.
Prof. Peter Ng then gave Mr. Gosper, along with Polish Ambassador Zenon Kosiniak-Kamysz, NUS senior management, donors, and distinguished guests a tour of the Christmas Island Red exhibition.
It was an honour to have all our guests, including members of the public, grace the launch of Christmas Island Red. We would like to extend our thanks to everyone who played a part in making the launch a success. Here at LKCNHM, we also wish everyone a happy and prosperous 2018!
About the Exhibition
An isolated tropical island in the Indian Ocean, Christmas Island is biogeographically unique and famous for one of the great natural wonders of the world — the migration of millions of Christmas Island Red Crabs at the onset of the wet season. With at least 200 species of animals found only on the island and nowhere else on Earth, its rich biodiversity has attracted naturalists and researchers from around the world, including scientists from Singapore.
Christmas Island’s connection to Singapore goes a long way back, with a history of research on Christmas island fauna, such as its charistmatic crabs and birds, dating to as early as 1904. More recent museum expeditions have also yielded some interesting findings and new species such as the Blue Crab (Discoplax celeste) and cave crabs (Christmaplax mirabilis and Orcovita spp.).
Come and discover the diverse nature of Christmas Island — from the red and coconut crabs, to frigatebirds and booby birds — and learn about some of the threats it faces from invasive species and other anthropogenic activities.