WILDLIFE RESERVES SINGAPORE – SINGAPORE AIRLINES CARGO PTE LTD PARTNERSHIP

Wildlife Reserves Singapore (WRS) and Singapore Airlines Cargo Pte Ltd (SIA Cargo) have formed a partnership to jointly promote wildlife conservation. SIA Cargo is WRS’ partner in the freightage of wildlife to zoos globally to boost the gene pool of endangered animals. The Agreement is for three years from 1 February 2008.

The first shipment on SIA Cargo will be Singapore Zoo’s two local-born chimpanzees destined for Mystic Monkeys and Feathers Zoo in Johannesburg, South Africa. The chimpanzees were freighted on SQ478 earlier today.

“Singapore Zoo is delighted that we have a partner in SIA Cargo, who shares our zeal for wildlife conservation. With SIA Cargo’s outstanding track record of serving more than 73 cities in 38 countries, this partnership promises to accomplish further headway in boosting the population of endangered species through our animal exchange programme with global zoo networks,” said Mr Biswajit Guha, Assistant Director for Zoology, Singapore Zoo.

“SIA Cargo is pleased to partner WRS to promote wildlife conservation with WRS. Besides boosting the population of animals on the endangered list, wildlife conservation supports the Company’s policy to promote a greener world. The exchange of animals with other reputed zoos in the world will add to the varied attractions at the Singapore Zoo and further enhance it as a premier and exciting destination for Singaporeans and tourists alike.

Our extensive route network enables us to ship the animals to major cities in the world and we have a successful history in the safe carriage of animals” said Mr Tan Tiow Kor, the Airline’s Senior Vice President.

Successful captive breeding programmes

" Mr Guha added, “Singapore Zoo has one of the most successful captive breeding programmes, made possible with exceptional husbandry by the zoology team whose patience, commitment and astute understanding helped boost the population of some of the most critically endangered animals.” The two Singapore-bred chimpanzees, born in August 1999 and May 2000, are testament to the Zoo’s outstanding husbandry practices.

Last year alone, the Zoo successfully bred 93 animals, including endangered animals such as the Douc langur and pygmy hippopotamus. Animals which have been relocated to boost the gene pool of the species globally included Sang Raja the Singapore-born Asian elephant to Cologne Zoo on September 28, 2004, a Caribbean manatee on January 12, 2006, as well as Ah Meng’s son Hsing Hsing, who was sent to Perth Zoo on September 22, 1983.

With freightage, travel duration for animals is almost halved and SIA Cargo’s fleet of 14 B747-400 freighters ensures safe and timely transfer of the animals. In addition to the travel duration, the partnership would allow WRS to allocate their resources more efficiently.

Background on chimpanzees

One of the four great apes, chimpanzees are highly intelligent and can be found in the forests of 21 African countries. Chimps as they are commonly referred to are among the few animals known to use tools for food. To enjoy a tasty snack of insects, they would attempt and successfully get termites out from a mound by inserting a blade of grass or twig and then gently pulling it out and feasting on the insects gathered on the twig.

Singapore Zoo encourages the chimpanzees to ‘forage’ for food in a similar manner as in the wild by regular engaging them in enrichment activities such as providing puzzle boxes filled with treats and having an artificial termite mound filled with honey or condensed milk within their habitat. There are 12 chimpanzees in Singapore Zoo. This is not the first time we have participated in an animal exchange programme for these animals.

In October 2005, four chimpanzees were sent to Arignar Anna Zoological Park in India.