While we celebrate the introduction of NUS High’s new mascot, I thought it would be fun to note that we are not the only ones who chose this animal as a symbol. In addition to Singapore, the white-bellied sea eagle is also native to Australia and is commonly seen in coastal areas across Southeast Asia as well. It is the state animal of the Malaysian state of Selangor, and a subdistrict in Thailand was named “Nok ok” after the Thai name of the bird. The eagle has become a landmark in the town of Krabi, Thailand, where a sculpture of it currently stands.  

Statue of a white-bellied sea eagle in Krabi, Thailand 

In Malay, its name is burung hamba siput, commonly translated as “bird that is slave of the shellfish, though the usual meaning of siput is closer to “snail” rather than shellfish. As many snails wait for the tides to recede so they can feed on the mudflats that are submerged at high tide, then slowly make their way back towards the land for safety, some people theorise that it is in fact snails, not shellfish that the eagles are “slaves” to.  But its name comes from a small tidbit of folklore which describes the bird screaming to warn shellfish (or snails) about the changing tides. For your imagination, take a listen to its call (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y1UHBJI60Eg). The call is often described as a loud goose-like honking that can be heard from 1 km away. Imagine that upon hearing this call, all the shellfish within a 1 km radius decide whether to take shelter or feed. To various other cultures, this call could warn of danger (to some, the arrival of a group of eagles from the skies became an omen of death) or on a more positive note, bring good news of a bountiful catch to fishing communities.  

The white-bellied sea eagle is also a sacred symbol for many indigenous tribes in Australia, including an Aboriginal community residing in the Northern Territory province of Australia, who refer to themselves as the Mak Mak people. Mak Mak is the name that they gave to the white-bellied sea eagle, as well as themselves. Describing their culture, one researcher with Aboriginal descent said that the white eagle is their clan totem, and that it gives them their language, ceremonies, culture, song, and dance.  

A banknote from the 1970-80s, part of a series with designs of native birds in Singapore. The highest denomination, $10,000, depicts a white-bellied sea eagle. 

As the largest and heaviest bird native to Singapore with a wingspan of around 2 meters, it seems fitting that it was once printed on the rare ten thousand dollar note. However, it is also the most common bird of prey in Singapore, with sightings at Pulau Ubin, Labrador Park, Sungei Buloh, and most unexpectedly, the Istana. A printed image of the eagle can also be obtained much more cheaply, with it being featured on a $5 stamp from 1962 (now purchasable at $7.20 according to a quick online search) and the 70-cent stamp from a relatively recent set of four released in 2016, also featuring designs of four native birds of prey. 

White-bellied sea eagles during their signature “courtship flight” 

The sea eagles are monogamous and tend to mate with one lifelong partner. During breeding season, which varies between locations but generally occurs from December to May in Singapore, pairs demonstrate a spectacular display of aerial acrobatics, gripping on to each other then doing somersaults while hanging on to each other, descending towards the ground, then releasing right before landing. 

If you can’t get enough of this bird, you can go beyond the official school mascot merchandise with one of the stamps previously mentioned, or hope the stars align for a chance to spot it soaring to the stars for yourself. 

References 

https://www.culturalsurvival.org/publications/cultural-survival-quarterly/life-countryecological-restoration-aboriginal-homelands

https://www.nlb.gov.sg/main/article-detail?cmsuuid=787cfbdf-112d-4572-afec-bc32d82beb2c

https://esajournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1002/fee.2039

https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/local-birds-of-prey-featured-in-new-singpost-stamp-set

https://singaporebirds.com/species/white-bellied-sea-eagle/

Images:  

https://thailandlife.info/eagle-sculpture-krabi-town/

https://www.leftovercurrency.com/exchange/singapore-dollars/withdrawn-singapore-dollar-banknotes/10000-singapore-dollars-banknote-bird-series/

https://malaysianwildlifephotography.blogspot.com/2022/03/the-white-bellied-sea-eagles-of.html