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

INDERA THE SUN BEAR’S JOURNEY TO THE WEST

EXCHANGE PROGRAMME WITH UK’S RARE SPECIES CONSERVATION CENTRE WILL BOOST CAPTIVE BREEDING OF THE ENDANGERED SPECIES

Singapore, 28 June 2011 – Singapore Zoo’s juvenile Malayan sun bear has arrived safe and sound in the United Kingdom and has made himself right at home at the Rare Species Conservation Centre (RSCC) in Kent.

Within minutes of settling in, the one-year-old was already eating fruit. Being young and adventurous, the curious sun bear also explored his new enclosure by sniffing out every nook and cranny, and was climbing and playing with enrichment devices almost immediately after being introduced to his new home.

Indera’s new ‘mate’ at the centre’s sun bear exhibit is Charlotte, a four-year-old female born in Cologne Zoo in Germany. Keepers at RSCC hope to kick start a breeding programme with the pair when Indera reaches sexual maturity in the next two years.

“Charlotte, however, was at first apprehensive about Indera and showed some aggression towards him. However, the little one stood his ground and rose on two feet to show he was not going to be intimidated. Such confidence is rarely seen in young sun bears and staff at RSCC have high hopes for him as a mate for Charlotte,” said Todd Dalton, Director of RSCC.

His journey to the UK was arranged in the summer to help him adapt more easily to the new surroundings. Both bears have a temperature controlled ‘house’ in the exhibit which keeps them warm in the winter.

Indera’s transfer from Singapore Zoo to RSCC is part of an exchange programme between the centre and Wildlife Reserves Singapore (WRS), which also manages Jurong Bird Park, Night Safari and the upcoming River Safari. These animal exchanges boost genetic diversity by ensuring the survival of captive populations of endangered species.

Sun bears are found primarily in the tropical rainforests of Southeast Asia. Though relatively diminutive in size and cuddly-looking, these animals can be aggressive in the wild, and are among the most dangerous creatures in the forest. Humans pose the biggest threat to their existence – deforestation and logging have led to their habitat loss. They are also poached for their parts, e.g. fur, paws, or bile, and many young sun bears are trapped for the illegal pet trade. International laws have made any commercial trade in the bear or its body parts illegal, and they have been listed as a species ‘vulnerable’ to extinction.

Besides WRS’ ongoing breeding programme, it has also been involved in overseas research and conservation projects, including a field research project in the Danum Valley region of Sabah to gather data on the ecology of the sun bear and its prospects for survival in disrupted forest habitats.

Photo courtesy of Balazs Buzas and Rare Species Conservation Trust - Indera explores his new home.

Photo courtesy of Balazs Buzas and Rare Species Conservation Trust - Like all adventurous young bears, Indera sniffs out his environment.

Photo courtesy of Balazs Buzas and Rare Species Conservation Trust - Indera plays with the various enrichment devices in his enclosure.