ALL HAIL THE KINGS AT JURONG BIRD PARK

JURONG BIRD PARK IS THE FIRST IN SOUTH EAST ASIA AND THE SECOND GLOBALLY TO SUCCESSFULLY BREED THE KING BIRD-OF-PARADISE

Two king bird-of-paradise hatchlings at 14 days old

Fully fledged king bird-of-paradise chicks being fed by the mother

Singapore, 19 July 2012 – Jurong Bird Park is the first in South East Asia and the second institution globally to successfully breed the king bird-of-paradise. Out of a clutch of two eggs, two chicks hatched on 18 May, bringing the total number of king bird-of-paradise at the Bird Park to five.

Jurong Bird Park first attempted to breed the king bird-of-paradise in 2010. That year, one egg by a breeding pair was found broken and the other was infertile. The inexperienced female king bird-of-paradise was also observed to be throwing eggs out of the nest box. Although the breeding pair was moved to an off-exhibit side aviary in 2011, successful hatchings were not to be achieved until a year later in 2012. Keepers decided to try something slightly different this year. They reused a nest box which already had a nest, abandoned by another female king bird-of-paradise. The present ‘mother’ accepted the nest and laid 2 eggs soon after.

Birds only breed in conditions they feel secure and comfortable in – and this species usually nests at heights of 3metres in the wild. In this instance, although the off-exhibit side aviary had less vegetation for camouflage, and the nest box was lower from the ground at 1.5metres, this breeding pair felt safe in the environment that Bird Park created for them.

“We are very proud to welcome not one, but two king bird-of-paradise hatchlings. Breeding and taking care of birds is not an exact science, and it took two years of dedication and keen observation by our keepers to achieve this. Although listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, restrictions have made it difficult to acquire more numbers of the king bird-of-paradise from New Guinea, so the two hatchlings will certainly add to the collection we have in Bird Park,” said Mr Raja Segran, General Manager, Jurong Bird Park.

Interestingly enough, the king bird-of-paradise is the smallest species of bird-of-paradise. Females are unadorned and a dull brown, while the males are crimson and white with bright blue feet and green-tipped fan-like-plumes on its shoulder. The two elongated tail wires are decorated with emerald green disk feathers on its tip. The king bird-of-paradise is distributed throughout lowland forests of New Guinea and nearby islands. This so-called “living gem” is the smallest and most vividly colored among birds of paradise. The diet consists mainly of fruit and arthropods. An extraordinary display is performed by the male with a series of tail swinging, fluffing of its abdomen white feathers that makes the bird look like a cottonball, and acrobatic pendulum displays.

PICTURE THE COLOUR RETURNS FOR A SECOND YEAR IN JURONG BIRD PARK

DIFFERENTLY THEMED FROM LAST YEAR, THIS EDITION HIGHLIGHTS THE SHOW TEAM’S 30TH ANNIVERSARY

Singapore, 10 July 2012 – It’s time to get trigger-happy as Jurong Bird Park’s vibrantly coloured residents become subjects in the second edition of Picture the Colour. The overwhelming response of more than 6,700 entries for last year’s inaugural photo competition inspired us to run it again this year – albeit with a different theme.

A Show Presenter interacting with Vicky, a great pied hornbill from the Birds n Buddies Show

The owl parade during the Kings of the Skies Show, with the snowy owl in foreground.

This time, we celebrate Bird Shows, which have been a mainstay of the Park for the past 30 years. Over three decades, our shows have gradually veered towards edutainment, complementing the Park’s focus. Guests are often enthralled by our birds’ natural behaviours during shows, which makes it a good time for presenters to weave in conservation nuggets about each species. Finding out more about birds this way makes for an interactive learning experience. The Show team takes care of and trains the show birds, choreographs, pieces the music together and presents the show to visitors. Additionally, they look after some of the other Park exhibits. Shows form an integral part of the entire visitor experience, making this a fitting theme for the Park’s second photo competition.

Participants in the photo competition from 9 July – 30 September can choose to compete in one of two categories: Professional and Amateur. The Professional category caters to avid semi-professional photographers, challenging the skills of contestants in taking birds with DSLR cameras while the Amateur category is aimed at photography fans who use compact cameras. All photo entries are expected to be of presenters with birds in action during shows and feeding programmes at Jurong Bird Park.

The judging panel for Picture the Colour consists of professional photographers from the industry including Mr Lee Tiah Khee, Chief Photographer from Lianhe Zaobao, Ms Joyce Fang, Executive Photojournalist from Straits Times and Mr Terence Tan, a Freelance Photojournalist. They will also be joined by Ms C.S. Ling, a Nikon professional photographer who specializes in wildlife photography.

There will be three winners in each category who will be selected by the judges based on composition, subject, technical detail, creativity, amongst others. Fans of WRS’ Facebook page will also get the opportunity to pick their favourite pictures through a public vote, and a winner will be selected in each category for the ‘most liked picture’.

Supportive sponsors who have come on board to reprise their role from last year are Nikon and Cathay Photo. More than $8,000 worth of prizes are up for grabs. Prizes for this inaugural competition include Nikon products such as the D7000 kit, D5100 kit and the D3100 kit. Other prizes include vouchers from Cathay Photo as well as Jurong Bird Park merchandise. For more information about the ‘Picture the Colour’ photography competition, please visit: http://www.birdpark.com.sg/

HOW THE FLU FLEW AT JURONG BIRD PARK

Singapore, 09 July 2012 – Home to 380 species of birds numbering 5,000, Jurong Bird Park has never seen an outbreak of avian influenza (H5N1), largely due to the surveillance methods rigorously adopted and put in place.

A veterinarian administers anti-oxidants Vitamins A, D and E to a lesser flamingo in Jurong Bird Park

A veterinarian administers the H5N2 vaccine to a lesser flamingo in Jurong Bird Park

There are various measures taken to screen and keep avian influenza at bay, beginning with the presence of sentinel chickens in the exhibits. Sentinel chickens have no immunity and will fall sick very easily when faced with a disease. They are the first alert in the event of any plausible infection. The blood and faeces of these sentinel chickens are tested monthly for avian influenza.

Before birds are imported into the Park via exchanges with other institutions, they are already tested, and when they arrive in the Park, they are tested once more. Furthermore, as a designated rescued avian centre by the governing authorities, the Bird Park receives donated birds and birds which the public rescue. All these birds from external sources are tested for avian influenza before further action takes place, to avoid compromising the health of the other birds in the park.

Relevant and susceptible species of the avian collection in Jurong Bird Park are also annually vaccinated with H5N2 vaccine, which increases the birds’ immune system by creating viable antibodies. With the immunity boost, there might be a decrease in morbidity when faced with H5N1.

A titer check is also carried out when the veterinarian collects a blood sample which undergoes a laboratory test to determine the efficacy of last year’s vaccination, and the level of H5N2 antibodies the bird produced.

These preventive measures, coupled with an epidemiology survey, an informative tool which indicates the influenza status, and the action the Park needs to take to be free of avian influenza, form the lines of defenses against avian influenza. Over and above these measures, the Bird Park also conducts an annual bird flu drill which simulates an actual outbreak in the event avian flu is encountered, as being prepared is key to combating it.

“All the field staff in the Bird Park are constantly vigilant and aware of the severity of the situation and having these bio-security measures keep the Park flu free. We have the necessary protocols in place, and are well prepared to deal with such an outbreak, should it happen,” said Mr Raja Segran, General Manager, Jurong Bird Park.

SPREAD THE WILDLIFE LOVE, BE A DOCENT

WILDLIFE RESERVES SINGAPORE IS SEEKING INDIVIDUALS WITH A PASSION FOR NATURE AND WILDLIFE

SINGAPORE, 21 Jun 2012 — Love animals and want to share your knowledge about wildlife and conservation? Put your skills to good use and sign up as a docent at our parks today!

WRS docents at African Adventure, and other docent stations, provide a valuable insight into the world of wildlife for our guests.

Wildlife Reserves Singapore is looking for passionate, committed individuals to spread their love for wildlife at Jurong Bird Park, Night Safari and Singapore Zoo. As a docent, you get to regale guests with fascinating stories of our animals, take them on exciting guided tours, and share beautiful specimens, all in the name of spreading the conservation message!

A WRS docent providing a hands-on learning experience for our young guest at the Reptile Realm station

Our docents, like this one at the Conservation Cove station, are armed with a wealth of knowledge and always willing to share nuggets of information with guests.

Since 1997, docents have been educating our visitors about animals, in particular the need for wildlife and animal conservation. Be part of the legacy when you apply for the Docents Recruitment and Training (RATS) 2012.

Raring to go yet? Simply submit your application by 13 July 2012 and look forward to being part of the docent family!

Details:
Fee: $150
Application deadline: 13 July 2012
Age: 21 years old and above
Interview dates: 21 and 22 July 2012
Training period: Once a week (Saturday or Sunday) from 4 August 2012 to 23 September 2012

For more information, check out our FAQ section at http://education.zoo.com.sg/docent.html or contact us at 6360 2217, fax at 6362 0163 or email veu@wrs.com.sg

Photo credits: Wildlife Reserves Singapore

CREATING NOSTRILS FOR A PARROT AT JURONG BIRD PARK

FIRST TIME VETERINARIAN TEAM PERFORMS SUCH A DELICATE ORTHOPEDIC SURGERY

Singapore, 21 June 2012 – Slightly more than a month ago on 12 May, the veterinarian team at Jurong Bird Park created nostrils for a blue-headed pionus parrot. As the case is extremely rare, this is the first time such a surgical procedure has been performed at the Bird Park.

The parrot was part of the Jungle Jewels exhibit. She had a chronic nasal infection which healed, but she somehow recovered in an odd fashion, and there was tissue growth in the nostrils, which blocked it and prevented her from breathing properly. As a result, she was breathing through her beak when she flew. Her beak is also deformed due to corrosion from the nasal infections’ toxins and enzymes.

When the case was brought to the attention of the veterinarians at the Park, research and check ups were conducted over a period of time before a course of treatment was decided on. The veterinarians decided to re-create nostrils for the parrot. During the 1.5 hour surgery, tissue which grew in the nostrils had to be removed to create a canal for proper breathing. Incisions were made at the top of the nose for a soft plastic tube to be inserted into the nostrils and out, under the beak and eventually securing the tube at the back of the parrot’s head with a valve.

“We had to leave the plastic tube in place for 4-6 weeks to prevent secondary healing. Having the tube sent a signal to the body to not repair the empty space left after the removal of tissue, so that tissue does not grow back at the vacant area. That eventually became the nostrils. The parrot recovered well from anesthesia, and she was active and strong as well, which bode well for her prognosis,” said Dr Melodiya Magno, Veterinarian, Jurong Bird Park.

After the surgery, she was tube-fed with parrot formula and given daily injections to relieve her pain. Additionally, a mixture of saline and antibiotics was injected into the valve daily to treat the sinuses and the surgical site.

Today, the parrot has recovered, and the veterinarians will remove the tube, conduct a physical check, take an x-ray and extract blood for testing, to ensure that she is completely well before sending her to the Breeding and Research Centre to be a part of the breeding programme.

Inserting a tube through a metal trocar to create new nostrils, May 12

Original nostrils which are blocked, and the new openings with the tube in place above the original nostrils, May 12

Removal of tissue from original blocked nostrils, Jun 09

After removal of tissue which
were blocking the original nostrils, the tube which was inserted through the new nostrils could connect the upper respiratory
tract to the choanal slit to
promote proper drainage of sinus secretions and normal breathing, Jun 09

Suturing the new nostrils after the tube was removed, Jun 21

Blue-headed pionus parrot with functioning original nostrils, Jun 21

PHOTO CREDITS: WILDLIFE RESERVES SINGAPORE

RARE BLUE AND BLACK PARROT BEAUTIES MAKE THEIR DEBUT AND CALL JURONG BIRD PARK HOME

Blue-throated macaw hatchling. PHOTO CREDITS: WILDLIFE RESERVES SINGAPORE

Singapore, 21 May 2012 – Two critically endangered blue-throated macaws, three red-tailed black cockatoos and four endangered hyacinth macaws have hatched at the Jurong Bird Park’s Breeding & Research Centre (BRC). These nine breeding successes, ages ranging from three to nine months, are part of the Bird Park’s carefully managed breeding programme.

The blue-throated macaw siblings are the first ever hatchlings of this species at the Park. They hatched on 17 and 23 December last year after an incubation period of 26 days at the BRC, which is a dedicated area to ensure the welfare, breeding and promulgation of birdlife. Weighing in at 14 g and 15 g at hatching, blue-throated macaws are difficult to breed in captivity, as compatibility is an important requirement for them with regards to the environment and their breeding partner.

It took seven years of persistent research by the avicultural team at the BRC and the Avian Hospital before two fertile eggs were laid, and even more care went into ensuring that the chicks had a diet optimised for their species and their growth. When they hatched, they were fed with baby formula and were gradually introduced to a diet of various fruit such as apples, pears, papayas, and bananas, nuts such as walnuts, macadamia nuts and sunflower seeds at three months.

Although listed as Least Concern on the IUCN, the red-tailed black cockatoo is prohibited from export from Australia, making this species extremely rare in captivity. This is also the first time Jurong Bird Park has successfully bred them in captivity. The three siblings hatched in three different clutches last year, with one egg per clutch on 2 August, 9 September and 20 October.

Before fertile eggs could be laid, endoscopy was performed by the veterinarian to ensure that the breeding pair was healthy, and was ready for breeding. The BRC team also changed the nest for them by providing the birds with a log with a cavity, instead of a wooden nest box. The birds are now in the new Australian themed exhibit at Parrot Paradise, which houses seven cockatoo species endemic to Australia.

Hyacinth macaws were last bred in the Bird Park in May 2010. This breeding season, three clutches of four eggs produced four sibling chicks hatching between November 2011 and April 2012. Similarly with the red-tailed black cockatoo, endoscopy was also carried out prior to breeding. For the parents of these chicks, a veterinary check revealed that their fat intake needed to be increased to get the birds in prime breeding condition, so walnuts and macadamias were added to their diet during the breeding season.

“We are so thrilled to have a 100% success rate with the blue-throated macaw, red-tailed black cockatoo and the hyacinth macaw this breeding season. In particular, there are only about 100 – 150 blue throated macaws left in the wilds of north-central Bolivia, and we hope that they will be valuable additions to the global captive breeding population of blue-throated macaws,” noted Mr Raja Segran, General Manager, Jurong Bird Park.

ORCHARD’S 1.3M EGG-PIC MOMENT

Shoppers to Orchard Road today were greeted with an egg-pic photo opportunity from Jurong Bird Park – a 1.3m tall giant egg in hot pink sunglasses with feet and wings in a deck chair under a beach umbrella.

A roving exhibit for today and tomorrow, the giant egg being egg-cellently pampered getting a pedicure and feathers being groomed was showcased at the areas outside H&M, Mandarin Gallery, Takashimaya and Paragon from 2pm to 6pm. A traffic-stopping moment, many gawking shoppers whipped out their cameras and phones for photographs.

This is a tongue-in-chick look at how the Breeding & Research Centre (BRC) in Jurong Bird Park takes eggs-treme care of the many eggs and chicks under their charge. Today, the BRC opened its’ doors to guests, to instill a deeper appreciation of wildlife. There are eight areas (incubation rooms, nurseries, weaning rooms and a kitchen) through which guests can take a peek at the eggs and chicks as they mature through life’s stages. Guests also get a chance to watch a live streaming feed of avian nest activities at the Breeding Blocks which are not publicly accessible.

Heads up! Looking chic in town.

Queenly carried across Orchard Road, the eggs-pert pampering knows no bounds!

As busy Orchard bustles by, the giant egg takes a chill pill in her deck chair whilst being combed and pedicured.

Oblivious to the glare of the afternoon sun, the giant egg basks comfortably while a passer-by shields herself.

A picture perfect moment as her partner snaps away.

Look mum! I can eggs-pertly pamper the egg too!

After an egg-cellent afternoon of being pampered, the giant egg gets escorted off into the sunset.

EGGS AND CHICKS EGGS-PERTLY PAMPERED AT JURONG BIRD PARK

BREEDING AND RESEARCH CENTRE MAKES PUBLIC DEBUT

Scarlet macaw hatchling in a temperature and humidity-monitored brooder (left) and a five day old greater flamingo being fed at the Breeding and Research Centre. PHOTO CREDITS: WILDLIFE RESERVES SINGAPORE

Singapore, 14 May 2012 – The Breeding and Research Centre (BRC) at Jurong Bird Park is where life begins for some of the Park’s resident birds. The moment eggs arrive at the BRC up to the time chicks hatch and are weaned, they receive eggs-pert tender loving care and literally, pampering, from the Centre’s officers.

This is also the first time in 24 years that the Centre is open for walk-in public viewing. Previously, the BRC was only accessible via organised tours through the Education or Operations teams.

“By showcasing to guests what goes on behind-the-scenes at the BRC, we hope to inculcate in them a deeper appreciation of avian wildlife, and for guests to have a better understanding of our conservation efforts. We are very proud of the successes the BRC has had. We have bred some critically endangered species like the Bali starling and blue- throated macaw and other very significant species such as the black palm cockatoo, hyacinth macaw, red-fronted macaw and the red-tailed black cockatoo, all of which certainly enhance the off-site conservation population of these magnificent birds,” said Mr Raja Segran, General Manager, Jurong Bird Park.

Two incubation rooms, two nursery rooms, three weaning rooms, one each for parrots, aquatic birds and other species, and a kitchen are the eight areas through which guests can take a peek at the eggs and chicks as they mature through life’s stages.

Each of the incubation rooms contain three incubators. At maximum capacity, each room can accomodate up to 180 eggs, each awaiting their turn to hatch. The nursery rooms are where the chicks go immediately after hatching. Chicks are placed in temperature and humidity-controlled brooders, and this is where guests can see how these absurdly cute little helpless juveniles are fed.

When they are fully grown, chicks are transferred to the weaning room, where they are placed in cages to allow them to acclimatise to the area and each other. Here, they are taken care of until they are mature to join the rest of their family in the respective exhibits. The duckery and pheasant room, as their names suggest, are areas where water birds’ young and soft-billed young are placed until they are moved to the rest of the Park.

Guests to the BRC also get a chance to watch live streaming of avian nest activities at the breeding blocks, which are not publicly accessible. The Breeding and Research Centre opens to the public from 19 May, between 8.30am – 6pm daily. There is no additional charge to visit the Centre, but normal Park admission charges apply (Adult: $18 / Child: $12).

EARTH DAY COMMEMORATED AT JURONG BIRD PARK

Earth Day took on special meaning for some students and parents from Greenridge Primary School today.

A group of 15 students, two teachers and five parents spent the day at Jurong Bird Park assembling and painting 40 bird houses, which will be used in the Park’s African Waterfall Aviary, Jungle Jewels and Southeast Asian Birds Aviary. These nest boxes will facilitate nesting of small birds such as love birds, starlings, magpie robins, fairy blue-birds, white-rumped shamas and zebra doves at the aviaries.

They also spent some time creating awareness about Earth Day and avian conservation amongst guests who visited the Park, teaching visitors how they could, in a few easy steps, create a bird feeder out of recycled drink cartons. Visitors took home these bird feeders, which are to be placed outdoors to attract birds like the common sparrows, mynahs, and maybe even the orioles and munias.

Muhd Ariffin (left) and schoolmate Atif, both 11 years of age, screw two bird houses together at the Bird Discovery Centre.

Loh Ying Xuan (left) and Nur Syafiqah, both 11 years of age, working together to assemble a bird house at the Bird Discovery Centre.

A young guest cuts open a drink carton to make the bird feeder after receiving instructions from Madam Chai Mee Yong and her seven year old daughter, Loh Ying Jie.

Mabel Ang, 12, assists a young guest who is starting to cut open a drink carton.

Young guests enjoying the Earth Day bird feeder handicraft session.

HEARTS BLEED FOR THE BLEEDING HEART AT JURONG BIRD PARK

A Luzon bleeding heart pigeon in the South East Asia Aviary, characterised by the splash of vivid red in the centre of the white breast. PHOTO CREDITS: WILDLIFE RESERVES SINGAPORE

Singapore, 17 April 2012 – Two pairs of Luzon bleeding heart pigeons flew into Jurong Bird Park a month ago, as part of an agreement signed with Avilon Zoo (Philippines) and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR). Part of an ex-situ conservation and breeding programme instituted by the Bird Park, progenies will be released to the wild on the Polillo Islands in Philippines.

After the mandatory month long quarantine, the release of one pair of pigeons to the South-East Asia Aviary today will be witnessed by the Philippine Ambassador to Singapore, Ambassador Minda Calaguian-Cruz, and they will join the Park’s individual Luzon bleeding heart pigeon. The other pair of pigeons will be housed in a secluded, off-site breeding aviary where they will have the necessary privacy and attention of the officers at the Breeding and Research Centre (BRC).

“The Philippines deeply appreciates the commitment of Jurong Bird Park to assist in saving one of the country’s endangered species of wild birds. This collaborative project between the Philippines and Singapore is the first conservation breeding programme for the bleeding heart pigeons outside the Philippines and since the passage of the Philippines’ Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act of 2001. It is also the first ex-situ conservation project involving Philippine endemic species in the ASEAN region. We look with great interest towards the progress of this project, which aims to contribute towards the recovery and perpetuation of bleeding heart population in the Philippines and hopefully, the start of more conservation partnerships for nationally and regionally important wildlife resources. Hopefully, we can also share with the public a view of this wild bird species,” said Her Excellency, Ambassador Minda Calaguian-Cruz.

“We were concerned to hear that the wild population of the Luzon bleeding heart pigeons is under some threat. This is the first agreement the Bird Park has signed with an institution in Philippines, and we are excited to have more bleeding heart pigeons here. We currently have 16 species of pigeons in our collection, and have been breeding them successfully via parental natural incubation and artificial incubation. With our proven expertise in avian life, we are quietly confident that we will be able to release the progenies to Polillo Island in the future, helping to increase their numbers in the wild,” said Mr Raja Segran, General Manager, Jurong Bird Park.

The Luzon bleeding heart pigeons get their name from a splash of vivid red right in the centre of their white breast, with a reddish hue extending all the way down to their belly. A quiet and shy ground dweller from the primary and secondary rainforests of the central and southern parts of Luzon, and on the neighboring Polillo Islands in Philippines, this species is listed as Near Threatened on the IUCN. Their numbers in the wild are under threat from the locals, who trap them for their meat, while their unique appearance also make them a prime target for the pet trade.

Her Excellency, Philippine’s Ambassador Minda Calaguian-Cruz looks on as a Luzon bleeding heart pigeon steps out into its’ new home at the South East Asia Aviary.

Her Excellency and Ms Isabella Loh, Chief Executive Officer, WRS, peer intently as the Luzon bleeding heart pigeons are released.