Residents restore grass patches damaged by boars

For years, wild boars have been trampling the grounds near homes in Kebun Baru, leaving grass patches damaged.

On Sunday, a group of nearly 50 residents decided to roll up their sleeves and repair the damage themselves.

Using shovels and changkols provided by the National Parks Board (NParks), they came together to restore the grass patches in Lower Peirce Park. They worked together in an area about half the size of a football field for about two hours to even out the damaged patches.

The initiative was organised by the Kebun Baru Vista Neighbourhood Committee (NC), which looks into the welfare of residents in private estates and condominiums in the area.

"We are passionate and we have a desire to do our part to improve the park's environment because many of us come here regularly," said Mr Chang Nam Yuen, 62, who is the chairman of the Kebun Baru Vista NC. "It's just like how we would want to sweep our house clean," he said.

Wild boars are a common sight in the Lower Peirce area. NParks estimated last year that there are 100 wild boars in the area, and has since begun culling them. Said volunteer Lee Seng Luan, 68: "Since we come here, we want to make the park look nice. It's not that we hate the wild boars.

"My view is that we have a sustainable number of them, because maybe this area cannot support so many," said the retired mathematics professor.

ateng@sph.com.sg

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