Visit Singapore Zoo: October 2008

Wednesday, October 29, 2008

Zoo...phonics anyone?

http://www.zoo-phonics.com.sg

Isn't it wonderful to see your child excel?

We think so, too! That's exactly why we have the Zoo-phonics School here in Singapore.

For nearly nineteen years, Char and Gigi two award-winning veteran American teachers, have put their heart and soul into the program, developing, refining and advocating the Zoo-phonics methodology. Today, their highly-acclaimed programme is used successfully in over 6000 schools worldwide.

At Zoo-phonics School Singapore, we present you with this playful, unique, effective approach that will have your child well on the way to reading success in just a few sessions.

We invite you to join us as we can't wait to share Zoo-phonics with you and hear you talk triumphantly about your little 'reading champ'.

New Nov/Dec 2008 Holiday Programmes are now available.

Wednesday, October 15, 2008

Next Generation Technologies for Next Generation Learning

First five FutureSchools Partner Four Consortia to Develop Next Generation Infocomm Solutions in Education

Imagine immersive learning environments that can mimic different kinds of scenarios in the classroom. Without having to visit the Singapore Zoo, Science students can, for example, immerse themselves in a 4-Dimensional (4D) environment and observe a lion’s behaviour, record it and share the information with fellow students. Such highly immersive and interactive solutions will soon be a reality for Singapore’s pioneer batch of FutureSchools, when fully implemented by 2012.

Announced in May 2008, by the Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore (IDA) and the Ministry of Education (MOE), four consortia have been selected to design and deploy next generation infocomm-enabled solutions for five FutureSchools, namely, Beacon Primary School, Canberra Primary School, Crescent Girls’ School, Hwa Chong Institution and Jurong Secondary School.

However nothing beats the REAL thing! Visit the Singapore Zoo this school Holiday!

Sunday, October 05, 2008

Zoo Animals being Attacked

Australia - A 7-year-old boy broke into a popular Outback zoo, fed a string of animals to the resident crocodile and bashed several lizards to death with a rock, the zoo's director said Friday.

The 30-minute rampage, caught on the zoo's security camera, happened early Wednesday after the boy jumped a security fence at the Alice Springs Reptile Center in central Australia, said zoo director Rex Neindorf.

The child then went on a killing spree, bashing three lizards to death with a rock, including the zoo's beloved, 20-year-old goanna, which he then fed to "Terry," an 11-foot, 440-pound saltwater crocodile, said Neindorf.

The boy also fed several live animals to Terry by throwing them over the two fences surrounding the crocodile's enclosure, at one point climbing over the outer fence to get closer to the giant reptile.

In the footage, the boy's face remains largely blank, Neindorf said, adding: "It was like he was playing a game."

By the time he was done, 13 animals worth around $5,500 had been killed, including a turtle, bearded dragons and thorny devil lizards, Neindorf said. Although none were considered rare, some are difficult to replace, he said.

"We're horrified that anyone can do this and saddened by the age of the child," Neindorf said.

Alice Springs police said they are unable to press charges against the boy because of his age. Children under age 10 can't be charged with criminal offenses in the Northern Territory. His name was not released because of his age.

Neindorf said he plans to sue the boy's parents.

The boy's small size is probably the reason he didn't trip the zoo's security system, which relies on sensors to detect intruders, Neindorf said.

"I just want people to learn that they can't let their children go and run amok," Neindorf said. "If we can't put the blame onto the child, then someone has to accept the responsibility."

Saturday, October 04, 2008

They are not for the weak hearts

Halloween Horrors at Night Safari
Event Dates : 19th Oct 2007 to
27th Oct 2007
Venue: : Night Safari
Category : Special Programme

Description

The whole park will be transformed into a haunted Rainforest with scare zones, spooky tram rides, Halloween party, Halloween Cocktail Tream and lots of fun and scares.

Activities will be over the weekends only: 19, 20, 26 & 27 October.

Some of the highlights are :

Enter the Haunted Rainforest and be greeted by a parade of the dead who have risen and taken over the Night Safari.
Embark on the haunted tram ride.
Venture into the haunted Forest Giant's trail, which meanders into the Pet Cemetery and Bridge of Hell.

Friday, October 03, 2008

Halloween Party at the SIngapore Zoo

Night Safari

Details for "Halloween Mocktails"

Halloween Mocktails
A frightfully fun evening among friends
Friday, 24 October 2008
Night Safari
7:30pm & 8:30pm tram rides available

Wicked witches. Bubbling points. Hanging skeletons and creepy crawlies.
This Halloween, a night of spooky fun and suspense awaits all who dare to venture into the Haunted Rainforest at the Night Safari.

Take a ride on board the ghouslishly decked out Halloween Cocktail Express and sip on specially concocted cocktail that will send tingles down your spine. Feast on spider-themed cakes and prepare your journey into the darkness of the 'Haunted Rainforest.'

*Please note that the Student member and Student non-member pricing is for children ages between 3 to 12 years old.

Send an email to Jasmin at sponsor.admin@aasingapore.com for the choice of timing for the tram rides.

SPECIAL OFFER

The first 3 to sign up for this event will win a free ticket for a friend. To win, please send an email saying "Sign Me Up!" to aas@aasingapore.com and we'll automatically sign up two tickets for the price of one.

Wednesday, October 01, 2008

Virtual Etour Singapore Zoo

http://www.etour-singapore.com/singapore-zoo.html

I'm impressed!

Tips for Enjoying the Singapore Zoo
The Singapore Zoo is quite a big place. A little bit of planning with make your trip there more enjoyable. Here are some tips for enjoying the Zoo:

The Animal Shows
While the animal exhibits are great by themselves, the animal shows are must-see in my opinion. Here's the schedule of the main animal shows:

Splash Safari (a sealion, manatees, penguins, pelicans)
11am, 2.30pm, 5pm

Elephants at Work and Play
11.30am, 3.30pm
Note that it's almost impossible to see the first 2 shows (11am + 11.30am) together.
If you are arriving in the morning, consider the 11.30am + 2.30pm shows.
If you are arriving in the afternoon, just combine any of the Splash Safaris with the elephant show at 3.30pm.

The elephants will give the front row spectators a 'welcome shower'. They have the 'stuff' hidden in their trunks. If you don't want to get wet, sit 2 or 3 rows back. Otherwise, this could be a great way to surprise your little ones or your travel companions. Get them to sit in the front row and get your camera ready! But remember to take a change of clothes for them. Enjoy ;-)

If you are taking children to the Splash Safari, sit them near the front. There's a chance for them to shake hands with the sealion. Prepare your kids to put up their hands quickly when the show master asks for volunteers. Believe me, they'll be very excited about this.

Other Singapore Zoo Tips
If you plan of having a buffet breakfast with the animals (a.k.a. Jungle Breakfast with Wildlife), it's better to book ahead (Tel: +65 6360 8560). 9-10am daily, on a first-come-first-served basis.

The Singapore Zoo has a well-thought-out animal feeding schedule. It is worthwhile to follow their so-called 'feeding trails' - there's nothing like seeing animals during meal time. Get a brochure at the entrance, which tells you when the feeding times are.

Here are 3 interesting feeding trails grouped by location:

Morning:

10.30am - Treetops Trail (siamang & false gavial) & Otters
11.00am - Primate Kingdom (apes)

(These are near the Zoo entrance.)

Afternoon:

1.05pm - Polar Bear
1.15pm - White Rhinos
1.25pm - African Lions

2.00pm - Treetops Trail
2.10pm - Otters
2.20pm - White Tigers
2.30pm - Pygmy Hippos


If you are sensitive to mosquitoes and other insects, take some repellent with you. A hat and lots of water would be useful too.


If you don't fancy walking a lot in Singapore's heat, (pay and...) take the tram and hop off whenever you feel like it.


Many visitors like to combine a trip to the Zoo with the Night Safari, which is just next to the Zoo. It can be very tiring if you have an entire day at the Zoo, followed by the Night Safari. This is especially so if you are taking kids there.

One way to overcome this is see the Zoo in the afternoon, have dinner at the Night Safari restaurants, and then visit the Night Safari. Grab a Bongo Burger for dinner and sit near the stage - at 7pm, the fire-eating Bornean tribesmen will get you all pumped up for night!


The Singapore Zoo, Night Safari and Jurong Bird Park have a 3-in-1 joint ticket called the Park Hopper Ticket. This is great value if you plan on visiting all 3 parks. You get to save a chunk off the total ticket price. You may get the Park Hopper at any of the 3 parks and take up to a month to see all 3 parks.


3-in-1 Park Hopper Adult Ticket: $40 (save $16.50)
3-in-1 Park Hopper Child Ticket: $20, (save $8.50)
Normal Singapore Zoo Entrance Fee:
Adult, $16.50.
Child (3-12), $8.50.
You may also get the 2-in-1 Singapore Zoo + Night Safari Park Hopper ticket for $30 ($15, child). Savings of $8.50 per adult. Savings of $4.50 per child.



Transport Options to Singapore Zoo


(Map of Singapore Zoo and Singapore Night Safari)


Cheapest: MRT to Ang Mo Kio Station + Bus 138 to Zoo entrance.

Fastest: Drive. Take the PIE, then BKE. Take Exit 7. Follow the Singapore Zoo signboard.

Smartest: Take a taxi. About $15-20 from a city hotel. Shared among 4 persons = $4 to $5 per person.


Essential Information:
Opening hours: 8.30am - 6pm.
Singapore Zoo address: 80 Mandai Lake Road Singapore 729826.
Tel: +65 6269 3411