CONSERVATION OF PANGOLINS GIVEN HOPE AT INAUGURAL ‘SCALING UP PANGOLIN CONSERVATION’ CONFERENCE

First ever conference by IUCN Pangolin Specialist Group and Wildlife Reserves Singapore to be a global voice in the protection and conservation of pangolins.

Pangolin and young

Singapore/London, 19 June 2013 – Wildlife Reserves Singapore and the International Union for Conservation of Nature Species Survival Commission (IUCN-SSC) Pangolin Specialist Group have come together to organise the first ever global conference on the rather shy, nocturnal pangolins which for years have been under threat from poachers for their meat and scales.

Themed ‘Scaling up Pangolin Conservation’, the four day conference from 24 – 27 June held at Night Safari aims to devise an overarching conservation strategy to improve their conservation efforts with specific and measurable initiatives, and to provide input into formal IUCN Red List assessments to reassess their status to further protect the species.

Professor Jonathan Baillie, Conservation Programmes Director at the Zoological Society of London and Co-Chair of the IUCN-SSC Pangolin Specialist Group said, “This is a landmark event in pangolin conservation, we will have 50 researchers from around the world gathered to set a road-map for conserving pangolins over the next decade. Especially important here is formulating ways to reduce demand for pangolins in Asia.”

While they may look like walking pine-cones, pangolins, or scaly-anteaters as they are also known, are one of the most trafficked mammals in Asia, and increasingly, in Africa. Globally, they are illegally traded in their tens of thousands each year.

This trade is primarily to China and Vietnam where they are considered a delicacy and their scales used in traditional medicines. In response to the magnitude of trade and other threats including loss of habitat and ill-considered land management practices, the IUCN-SSC Pangolin Specialist Group, an expert group of pangolin conservationists, was established in February 2012.

“Rapid action is urgently needed if pangolins in Africa and Asia are to be conserved given the rate at which they are being exploited for East Asian luxury markets,” commented Dan Challender, Co-Chair of the IUCN-SSC Pangolin Specialist Group and doctoral candidate at the University of Kent’s Durrell Institute of Conservation and Ecology.

The inaugural pangolin conference is part of Wildlife Reserves Conservation Fund’s (WRSCF) efforts to conserve endangered native wildlife. Since its inception in 2009, the Fund has supported various projects and conferences.

Dr Cheng Wen-Haur, Chief Life Sciences Officer at Wildlife Reserves Singapore said, “For years WRS has been working on helping our critically endangered species locally, via research and captive breeding. We are very pleased to co-organise and host this event, bringing together the foremost pangolin experts in the world, striving to find a strategy that will help this group of unique animals globally.”

To further raise public awareness to the plight faced by the pangolins, a free for public seminar will be held on 28 June from 12.30pm – 4pm at the Forest Lodge in Singapore Zoo with a series of four talks by experts:

1. Trade in wildlife for meat and medicines pushing Southeast Asian species towards extinction by Chris Shepherd, Acting Regional Director for TRAFFIC in South-East Asia
2. From the IUCN SSC and new technology for addressing illegal wildlife trade by Jonathan Baillie, Conservation Programmes Director at the Zoological Society of London and Co-Chair of the IUCN-SSC Pangolin Specialist Group
3. The pangolin trade in Asia by Dan Challender, Co-Chair of the IUCN-SSC Pangolin Specialist Group and doctoral candidate at the University of Kent’s Durrell Institute of Conservation and Ecology
4. Pangolins of Singapore: In situ and ex situ conservation efforts by Razak Jaffar, Assistant Curator, Night Safari, Wildlife Reserves Singapore

As there are limited seats to the public seminar available, interested participants are advised to RSVP by 21 June to Yap Xinli at xinli.yap@wrs.com.sg.

Additionally, to extend the message on pangolin conservation even further to the visitors at Night Safari, an outreach programme has been planned. Visitors to Night Safari on 21, 22, 28 and 29 June will be able to hear more about pangolins from the keepers at a short 15minute session starting from 9.15pm at the Pangolin Exhibit along the Fishing Cat Trail. Over the years, Night Safari has fine-tuned captive management of these unassuming creatures and has achieved a global first: The world’s first institution successfully to breed and raise the Sunda pangolin in captivity.

The ‘SCALING UP PANGOLIN CONSERVATION’ CONFERENCE has been made possible thanks to the generous support of Wildlife Reserves Singapore, Wildlife Reserves Singapore Conservation Fund, the Zoological Society of London, San Antonio Zoo, the Houston Zoo, TRAFFIC and Ocean Park Conservation Foundation, Hong Kong.

SINGAPORE ZOO RECEIVES HIGHEST HONOUR IN SERVICE EXCELLENCE

Recipient of the Singapore Service Excellence Medallion is recognised as most outstanding organization that has demonstrated pinnacle levels of customer satisfaction and organisational service excellence.

Singapore Zoo was the recipient of the Singapore Service Excellence Medallion

Singapore, 11 April 2013 – Singapore Zoo has received the Singapore Service Excellence Medallion, a top honour that marks its superior guest satisfaction and organisational service excellence.

The award ceremony was held in the presence of guest-of-honour Mr Tharman Shanmugaratnam, Deputy Prime Minister of Singapore and Minister of Finance.

Mr Lee Meng Tat, CEO, Wildlife Reserves Singapore, said, “Singapore Zoo turns 40 this year – and receiving the Singapore Service Excellence Medallion is a tribute to all the staff who have served in the Singapore Zoo and who made this wildlife attraction a national icon and internationally recognized brand.”

He added, “Singapore Zoo aims to give our guests a unique and meaningful wildlife experience. To achieve this, our team is always happy to go the extra mile to provide a fun-filled, interactive, and wholesome experience for our visitors. Together we hope to inspire an appreciation for wildlife in everyone that comes through our gates.”

The Singapore Service Excellence Medallion represents the epitome of service excellence, and Singapore’s highest accolade, that acknowledges outstanding achievements by organizations and individuals in inspiring and sustaining a culture of service excellence in Singapore. It is organized by agencies of the national GEMS Up movement (Go Extra Mile For Service) and aims to catalyze and inspire a transformation in service amongst organisations in Singapore and to produce worthy role models for all to emulate. GEMS Up Movement is represented by five agencies – SPRING Singapore, Singapore Tourism Board, Singapore Workforce Development Agency, National Trades Union Congress and the Institute of Service Excellence at Singapore Management University.

Singapore Zoo is the 2013 Medallion Recipient for Organisations, a pinnacle honour presented to the most outstanding organisation that has demonstrated pinnacle levels of customer satisfaction and organisational service excellence.

Ms Quak Sim Hui, assistant manager of operations, Singapore Zoo, was also honoured at the award ceremony as a finalist for the medallion for individuals, a category that recognises nominees from organisations who have delivered exceptional service and exemplified the organisation’s mission, vision and values.

Singapore Zoo has frequently been named amongst the best zoos of the world, and with its award winning open concept, is often referred to as the world’s best rainforest zoo. Through the years, the Zoo’s mission has been to inspire an appreciation of nature through exciting and meaningful wildlife experiences, with a determined focus on the three pillars of education, recreation, and conservation and research.

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).

WILDLIFE RESERVES SINGAPORE CONSERVATION FUND OPENS GRANT APPLICATIONS

AREAS FOR CONSIDERATION: NATIVE WILDLIFE CONSERVATION FOCUSING ON BIRDLIFE AND OTHER ANIMALS IN DANGER, AND IMPACT OF CLIMATE CHANGE ON CONSERVATION

Singapore, 10 December 2009 – Wildlife Reserves Singapore Conservation Fund (WRSCF) announces that it is now accepting grant applications for project proposals from interested parties working toward conserving endangered native wildlife. The grant applications will be for conservation and related research work on birds, native wildlife in danger and impact of climate change on conservation, in Singapore.

“As a conservation fund with the objective to sustain endangered native wildlife and ecosystems, we encourage like-minded individuals or organisations to come forward and submit their proposed scope of study of wildlife that are unique to our nation. From these efforts and studies, we hope to make concrete progress on the conservation front and to raise public awareness of native species,” said Ms Fanny Lai, Group CEO, Wildlife Reserves Singapore.

WRSCF is designed to provide accessible and flexible grants for persons who want to contribute to the conservation of native wildlife species. To be eligible, the scope of study needs to include at least one of these elements: conservation-related scientific research, direct field conservation work, education and public awareness, human-animal conflict resolution or capacity building and the sharing of best practices.

Thus far, National University of Singapore’s (NUS) Ah Meng Memorial Conservation Fund is the first grant recipient of $500,000 over a five-year period. The amount will support NUS students and faculty members conducting academic research and studies pertaining to endangered wildlife.

WRSCF grant applications will be reviewed by the Specialist Panel comprising scientists, academics and representatives from government agencies such as National Parks Board (NParks), Agri-food and Veterinary Authority of Singapore (AVA), National Institute of Education (NIE), NUS, Raffles Museum of Biodiversity Research (RMBR) and Nature Society of Singapore (NSS).

With the establishment of WRSCF, parties keen to embark on projects contributing to the conservation of native endangered wildlife will have a financial avenue to support their cause. Application forms and guidelines can be downloaded from
http://www.wrscf.org.sg
.

NEW ORGANISATIONAL STRUCTURE AT WILDLIFE RESERVES SINGAPORE

New Structure Streamlined Across Jurong BirdPark, Night Safari and Singapore Zoo Derives Greater Synergies

Singapore, 19 February 2008 – The organizational and management structures at the Jurong Bird Park (JBP), Night Safari (NS) and Singapore Zoo (SZ) have been integrated and streamlined to derive greater synergies between the three parks, under the leadership of Wildlife Reserves Singapore (WRS)’s newly-appointed Group
CEO, Ms Fanny Lai.

The new organizational structure, which will take effect from 1st March 2008 comprises six divisions, viz:-

- Life Science, Conservation, Research & Education;
- Commercial Operations;
- Marketing, Sales and Communication;
- Park Infrastructure & Development;
- Finance & Corporate Services and
- Human Resources.

“This new integrated structure optimizes efficiencies and allows WRS greater synergies in resources and services. In turn, we plan to raise the bar for service excellence in delivering exceptional wildlife experiences for visitors to all our three parks while supporting our other two key pillars of research and conservation as well as education,” said Ms Lai.

In line with this organizational restructuring, WRS plans to appoint a General Manager for each of its three parks.

While all current managers will stay the course at WRS, Dr Wong Hon Mun, Executive Director of JBP has decided to take a break and relinquish his current position by the end of February.

“Dr Wong had contributed greatly to the success of JBP and we are sad to lose him. However, we respect his decision and wish him the very best,” added Ms Lai. WRS has started the search for new general managers but anticipates that it would take at least six months before all positions are filled.

“We will continue our relentless efforts to deliver a holistic, integrated education and learning opportunities through exciting, engaging and meaningful wildlife experiences to all our visitors,” stressed Ms Lai.