DELVE INTO A MUSICAL ADVENTURE AT ZOO HOO 2012

Singapore, 22 Oct 2012— Play along with nature’s band at Zoo Hoo, when you visit Singapore Zoo! Held during the weekends of 24 November – 16 December, Zoo Hoo 2012 will take little ones into a musical discovery of the rainforest’s sights and sounds.

Young participants will be encouraged to identify the sounds of nature and understand why animals make certain noises. Then, get hands-on to create musical instruments that complement nature and join in the rainforest’s symphony of tunes.

Details at a glance
Dates: 24, 25 November and 1, 2, 8, 9, 15 and 16 December (Sat and Sun only)
Time: Various
Note: Activities are free but usual admission of $20.00 per adult and $13.00 per child between 3-12 years applies.

Highlights
A Rainforest Dance Experience
Get down and boogie, tribal-style, with our talented roving dancers! These energetic performers will be situated at the Singapore Zoo entrance to welcome those embarking on their musical rainforest adventure. Join in the fun as they show you how to get into the groove of the rainforest in their tribal-themed costumes. Don’t forget to take a photo before heading in for the rest of your adventure.

Dates: 24, 25 November and 1, 2, 8, 9, 15 and 16 December (Sat and Sun only)
Time: 9.30am and 12.30pm (30 min)
Venue: Singapore Zoo entrance

Dora and Diego Meet and Greet

Join your favourite Nickelodeon stars; Dora and Diego as they take you through the rainforest for some adventures. You can even be part of the story by making and playing your own tambourine. So come on down for endless fun and games with the dynamic duo!

Dates: 24, 25 November and 1, 2, 8, 9, 15 and 16 December (Sat and Sun only)
Time: 11.45am and 2.45pm (40 min)
Venue: Rainforest Kidzworld Amphitheatre

Mini Mid-day Musical
While you grab a bite at Ah Meng Restaurant, catch talented young singers belting out catchy jungle-themed tunes with their energetic voices.

Dates: 24, 25 November and 1, 2, 8, 9, 15 and 16 December (Sat and Sun only)
Time: 11.30am and 1.00pm (30 min performance)
Venue: Ah Meng Restaurant (Courtyard Area)

Sounds like a Wild Encounter!

Come join our trainers as they explain the link between sounds and animal behaviour. Watch as they exhibit their strong bond with their animal charges through the use of bells and clickers, and get cosy with animals like dogs, ferrets, hedgehogs and even an African grey parrot!

Dates: 24, 25 November and 1, 2, 8, 9, 15 and 16 December (Sat and Sun only)
Time: 12.15pm and 3.15pm
Venue: Rainforest Kidzworld Birthday Pavilion

Excited to make some music with our wild friends this holiday season? Then come on down to Zoo Hoo 2012: A Musical Rainforest, only at Singapore Zoo!

A WILD AND INTERACTIVE CHILDREN’S DAY AT SINGAPORE ZOO

Singapore, 5 Oct 2012 — Young ones visiting Singapore Zoo on Children’s Day today went wild as they joined Dr Ooz – ultimate wildlife geek and adventurer – on an exciting one-of-a kind field trip into the forests of Singapore, uncovering nature right at our doorstep!

Joining Dr Ooz on her interactive journey was her quirky friend Dr SNooZe. Find out what surprise Dr SNooZe received from a mysterious stranger as the pair journeyed through the Singapore ‘jungles’ learning about native wildlife and pet responsibility. There’s still time to catch them this weekend!

DETAILS
Date: 6 and 7 Oct 2012 (Sat and Sun)
Time: 3.00pm – 3.30pm
Venue: Rainforest Kidzworld Amphitheatre, Singapore Zoo, 80 Mandai Lake Road, Singapore 729826
Note: Activity is free but park admission of $20 per adult and $13 per child between 3-12 years applies

Dr Ooz contemplates a stick insect that’s taken up residence on her hat…

…while Dr SNooZe pretends to be one…

Dr Ooz discovers a many-legged denizen of the rainforest.

The pair of quirky friends, with the help of many little legs (and bodies) demonstrate
how many-legged creatures walk.

Dr SNooZe engages the help of a young visitor to remove a mysterious parcel.

SINGAPORE ZOO’S PRIMATE KINGDOM WELCOMES PRINCE OF PEACE

28 IS THE MAGIC NUMBER FOR THE ENDANGERED DOUC LANGUR TROOP

Singapore, 3 Aug 2012 — Recent visitors to Singapore Zoo might have seen bright flashes of red, gold and grey flitting through the trees at Primate Kingdom. Eagle-eyed guests may even have seen a small, duller flash darting about, with a bigger ball of colour following close behind.

This is no trapeze artist at the Zoo, but a precocious new addition to the 15-strong Douc langur family that resides at Primate Kingdom. An, which means “peace” in both Vietnamese and Chinese, is the 28th successful birth that we have welcomed since 1988 and mum Sawadee’s second baby. Coincidentally, An arrived at our zoo on 28 April this year.

Baby An makes a leap for the next branch as mum Sawadee follows closely behind.

Though red-shanked Douc langurs are classified as monkeys, their multi-coloured coats (consisting red, black, white, grey and gold highlights), complete with blue eyes, have earned them the title of “costumed ape”.

At just slightly over three months old, Baby An’s body colouration is lighter than mum and the other adults. As he grows older, his coat will darken as his face lightens, achieving adult colouration at 10 months.

While the Douc langurs in Singapore Zoo enjoy a protected environment, ample food and a large, naturalistic habitat, the same cannot be said for their counterparts in the wild. Native to the rainforests of Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam, they are listed as endangered on the IUCN* Red List of Threatened Species.

Locals hunt this monkey for food and its body parts, which are used in the preparation of traditional medicines. The Douc langur’s beauty has also become its undoing as it is sometimes hunted to sustain the international pet trade. During the Vietnam War, its forest habitat was also destroyed by defoliating agents and bombs.

“It is fitting that we name this new baby after the word ‘peace’,” said Mr Alagappasamy Chellaiyah, Assistant Director, Zoology, Singapore Zoo, “It is our hope that humans eventually make peace with this species, and realise the importance of conserving, rather than killing them.”

Baby An hitches a ride with mum – baby Douc langurs cling to their mothers instinctively after they’re born, and achieve greater independence from them between 8-18 months of age.

Sawadee shares a quiet moment with her son while perched atop the vines of their habitat.

Singapore Zoo’s Primate Kingdom is home to 15 of these beautiful primates. Of the 28 babies born here, some have been sent to zoos overseas as part of the Zoo’s ex-situ conservation efforts through its worldwide exchange programme. In March this year, Wani, a female Douc langur, was sent to Yokohama Zoo on a breeding loan. She will be joined by another Douc langur later this year.

*International Union for the Conservation of Nature

PHOTO CREDITS: WILDLIFE RESERVES SINGAPORE

WILDLIFE RESERVES SINGAPORE CELEBRATES NATION’S BIRTHDAY

AUGUST BABIES ENTER FREE AT JURONG BIRD PARK AND SINGAPORE ZOO

Singapore, 30 Jul 2012 – Wildlife Reserves Singapore’s parks will be celebrating the nation’s birthday with a month-long promotion in August. Singaporeans and Permanent Residents born in the same month as Singapore will be offered free admission at Jurong Bird Park and Singapore Zoo. To redeem, simply flash your identification card at the respective ticketing counters.

Details at a glance:
Date: 1 – 31 August 2012
Time: 8:30am – 6:00pm
Venue: Singapore Zoo and Jurong Bird Park

Terms and conditions:
• Valid from 1 – 31 Aug 2012
• Valid for Singaporeans and Permanent Residents only
• Proof of identity required
• Not valid with other offers and online purchase. Redemption valid at point of purchase only
• Promotion is only valid at Jurong Bird Park and Singapore Zoo
• Offer is not exchangeable for cash
• Does not include tram ride at Jurong Bird Park and Singapore Zoo

National Day is the perfect time to spend with loved ones, so why not make it a family affair with our array of activities for every age?

Jurong Bird Park Highlights
Take the kids to the Birdz of Play area at Jurong Bird Park, where they can flap their imaginary wings at Singapore’s only bird-themed playground. Cool off in the tropical heat at the wet play area, which even comes with a giant tipping bucket that will get them wet and wild!

Fancy an educational but equally fun activity? Take them to the newly opened Breeding & Research Centre, where you’ll find out all about the breeding and nursing processes that take place at the Bird Park.

Explore the various delights that the Bird Park has to offer, from the majestic African Waterfall Aviary with over 1,000 free-flying native African birds to the Lory Loft, where birds will quite literally eat out of your hands! Also not to be missed is the Kings of the Skies show, which will take you back in time to appreciate the ancient medieval art of falconry.

Have these colourful winged wonders quite literally eating out of your hands at the Bird Park’s Lory loft.

The newly opened Birdz of Play offers hours of splashing-good fun!

Singapore Zoo Highlights
Make getting up early a joyous affair with Singapore Zoo’s Jungle Breakfast with Wildlife. This programme allows visitors to come up close and personal to animals such as elephants and orang utans, or even pet a snake – all this while enjoying a sumptuous buffet breakfast with an international spread. After filling yourselves up, embark on a journey into the world’s best rainforest zoo, with open-concept exhibits that allow you to come even closer to nature.

Dine alongside animals like the orang utan at Singapore Zoo’s Jungle Breakfast with Wildlife programme.


Watch our orang utans having fun at their free-ranging exhibit – the largest of its kind in the world. Equipped with vines and branches to allow them to swing around freely, the exhibit also has platforms and hammocks, which stimulate these highly intelligent apes mentally. Step into the Fragile Forest, where you’ll be greeted by creatures such as ring-tailed lemurs, flying foxes, mousedeer and sloths, all at arms-length!

Watch our free-ranging orang utans live and play at their exhibit.

Come up close to our Madagascar natives, the ring-tailed lemurs at the Fragile Forest.

BIG AND BEAUTIFUL BUNDLE BOUNDS INTO SINGAPORE ZOO

BABY WHITE RHINOCEROS IS 13TH TO BE BORN HERE

SINGAPORE, 11 Jul 2012 — Singapore Zoo recently celebrated the birth of its 13th white rhino, an adorable and curious youngster named Jumaane.

Jumaane, which means “born on Tuesday”, arrived on 10 April this year, which of course, is a Tuesday. Weighing approximately 70kg at birth, he is undoubtedly one of the biggest bundles of joy Singapore Zoo has welcomed to date.

Jumaane (front) was born on 10 April 2012, weighing a hefty 70kg. At birth, rhino calves can weigh between 40-70kg. Over the years, he will grow to an estimated male adult weight of 2,300kg.

Baby Jumaane can be seen exploring or rolling around in the mud in his spacious exhibit at the Wild Africa region of the Zoo. His mother, Shova is always close by though, keeping a watchful eye on her precious baby.

Prolific yet protective: 28-year old Shova stays close by while her baby finds his footing around their exhibit. Jumaane is Shova’s seventh calf.

Baby Jumaane excitedly enjoys exploring his exhibit, which is landscaped to resemble the white rhino’s African habitat.

Crash course: Jumaane is already building bonds with the other rhino residents. Here, he is sharing a nosey moment with 2-year old female Kito, who was also born in Singapore Zoo [Note: A group of rhinos is known as ‘a crash of rhinos’]

White rhinos are considered near threatened in the wild on the IUCN’s* Red List of Threatened species. Together with the Indian rhino, it is the largest species of land mammal after the elephant. They are hunted for their horns, which some believe as having medicinal properties. In fact, the horns are actually made of keratin, the same type of protein that makes up hair and fingernails, and there has been no scientific evidence to suggest that they are a cure for anything.

Singapore Zoo currently has eight of these majestic creatures in its collection, and boasts the most number of white rhinos bred in a single zoo in Southeast Asia. Of the 13 babies born here, some have been sent to Indonesia, Australia, Thailand and Korea as part of the Zoo’s ex-situ conservation efforts through its worldwide exchange programme.

Meet the white rhinos during their daily 1.15pm feeding session—the first ever in Asia—and experience an up close and personal encounter with these giants.

*International Union for the Conservation of Nature
PHOTO CREDITS: WILDLIFE RESERVES SINGAPORE

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

ASPIRING YOUNG OLYMPIANS TAKE SINGAPORE ZOO BY STORM

Singapore, 20 Jun 2012 — While the rest of the world gears up for the London Olympics, aspiring young Olympians got into the spirit of the games at Singapore Zoo’s Zoolympix 2012. Themed “Super Survivors”, this event aims to challenge our young contestants to see how they match up to our amazing creatures of the wild in various special talents and abilities.

Cheered on by her family, a young contender aims to memorise key places in the Elephants of Asia habitat to see how she fares against the elephant, one of the animals with the best memory in the world

Scurry, scurry like a naked mole rat in the quest to find all the carrots while blindfolded!

The popular Pollinator Pals station challenges participants to race against time to transfer as much ‘pollen’ as possible to flowers within 30 seconds.

Think you’re as “Fast-as a Patas”? This station will test your speed against the world’s fastest primate as you navigate through an obstacle course to the finish!

A young Zoolympian proudly shows off her completed Zoolympix passport

Zoolympix 2012 will be on at Singapore Zoo every day until 24 June 2012. So come on down to Singapore Zoo for a fun and educational time for everyone in the family!

Details:
Date: 16 – 24 June 2012
Venue: Singapore Zoo (various locations), 80 Mandai Lake Road, Singapore 729826
Time: 10:00am – 4:00pm
Fee: $2 per Zoolympix passport (available at Registration booth at start of TreetopsTrail)
Note: Normal admission rates of $20.00 for adults and $13.00 for children between 3-12 years apply

PHOTO CREDITS: WILDLIFE RESERVES SINGAPORE

A MIRACLE TO CALL OUR OWN – DADDY’S LITTLE GOLDEN BOY

- DAD’S PERSEVERANCE PAYS OFF AS GOLDEN-HEADED LION TAMARIN BABY THRIVES AGAINST ALL ODDS
- THIS FATHER’S DAY, TAKE DAD TO MEET HEALTHY AND ACTIVE BABY AND FAMILY IN THEIR HOME

Baby, now healthy and active, loves exploring his exhibit on his own though his watchful parents still stand close by. Photo credit: Ramlan Bin Saruan for Wildlife Reserves Singapore

Singapore, 15 June 2012 — Born to a father thought past his reproductive years, keepers were doubtful that this baby would survive, especially after his twin brother was found dead the next morning.

But survive he did, and our golden boy, born 23 March 2012, is now ready to meet visitors from his exhibit in Singapore Zoo.

The road to health was an arduous one. His father, Rainbow is now 14 years old and was thought unable to sire any children by keepers. Golden-headed lion tamarins usually have a lifespan of about 12 years. This is suspected to be the reason why the March twins were born extremely frail.

The following morning, one of the twins lost the fight to live. The remaining baby was also looking weak and thought unlikely to survive. Things were not looking good indeed.

Golden-headed lion tamarins usually live up to 12 years old, but feisty Rainbow is now a father at 14. Photo credit: Wildlife Reserves Singapore

Thankfully, Rainbow rose to the occasion, carrying the youngster determinedly. Keepers noticed that the baby would ride low on Rainbow’s hip with a straight tail, unlike healthy babies who would curl theirs. Doting father Rainbow stubbornly refused to give up, and picked up the baby every time he fell off.

Animals sometimes abandon their young if they are weak or sickly – an evolutionary mechanism for survival in the wild. However, it is rare for the male to continue carrying the baby if it does not look like it has a good chance at survival, and such young often are left to die.

Rainbow’s patience eventually paid off; Baby’s mother also started nursing him with more confidence and started regularly assisting in baby-caring duties. In the wild though, fathers are the ones who shoulder the bulk of nurturing babies. Mothers would only suckle and occasionally carry their young.

Though Baby was born weak and sickly, Rainbow refused to give up on his son. Photo credit: Wildlife Reserves Singapore

“It is always heartwarming to welcome new births to our zoo family. This baby is even more special because of the extraordinary circumstances that he had to go through to survive. He is a true fighter,” said Mr Alagappasamy Chellaiyah, Assistant Director, Zoology, Singapore Zoo.

Baby is now healthier and more active than ever, and can be seen exploring his exhibit on his own. His protective parents continue to keep a close eye on him.

Rainbow is not the only veteran in our zoo to have children of his own. In February this year, our 20-year old West Indian manatee, Eva, gave birth to her seventh baby, Valentine despite already being a grandmother to two.

The golden-headed lion tamarin is a species endemic to Brazil and is found only in certain areas of the state of Bahia. This tamarin species is listed as endangered in the wild on the IUCN* Red List of Threatened Species, with its main threat to survival being the destruction of its forest home by human activities such as farming and mining. Currently, there are believed to be about 6,000 – 14,000 golden-headed lion tamarins in the wild.

Come visit Singapore Zoo’s newest golden boy and his doting family in their exhibit at Tram Stop 2 today, as we celebrate Father’s Day this June!

*International Union for Conservation of Nature

YOU CAN BE AN OLYMPIAN TOO AT SINGAPORE ZOO THIS JUNE

JOIN IN THE RACE FOR THE SUPER SURVIVOR AT ZOOLYMPIX 2012!

Pollinator Pals is back by popular demand from Zoolympix 2011!

Indulge in face/body painting and wear your favourite animal on you at Zoolympix 2012

Singapore, 4 June 2012 — Zoolympix 2012 celebrates the survival of the fittest in the animal kingdom. This year, we highlight the champions in the world of primates. Get ready to pit your skills against our animal Olympians in a series of survival challenges that test your speed, agility, dexterity and brain power!

Race to the six game stations around the Zoo and redeem a stamp each time you successfully clear the challenge. Participants who achieve the highest scores of the day at each station will be inducted into the Zoolympix Hall of Fame. All participants also get to take home a souvenir in the Sure-win Lucky Dip and stand a chance at winning attractive prizes in the Grand Lucky draw.

For those who prefer a more relaxing option, be sure to join in our face painting and badge making activities or swing by the awareness booth to discover amazing primate facts!

Details:
Date: 16 – 24 June 2012
Venue: Singapore Zoo (various locations), 80 Mandai Lake Road, Singapore 729826
Time: 10:00am – 4:00pm
Fee: $2 per Zoolympix passport (available at Registration booth at start of TreetopsTrail)
Note: Normal admission rates of $20.00 for adults and $13.00 for children between 3-12 years apply

Activities:
Awareness Booth: All about Primates!
Singapore Zoo is home to 39 unique species of primates, many of which are endangered. This diverse group boasts a range of adaptions such as opposable thumbs and toes, as well as binocular and colour vision, which truly make them one of the strongest contenders in the survival game.

But even our closest cousins, known for their intelligence and dexterity, have fallen prey to human activities such as logging and hunting. Come learn all about the last three remaining primates in Singapore – the slow loris, long-tailed macaque and banded leaf monkey, and find out more about Singapore Zoo’s primate conservation efforts, as well as how you can do your part to help our closest cousins!

There will also be a special game station that will test just how much you know about them.

Venue: Start of Treetops Trail

Survival Challenge Stations

1. Tools Thumbs Up!
The thumb is an often under-appreciated part of our body, but do you know how important it is in our daily functions? Certain primates, such as the old world monkeys and great apes, in addition to humans, are some of the only animals equipped with opposable thumbs, which are essential for fine and accurate motor skills.

In this game, participants will pit their dexterity against that of an orang utan’s and pick out insects from a piece of log, using just a stick.

Venue: Sumatran Orang Utan exhibit (near island free-ranging area)

2. Blind Burrowers
Naked mole rats are living proof that beauty is truly skin-deep. Though rather unattractive, these rodents come out tops in the battle of survival, living up to four times as long as their rodent relatives.

Come experience the hidden life of a naked mole rat as you locate all the carrots in the tunnel in the shortest time, blindfolded!

Venue: Naked Mole Rat exhibit

3. Knuckle Knock-Out!
Ever wondered how chimpanzees, our closest living relatives, live, work and play? Well, you can start by learning about how they move around. Apes such as the chimpanzee, bonobo and gorilla often engage in knuckle-walking – a trait that allows them to use their hands for the dual purpose of moving on land while still being able to retain their long fingers for climbing trees and manipulating food.

Armed with gloves, participants get to experience life as a chimpanzee as they navigate a route on their knuckles and feet in the shortest time possible.

Venue: Boat Dock 2

4. Pollinator Pals

Back by popular demand from Zoolympix 2011, Pollinator Pals challenges participants to race against time and transfer as much ‘pollen’ as possible to flowers within 30 seconds.

Pollinators like butterflies and bees are essential in ensuring the reproduction and survival of plants. How well will you fare as one of these fascinating fluttery creatures? Find out here!

Venue: Garden with a View

5. Fast-as a Patas!
How fast can you move on all fours? Well, the patas monkey can hit up to 55km/h! That’s faster than the swiftest human being on Earth (44km/h) on two feet!

Come pit your speed against this amazing monkey as you race your way through an obstacle course to cross hurdles, collect fruit items and sprint to the finishing line as fast as you can!

Venue: Garden Pavilion

6. Mammoth Memory
Think you have a good memory? Pit your brainpower against our elephants – known as one of the animals with the best memory skills in the world.

In this game, participants get to see how they fare against the elephant, by being challenged with the task of remembering the key places in an elephant’s habitat.

Venue: Elephants of Asia (Ele-fun Play Area)

SUPERHEROES TO LAND IN SINGAPORE ZOO THIS WEEKEND

Singapore, 1 Jun 2012 — Forget The Avengers or Spiderman; these super heroes have a bigger mission at hand—to save our environment from further destruction. Hailing from Australia, the Enviro-Mentals will be descending upon Singapore Zoo this Sunday, 3 June 2012 to help spread the message of conservation through song and dance!

(From left) Flick, Phoenix, Newton and Pia are part of an all-new team with a
mission to save the world!

The Enviro-Mentals are off on their next mission to save the Universe!

Phoenix and Flick get groovy with the crowd at Singapore Zoo.

The Enviro-Mentals want YOU to do your part to save the environment.

While you’re in Singapore Zoo to catch them, enjoy all the activities of our Primate Affair event as well!

Details:
Date: 3 June 2012 (Sun)
Venue: Rainforest Kidzworld Amphitheatre, Singapore Zoo, 80 Mandai Lake Road, Singapore 729826
Time: 10.30am
Note: Normal admission rates of $20.00 for adults and $13.00 for children between 3-12 years apply