Pandas Kai Kai and Jia Jia celebrated 1st year anniversary in Singapore

Wildlife Reserves Singapore (WRS) and CapitaLand Limited (CapitaLand) threw a big panda party for Kai Kai and Jia Jia today, with a specially-made cake and toy for the birthday duo.

The birthday bash marks the start of week-long festivities at River Safari from Sept 7 to 15 to commemorate the pandas' one-year anniversary in Singapore. It also celebrates Jia Jia turning five on Sept 3 and Kai Kai turning 6 on Sept 14.

Male panda Kai Kai received a three-tiered birthday cake made of ice, bamboo and his favourite treats, while Jia Jia received a chime toy made of bamboo stems.

The birthday presents were specially created and presented by 10 Panda Party Planners - lucky members of the public, including five readers of the CapitaLand Inside Different Geographies e-publication, who went behind-the-scenes with panda keepers to prepare these treats for the pandas to keep them mentally and physically stimulated.

Ms Claire Chiang, Chairman, Wildlife Reserves Singapore, said: "The past year has been an exciting one as we discover more about the personalities of our pandas. Kai Kai and Jia Jia are ambassadors for their own kind, and we hope that visitors who meet them will learn more about these endangered bears and be inspired to protect these magnificent creatures."

Almost 600,000 panda lovers have visited Kai Kai and Jia Jia since the Giant Panda Forest opened to the public last year. Kai Kai, who is usually laid-back, has recently been spotted climbing up a tree at 5pm every day to look out for his keepers, and preparing to retreat to his den for evening treats.

He is curious when keepers implement enrichment activities such as introducing new scents, or wrapping treats with leaves for him to find.

Jia Jia, on the other hand, is the shyer of the two. A closed-circuit television was installed in February so that visitors can see Jia Jia during moments when she chooses to stay in her den.

A bigger, more interactive zoo for the younger generation

On its 40th birthday, Wildlife Reserves Singapore chairman Claire Chiang has big dreams for the Singapore Zoological Gardens — not only to make it more immersive, but also to expand it geographically.

Having for years been a must-visit for families with young children — this group forms the bulk of the zoo's visitors — Chiang says she hopes to revitalise the WRS's oldest wildlife park (the others being the Night Safari, the River Safari and Jurong Bird Park) to more closely cater to an increasingly tech-savvy younger generation.

[The Singapore Zoo's 40th Birthday, and your favourite zoo animals]

"We have to work harder, I feel, at the teenagers, and that's where your social media (comes in), your interactive way of bringing the zoo to that level… so youth will feel that this is also a learning laboratory," said Chiang, who spoke on the sidelines of a celebration of the Zoo's 40th birthday on Thursday.

"The future zoo for Singapore… has to be interactive, because the X, Y generation that grew up with all these gadgets would like immediately to have access to information," she said. For instance, she said that a journey through the zoo has to be an immersive one, making visitors feel like they are experiencing the rainforest, instead of simply walking through the park as a passive observer.

"We have a lot of game(s), 'press-button and then information coming out', and when you're looking at an exhibit there will be a lot of questions and answers, and there will be a lot of classroom sessions where next to your exhibit you have someone to tell the story of the animal," she explained.

"(It's) interactive in a sense not that it is gadgety, but in the process of me understanding the animals… it enhances my understanding of the role of man (in nature)," she continued. "It is actually using all your senses in an exhibit to touch and feel the exhibits; that's what it means by immersive."

Chiang also said the new Zoo will have to have "a high level of educational entertainment", as well as a high level of social media impact and effect.

"So it's going to be leveraging on technology, and using the resources that we have to recreate an experience of nature that hits the mind, the heart and the soul, and it is fun," she said.

Need to ensure zoo's future

In view of this push to attract more young people to the zoo, Chiang also shared her concern of leadership renewal for the future.

She explained that the zoo is currently a treasure trove of information that needs to be collected and archived. For example, there is a lot of knowledge that resides in a number of zookeepers who have worked with the zoo since its beginnings.

"They (the veteran zookeepers) have… all the best practices. I really wish more young Singaporeans will see this, the veterinary sciences, as well as zoo management and animal care, become their career path," she said.

"Our universities should beef up more on environmental science, as well as animal care and husbandry and veterinary sciences," she added. "So the leadership issue for the future is a challenging one, and I appeal to young Singaporeans to come and join us because this is a vocation of its own — unique and interesting."

Great Facebook offer for Singapore Zoo

Since I'm no longer a Friend of the Zoo, I decided to take up the Facebook offers: Your Wildlife Reserves Singapore Zoo.

To use the offer, visit Wildlife Reserves Singapore and show this email. Zoo birthday one day 40% Priced tickets Special! Only $8.80 for Adults and $5.60 for Kids!

Expires Thursday, June 27 2013 (offers for that day only). Must show IC as prove of Singapore citizen or Permanent Resident.