When Singapore's finance minister delivered the Budget Statement, there was a lot in the way of incentives for innovation. However, Members of Parliament (MP) have since called for more initiatives to encourage the "green" effort in the country.
One thrust of Singapore's 2008 budget announced Feb. 15, is to spur the growth of innovative enterprises with significant incentives for them to create new ideas and products.
To make innovation pervasive in the economy, Minister of Finance Tharman Shanmugaratnam announced incentives to encourage research and development (R&D).
"In this year's budget, we will make Singapore one of the most competitive places for companies, big and small, to do R&D," declared the minister.
The government raised the quantum of tax deduction for expenditure incurred on R&D done in Singapore from 100 percent to 150 percent. This means that for every S$100,000 (US$71,100) of local R&D expenditure incurred, S$150,000 (US$106,650) may be claimed as a tax deduction.
Two new R&D incentives will also be introduced: a broad-based tax allowance that could be used against additional expenditure on R&D that companies do in Singapore; and an incentive to allow research intensive startups to convert their losses into cash grants of up to S$20,250 (US$14,400) per year.
On Monday, at the budget debate in Parliament, some officials said the government should provide more green incentives to encourage businesses and individuals to adopt environment-friendly practices, according to local media reports.
North West District mayor Teo Ho Pin suggested introducing incentives in three key areas: transportation, building and construction, and energy efficient products.
Building owners may be putting off fitting more efficient air conditioning systems, for example, as this would cost more in the short term, Teo said.
He also suggested the government provide more tax incentives, such as green property tax rebates for buildings designed and built with eco-friendly components.
Other MPs suggested the provision of fiscal incentives for eco-friendly business measures, such as a zero-rated goods and services tax for the procurement of energy saving devices, and enhanced capital allowances for energy efficient equipment used by companies.
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
Monday, February 18, 2008
Zoo can be a S'pore global brand: New CEO
New Zoo Chief - Fanny Lai
Ah Meng, the zoo's iconic orang utan mascot, was 'very special, like a part of our management team', Ms Lai, 50, said in a recent interview, when recalling the eulogy a week ago.
Ah Meng died on Feb 8.
Ms Lai, the recently promoted head of the zoo's corporate parent - and who used to sell hamburgers - wants it to be as world famous as Singapore Airlines.
In 2004, Ms Lai had joined the zoo's parent group after 14 years in marketing at McDonald's.
She was recently promoted to group chief executive of Wildlife Reserves Singapore, which oversees the Singapore Zoo and Night Safari, and Jurong BirdPark.
Wildlife Reserves itself had recent 'losses'.
Dr Wong Hon Mun, 53, the BirdPark's executive director, had resigned amid major changes at the parent company - all within two months. These included the retirement of Wildlife Reserves' executive chairman Robert Kwan.
Following Ms Lai's promotion - from executive director of the zoo and Night Safari - Dr Wong quit.
Some observers speculated that Dr Wong may not be the only one leaving the BirdPark.
Asked if Dr Wong's resignation had anything to do with her promotion, she said:
'I don't know. I'm sure when we make a decision, many aspects come into play. I hope not.'
The group had wanted Dr Wong, who has been with the BirdPark for over 20 years, to take on a new job as division head of life science, conservation, research and education for the three parks.
He said no.
The group, 88 per cent owned by Temasek Holdings and 12 per cent by Singapore Tourism Board, was formed in 2000, bringing together the zoo, Night Safari and Jurong BirdPark.
It now has the world's largest animal collection with over 1,000 species.
Ms Lai joined the group as its marketing and communications director in 2004 and was appointed head of Singapore Zoo and Night Safari within a year.
She had her detractors. One former zoo staff said: 'She knows next to nothing about animal husbandry. She sells hamburgers.'
But Ms Lai turned that to advantage. Customers' expectations took top billing. 'I think that's what we do quite well,' she said. The statistics showed it.
During her watch, the 35-yearold zoo and Night Safari saw 100,000 more visitors every year. She introduced and revamped two dozen exhibits.
Two years ago, a $3.6 million Wildlife Healthcare and Research Centre was set up to raise the zoo's profile as a world-class training centre for zoo veterinary and conservation work.
This financial year, the three parks will have a revenue of $88 million. Profits account for 20 per cent of that.
Last year, the three parks' turnover was $77 million.
Ms Lai admits that she is no zoology expert, unlike her predecessor Bernard Harrison. But she has brought in marketing, branding and sales savvy.
'Can we build another SIA in Singapore? Yes, I think Singapore Zoo, Night Safari and BirdPark can be Singapore's next global brand,' declared the mother of a 21-year-old daughter and 15-year-old son.
Her immediate challenge is to integrate the 37-year-old BirdPark's resources and up its current 850,000 a year visitorship. The other two parks attract over a million visitors each year.
She paid tribute to Mr Harrison for giving the zoo a face. But she said: 'I prefer to focus more on the business than on personal brand. I believe in branding but not in personal branding.'
Fanny Lai had her detractors as she joined the zoo's parent group after spending 14 years with McDonald's. SHE spoke her mind in the corporate jungle. But in delivering a eulogy for Ah Meng, Singapore Zoo chief Fanny Lai spoke from her heart and shed tears.
Ah Meng, the zoo's iconic orang utan mascot, was 'very special, like a part of our management team', Ms Lai, 50, said in a recent interview, when recalling the eulogy a week ago.
Ah Meng died on Feb 8.
Ms Lai, the recently promoted head of the zoo's corporate parent - and who used to sell hamburgers - wants it to be as world famous as Singapore Airlines.
In 2004, Ms Lai had joined the zoo's parent group after 14 years in marketing at McDonald's.
She was recently promoted to group chief executive of Wildlife Reserves Singapore, which oversees the Singapore Zoo and Night Safari, and Jurong BirdPark.
Wildlife Reserves itself had recent 'losses'.
Dr Wong Hon Mun, 53, the BirdPark's executive director, had resigned amid major changes at the parent company - all within two months. These included the retirement of Wildlife Reserves' executive chairman Robert Kwan.
Following Ms Lai's promotion - from executive director of the zoo and Night Safari - Dr Wong quit.
Some observers speculated that Dr Wong may not be the only one leaving the BirdPark.
Asked if Dr Wong's resignation had anything to do with her promotion, she said:
'I don't know. I'm sure when we make a decision, many aspects come into play. I hope not.'
The group had wanted Dr Wong, who has been with the BirdPark for over 20 years, to take on a new job as division head of life science, conservation, research and education for the three parks.
He said no.
The group, 88 per cent owned by Temasek Holdings and 12 per cent by Singapore Tourism Board, was formed in 2000, bringing together the zoo, Night Safari and Jurong BirdPark.
It now has the world's largest animal collection with over 1,000 species.
Ms Lai joined the group as its marketing and communications director in 2004 and was appointed head of Singapore Zoo and Night Safari within a year.
She had her detractors. One former zoo staff said: 'She knows next to nothing about animal husbandry. She sells hamburgers.'
But Ms Lai turned that to advantage. Customers' expectations took top billing. 'I think that's what we do quite well,' she said. The statistics showed it.
During her watch, the 35-yearold zoo and Night Safari saw 100,000 more visitors every year. She introduced and revamped two dozen exhibits.
Two years ago, a $3.6 million Wildlife Healthcare and Research Centre was set up to raise the zoo's profile as a world-class training centre for zoo veterinary and conservation work.
This financial year, the three parks will have a revenue of $88 million. Profits account for 20 per cent of that.
Last year, the three parks' turnover was $77 million.
Ms Lai admits that she is no zoology expert, unlike her predecessor Bernard Harrison. But she has brought in marketing, branding and sales savvy.
'Can we build another SIA in Singapore? Yes, I think Singapore Zoo, Night Safari and BirdPark can be Singapore's next global brand,' declared the mother of a 21-year-old daughter and 15-year-old son.
Her immediate challenge is to integrate the 37-year-old BirdPark's resources and up its current 850,000 a year visitorship. The other two parks attract over a million visitors each year.
She paid tribute to Mr Harrison for giving the zoo a face. But she said: 'I prefer to focus more on the business than on personal brand. I believe in branding but not in personal branding.'
____________________________________________________________
"After Bernand Harrison exit, Dr Wong of Birdpark who must have served all his working life there is now forced to go - being shamed & downgraded to Hd of Research to serve his new Lady boss perhaps with BigMac every morning. Trying to match SIA world class standard is a fat hope, this lady looks more like an African Aborigine (see picture). This Chairman Robert Kwan gay (also gone) is keeping very low profile who must be hiding under her skirt all this while. How u see this shakeup?"
Sunday, February 10, 2008
Readings on Ah Meng
A LEGEND, NO LESS 'She had the character to be a mega-star, the personality to pull that off and became a legend.' FORMER ZOO CHIEF BERNARD HARRISON, on hearing about Ah Meng's death.
Ah Meng's Life
SHE was a great-looking Singapore girl who rubbed shoulders with royalty, movie stars and statesmen. People paid to sip tea with her, and countless others liked nothing better than to be photographed next to her.
So when Ah Meng the orang utan died yesterday, aged 48, it marked the end of an era at the Singapore Zoo.
Saddened by the news, former zoo chief Bernard Harrison remembered: 'She had the character to be a mega-star, the personality to pull that off and became a legend.'
Ah Meng was a household name and remained the zoo's star attraction, even as age slowed her down. In human terms, she was nearly 95, and is believed to have died of old age.
Born in Sumatra, Indonesia, she arrived at the zoo in 1971 after being removed from a family who kept her as an illegal pet.
Stardom came in 1982 with the zoo's 'Breakfast with An Orang Utan' programme, which featured Ah Meng at centre stage.
Within four years, she featured in almost 30 travel films and more than 270 write-ups worldwide.
Among those who dropped in on her were Britain's Prince Philip, pop superstar Michael Jackson and actress Elizabeth Taylor.
Such was her pulling power that the then Singapore Tourism Promotion Board made her a Special Tourism Ambassador in 1992, the first non-human recipient of the award.
The zoo's former head of public relations, Mr Robin Goh, said part of Ah Meng's charm was how she took to people.
'She came from a domesticated background as a pet and behaved differently from wild orang utans. She could drink tea from a teacup and looked good for an ape,' he said.
Ah Meng is survived by four children and six grandchildren.
A memorial will be held at 11am on Sunday at the zoo, and the public will be able to view Ah Meng's body from 9am.
Reacting to the news, President SR Nathan said at yesterday's Istana open house that Ah Meng had long been a symbol of the Singapore Zoo.
'A lot of people, both local and foreigners, have enjoyed her company,' he said. 'I'm sure the patrons of the zoo will miss her. But that's life.'
So when Ah Meng the orang utan died yesterday, aged 48, it marked the end of an era at the Singapore Zoo.
Saddened by the news, former zoo chief Bernard Harrison remembered: 'She had the character to be a mega-star, the personality to pull that off and became a legend.'
Ah Meng was a household name and remained the zoo's star attraction, even as age slowed her down. In human terms, she was nearly 95, and is believed to have died of old age.
Born in Sumatra, Indonesia, she arrived at the zoo in 1971 after being removed from a family who kept her as an illegal pet.
Stardom came in 1982 with the zoo's 'Breakfast with An Orang Utan' programme, which featured Ah Meng at centre stage.
Within four years, she featured in almost 30 travel films and more than 270 write-ups worldwide.
Among those who dropped in on her were Britain's Prince Philip, pop superstar Michael Jackson and actress Elizabeth Taylor.
Such was her pulling power that the then Singapore Tourism Promotion Board made her a Special Tourism Ambassador in 1992, the first non-human recipient of the award.
The zoo's former head of public relations, Mr Robin Goh, said part of Ah Meng's charm was how she took to people.
'She came from a domesticated background as a pet and behaved differently from wild orang utans. She could drink tea from a teacup and looked good for an ape,' he said.
Ah Meng is survived by four children and six grandchildren.
A memorial will be held at 11am on Sunday at the zoo, and the public will be able to view Ah Meng's body from 9am.
Reacting to the news, President SR Nathan said at yesterday's Istana open house that Ah Meng had long been a symbol of the Singapore Zoo.
'A lot of people, both local and foreigners, have enjoyed her company,' he said. 'I'm sure the patrons of the zoo will miss her. But that's life.'
MEMORIAL SERVICE
Zoo officials said a memorial service will be held for Ah Meng on Sunday at 11am at the Garden With A View at the Singapore Zoo. Her body will be displayed from 9am.
The Singapore Government should seriously think of rising half National flag today to mark and respect for her death.
Saturday, February 09, 2008
Ah Meng the Goddess
Ah Meng (circa 18 June 1960 – 8 February 2008) (Chinese: 阿明) was a female Sumatran Orangutan and a tourism icon of Singapore. She was smuggled from Indonesia and kept illegally as a domestic pet before being recovered by a veterinarian in 1971. She was then eleven years old and was given a home at the Singapore Zoo.
Ah Meng was the head of her small clan, which lives in a large enclosure with about twenty other orangutans. She had five children and became a grandmother in 1990.
She belonged to the Sumatran Orangutan species, a rarer breed of orangutan now critically endangered due to illegal logging and poaching. There are about only 7,500 Sumatran Orangutans left in the wild in the rainforests of Sumatra, Indonesia.
Friday, February 08, 2008
Ah Meng Dies!!!!
On the first day of Chinese New Year, happiness is spoiled by the death of My Singapore Zoo Idol!!!
http://www.zoo.com.sg/spotlight/ahmeng.htm
http://www.zoo.com.sg/spotlight/ahmeng.htm
Sunday, February 03, 2008
Quick thinking saves
Reuters- A German medical student got some unexpected practical experience at the zoo when she gave the kiss of life to a baby tiger choking on a piece of meat, the zoo director said Friday.
The student was passing the enclosure with her toddler son on a visit several weeks ago when she noticed the 4-month-old tiger choking and offered her assistance to the helpless keeper, said Andreas Jacob, director of the zoo in the eastern German city of Halle.
"The tiger tried to eat a piece of meat that was too big and started choking and shaking and then fell over," the student, Janine Bauer, told MDR radio.
"We got the piece out but he wasn't breathing so I tried mouth-to-mouth and heart massage," she added. "After 3-5 minutes he came to, thank God."
The zoo, which held a ceremony Friday to thank Bauer, has decided to call the tiger Johann, after her one-year-old son.
The student was passing the enclosure with her toddler son on a visit several weeks ago when she noticed the 4-month-old tiger choking and offered her assistance to the helpless keeper, said Andreas Jacob, director of the zoo in the eastern German city of Halle.
"The tiger tried to eat a piece of meat that was too big and started choking and shaking and then fell over," the student, Janine Bauer, told MDR radio.
"We got the piece out but he wasn't breathing so I tried mouth-to-mouth and heart massage," she added. "After 3-5 minutes he came to, thank God."
The zoo, which held a ceremony Friday to thank Bauer, has decided to call the tiger Johann, after her one-year-old son.
Thursday, January 24, 2008
Facts on European Zoos
Zoos are known to have supplied animals for use in experiments.
Zoos are known to have supplied animals to the exotic meat industry.
Animals from UK zoos have ended up in circuses.
Zoos have sent animals to appalling conditions.
Animals can die prematurely in zoos.
Surplus animals are destroyed or sold.
Zoo animals may carry disease.
Animals are still taken from the wild.
There is a lack of genetic diversity in captive bred animals.
Most zoos collect 'crowd pullers'.
Zoos are known to have supplied animals to the exotic meat industry.
Animals from UK zoos have ended up in circuses.
Zoos have sent animals to appalling conditions.
Animals can die prematurely in zoos.
Surplus animals are destroyed or sold.
Zoo animals may carry disease.
Animals are still taken from the wild.
There is a lack of genetic diversity in captive bred animals.
Most zoos collect 'crowd pullers'.
Thursday, January 10, 2008
Zoos Kill Healthy Tigers For Their Skins
Sad but true...
...An undercover investigation by the Sunday Times newspaper has revealed that European zoos are killing healthy tigers in order to sell their bodies to taxidermists who sell the stuffed animals on to wealthy collectors.
During the investigation, to which CAPS supplied advice, a British taxidermist told undercover reporters: “for a price I can pretty much get any specimen you want”. He added: “everything I acquire comes from zoos and safari parks”.
The reporters were offered the skins of two tigers from zoos for £6,000 and a cheetah skin for £3,400.
The taxidermists told how zoos kill animals before they get old, to avoid paying veterinary fees. Andre Brandwood, a taxidermist from Herefordshire claimed zoos placed a “shelf-life” on animals, to cash in on them before they grow old.
Brandwood put the reporters in touch with a taxidermist in Belgium, Jean-Pierre Gerard. Gerard’s network of contacts with zoos across Europe ensures he has a “stranglehold on the market for tigers because so many zoos deal with him” and has, according to the report, fixed the price of tiger skins at £3,000, of which the zoo gets half. Some animals also came from circuses.
According to Gerard, zoos contact him when they kill an animal through injury, ill health or because they have a ‘surplus’ of animals. He even showed the reporters the frozen bodies of two newborn lion cubs.
Although the trade in wild tiger skins is illegal in Europe, trade in captive-bred tigers is allowed if an Article 10 certificate is given by the country’s wildlife department. While the UK’s Department of Environment (DEFRA) rarely issues such certificates, if the authority of another EU country provides a certificate to a dealer in that country the item can then be imported into the UK. So, under this loophole tiger skins from Gerard’s taxidermy company in Belgium can be imported to the UK.
The tiger skins offered to the undercover reporters were from animals just 18 months and five years old who died this year. Although the Belgian certificates to trade in the animals had Gerard’s name on them, the Sunday Times alleges that they had been tampered with and the original certificates were in the name of the Belgian zoos that had supplied the animals. When approached by the newspaper, the Monde Sauvage safari park, which supplied the tigers to Gerard, initially claimed both animals had died of “old age” but then claimed one had died in a fight (despite no damage to the skin) and the other from natural causes. The female cheetah had been supplied by Olmense zoo.
The European Association of Zoos and Aquaria (EAZA), the zoo industry trade body, actually supports this trade. Its executive director Harry Schram told the Sunday Times that EAZA zoos were being actively encouraged to kill unwanted animals, including tigers, if other zoos did not want them and if they were hybrids (i.e. not pure breeds. Schram said that such animals take up space, food and keeper time and euthanasia of the animals was preferable to keeping them alive.
...An undercover investigation by the Sunday Times newspaper has revealed that European zoos are killing healthy tigers in order to sell their bodies to taxidermists who sell the stuffed animals on to wealthy collectors.
During the investigation, to which CAPS supplied advice, a British taxidermist told undercover reporters: “for a price I can pretty much get any specimen you want”. He added: “everything I acquire comes from zoos and safari parks”.
The reporters were offered the skins of two tigers from zoos for £6,000 and a cheetah skin for £3,400.
The taxidermists told how zoos kill animals before they get old, to avoid paying veterinary fees. Andre Brandwood, a taxidermist from Herefordshire claimed zoos placed a “shelf-life” on animals, to cash in on them before they grow old.
Brandwood put the reporters in touch with a taxidermist in Belgium, Jean-Pierre Gerard. Gerard’s network of contacts with zoos across Europe ensures he has a “stranglehold on the market for tigers because so many zoos deal with him” and has, according to the report, fixed the price of tiger skins at £3,000, of which the zoo gets half. Some animals also came from circuses.
According to Gerard, zoos contact him when they kill an animal through injury, ill health or because they have a ‘surplus’ of animals. He even showed the reporters the frozen bodies of two newborn lion cubs.
Although the trade in wild tiger skins is illegal in Europe, trade in captive-bred tigers is allowed if an Article 10 certificate is given by the country’s wildlife department. While the UK’s Department of Environment (DEFRA) rarely issues such certificates, if the authority of another EU country provides a certificate to a dealer in that country the item can then be imported into the UK. So, under this loophole tiger skins from Gerard’s taxidermy company in Belgium can be imported to the UK.
The tiger skins offered to the undercover reporters were from animals just 18 months and five years old who died this year. Although the Belgian certificates to trade in the animals had Gerard’s name on them, the Sunday Times alleges that they had been tampered with and the original certificates were in the name of the Belgian zoos that had supplied the animals. When approached by the newspaper, the Monde Sauvage safari park, which supplied the tigers to Gerard, initially claimed both animals had died of “old age” but then claimed one had died in a fight (despite no damage to the skin) and the other from natural causes. The female cheetah had been supplied by Olmense zoo.
The European Association of Zoos and Aquaria (EAZA), the zoo industry trade body, actually supports this trade. Its executive director Harry Schram told the Sunday Times that EAZA zoos were being actively encouraged to kill unwanted animals, including tigers, if other zoos did not want them and if they were hybrids (i.e. not pure breeds. Schram said that such animals take up space, food and keeper time and euthanasia of the animals was preferable to keeping them alive.
Thursday, January 03, 2008
Zoo animals born to be wild
As part of conservation efforts, animals born and bredin the zoo are released into native habitats to boostfalling numbers otters and mousedeer born and bred in the zoo have been released into their native habitats, as part of conservation efforts to boost their dwindling numbers in the wild.
Other species that land up in the zoo's care have also been given a new chance at freedom in forests here, after getting a clean bill of health. Singapore Zoological Gardens assistant director Subash Chandran said that over the last two years, it has taken in 38 civet cats, 14 pangolins and seven slow lorises.
These were abandoned by people who kept them illegally as pets, confiscated by the authorities, or caught after makinga nuisance of themselves in homes. 'We gave them full examinations, dewormed them and made sure they were parasite free before release,' he said.
Tiny microchips - like identity cards - were also embedded under their skin,so that they will be recognised if caught again. The eight greater mousedeer and five Oriental small-clawed otters, however, were born in captivity and had to be trained to fend for themselves in the wild.
The otters, for example, were first penned up in Sungei Buloh for about two months before they were released there in 2000.
They were gradually weaned off their diet of processed fish and meat and allowed to hunt for live fish and crustaceans instead. 'Otters are opportunistic feeders. They surprised us by quickly devouring all the mangrove snails in their pond,' said Mr Chandran. Upon release, all trace of the otters vanished quickly. 'But we're not worried, we suspect they swam across the Johor Straits, where the food source is very rich. 'Hopefully, they will breed with otters there and some will come back,' he said.
As for the mousedeer, which were released into nature reserves in a pilot programme in 1999, it is too early to tell if the scheme has been a success, said the National Parks Board (NParks). Said an NParks spokesman: 'Animal re-introduction requires careful investigation and study and should not be rushed.'So, there will be no immediate plans to breed other animals for release, she said.
Ideally, added Mr Chandran, the animals could be fitted with tracking devices, so that researchers can keep a close watch on them and establish their feeding and travelling patterns. Other native animals here are so versatile that they have managed to adapt and survive despite encroachment by the urban jungle, without human help. The Malayan flying lemur is one of them. Said Mr N. Sivasothi, a research officer at the Raffles Museum of Biodiversity Research: 'It's not very fussy about leaves, it just needs a few tree holes to hide in and can live in secondary forests. So, it's quite commonhere.
'Even the casualties of urbanisation - road kills of wild animals - have a part to play in conservation. Mr Sivasothi, who is part of a group jokingly called the 'Body Snatchers', picks up such dead carcasses. 'Each body is an important record of what species still exist here, as we sometimes get creatures which we thought had already died out,' he said. The DNA of these animals can also be useful in conservation programmes. If a Singapore species has already died out, he explained, its DNA can becompared to the same species elsewhere, so that the most genetically-similar animal can be considered for re-introduction.
Other species that land up in the zoo's care have also been given a new chance at freedom in forests here, after getting a clean bill of health. Singapore Zoological Gardens assistant director Subash Chandran said that over the last two years, it has taken in 38 civet cats, 14 pangolins and seven slow lorises.
These were abandoned by people who kept them illegally as pets, confiscated by the authorities, or caught after makinga nuisance of themselves in homes. 'We gave them full examinations, dewormed them and made sure they were parasite free before release,' he said.
Tiny microchips - like identity cards - were also embedded under their skin,so that they will be recognised if caught again. The eight greater mousedeer and five Oriental small-clawed otters, however, were born in captivity and had to be trained to fend for themselves in the wild.
The otters, for example, were first penned up in Sungei Buloh for about two months before they were released there in 2000.
They were gradually weaned off their diet of processed fish and meat and allowed to hunt for live fish and crustaceans instead. 'Otters are opportunistic feeders. They surprised us by quickly devouring all the mangrove snails in their pond,' said Mr Chandran. Upon release, all trace of the otters vanished quickly. 'But we're not worried, we suspect they swam across the Johor Straits, where the food source is very rich. 'Hopefully, they will breed with otters there and some will come back,' he said.
As for the mousedeer, which were released into nature reserves in a pilot programme in 1999, it is too early to tell if the scheme has been a success, said the National Parks Board (NParks). Said an NParks spokesman: 'Animal re-introduction requires careful investigation and study and should not be rushed.'So, there will be no immediate plans to breed other animals for release, she said.
Ideally, added Mr Chandran, the animals could be fitted with tracking devices, so that researchers can keep a close watch on them and establish their feeding and travelling patterns. Other native animals here are so versatile that they have managed to adapt and survive despite encroachment by the urban jungle, without human help. The Malayan flying lemur is one of them. Said Mr N. Sivasothi, a research officer at the Raffles Museum of Biodiversity Research: 'It's not very fussy about leaves, it just needs a few tree holes to hide in and can live in secondary forests. So, it's quite commonhere.
'Even the casualties of urbanisation - road kills of wild animals - have a part to play in conservation. Mr Sivasothi, who is part of a group jokingly called the 'Body Snatchers', picks up such dead carcasses. 'Each body is an important record of what species still exist here, as we sometimes get creatures which we thought had already died out,' he said. The DNA of these animals can also be useful in conservation programmes. If a Singapore species has already died out, he explained, its DNA can becompared to the same species elsewhere, so that the most genetically-similar animal can be considered for re-introduction.
Wednesday, January 02, 2008
Monday, December 31, 2007
Updates on Tiger Attack
As more details emerged about the chaos during a tiger's attack of three young men at the San Francisco Zoo, family and friends mourned the teenager who was killed.
About 100 people gathered Saturday outside the San Jose home of Carlos Sousa Jr.'s grandmother for a vigil. Many held candles in cups and were silent as Sousa's father stood on the doorstep in front of two enlarged photos of he and his son.
"I would like to thank all of you from the bottom of my heart for coming here and honoring my son Carlos. My son Carlos was a very good boy" said Carlos Sousa Sr., choking back tears. "I can see that he had a lot of friends here. I want you all to remember the good things that he did and carry this with you in your hearts for as long as you can."
A 350-pound Siberian tiger killed Sousa Jr. and seriously hurt two of his friends after escaping from its enclosure. Paul Dhaliwal, 19, and Kulbir Dhaliwal, 23, were released from the hospital Saturday. The brothers suffered severe bite and claw wounds.
Police said Sousa Jr.'s neck was slashed while the teen tried to scare away the tiger after it attacked Kulbir Dhaliwal. Sousa, 17, died at the scene just before the zoo's closing time on Christmas Day.
Police radio transcripts revealed a chaotic scene at the San Francisco Zoo as zookeepers scrambled to locate and sedate the animal, and medics refused to enter until they knew they would be safe.
Zoo employees also initially questioned whether early reports of the attack were coming from a mentally unstable person, according to an 18-page log of communications from police dispatchers to officers and emergency responders at the scene.
According to the logs, zoo personnel initially told police that two men reporting the escaped tiger might be mentally disturbed and "making something up," though one was bleeding from the back of the head.
Two minutes later, at 5:10 p.m., zoo employees reported that a tiger was loose and, at 5:13 p.m., the zoo was being evacuated and locked down as fire department responders arrived.
For several minutes, medics refused to enter the zoo until it had been secured. Meanwhile, zookeepers were trying to round up what they initially believed to be multiple tigers.
"Zoo personnel have the tiger in sight and are dealing with it," reads a 5:17 p.m. note on the transcript.
The transcript does not indicate when police or emergency responders entered, but by 5:20 p.m. medics had located one victim with a large puncture hole to his neck. The tiger was still loose.
As medics attended to the victim, an officer spotted the tiger sitting down before it fled and began attacking another victim, according to the logs.
At 5:27 p.m., less than 20 minutes after the initial reports were made, the officers began firing, killing the tiger.
It was unclear whether letting police and medics into the zoo sooner would have altered the outcome of the attacks or subjected emergency responders to greater danger with a tiger on the loose.
It has become increasingly clear that the tiger climbed over the wall of its enclosure, which at just under 12 1/2 high was about 4 feet below the recommended minimum for U.S. zoos.
Zoo officials said the zoo would reopen Thursday.
In the wake of the attack, the Oakland Zoo across San Francisco Bay plans to raise the height of the walls surrounding its tiger enclosure.
The concrete wall and chain-link fence surrounding the two tigers range from 13 1/2 feet to 16 feet, and the zoo is deciding how much higher to raise the pen, said Oakland Zoo executive director Joel Parrott. Its tiger exhibit includes a female Bengal tiger weighing 230 pounds and a female Siberian-Bengal mix weighing 305 pounds.
Finger pointing starts!!!
About 100 people gathered Saturday outside the San Jose home of Carlos Sousa Jr.'s grandmother for a vigil. Many held candles in cups and were silent as Sousa's father stood on the doorstep in front of two enlarged photos of he and his son.
"I would like to thank all of you from the bottom of my heart for coming here and honoring my son Carlos. My son Carlos was a very good boy" said Carlos Sousa Sr., choking back tears. "I can see that he had a lot of friends here. I want you all to remember the good things that he did and carry this with you in your hearts for as long as you can."
A 350-pound Siberian tiger killed Sousa Jr. and seriously hurt two of his friends after escaping from its enclosure. Paul Dhaliwal, 19, and Kulbir Dhaliwal, 23, were released from the hospital Saturday. The brothers suffered severe bite and claw wounds.
Police said Sousa Jr.'s neck was slashed while the teen tried to scare away the tiger after it attacked Kulbir Dhaliwal. Sousa, 17, died at the scene just before the zoo's closing time on Christmas Day.
Police radio transcripts revealed a chaotic scene at the San Francisco Zoo as zookeepers scrambled to locate and sedate the animal, and medics refused to enter until they knew they would be safe.
Zoo employees also initially questioned whether early reports of the attack were coming from a mentally unstable person, according to an 18-page log of communications from police dispatchers to officers and emergency responders at the scene.
According to the logs, zoo personnel initially told police that two men reporting the escaped tiger might be mentally disturbed and "making something up," though one was bleeding from the back of the head.
Two minutes later, at 5:10 p.m., zoo employees reported that a tiger was loose and, at 5:13 p.m., the zoo was being evacuated and locked down as fire department responders arrived.
For several minutes, medics refused to enter the zoo until it had been secured. Meanwhile, zookeepers were trying to round up what they initially believed to be multiple tigers.
"Zoo personnel have the tiger in sight and are dealing with it," reads a 5:17 p.m. note on the transcript.
The transcript does not indicate when police or emergency responders entered, but by 5:20 p.m. medics had located one victim with a large puncture hole to his neck. The tiger was still loose.
As medics attended to the victim, an officer spotted the tiger sitting down before it fled and began attacking another victim, according to the logs.
At 5:27 p.m., less than 20 minutes after the initial reports were made, the officers began firing, killing the tiger.
It was unclear whether letting police and medics into the zoo sooner would have altered the outcome of the attacks or subjected emergency responders to greater danger with a tiger on the loose.
It has become increasingly clear that the tiger climbed over the wall of its enclosure, which at just under 12 1/2 high was about 4 feet below the recommended minimum for U.S. zoos.
Zoo officials said the zoo would reopen Thursday.
In the wake of the attack, the Oakland Zoo across San Francisco Bay plans to raise the height of the walls surrounding its tiger enclosure.
The concrete wall and chain-link fence surrounding the two tigers range from 13 1/2 feet to 16 feet, and the zoo is deciding how much higher to raise the pen, said Oakland Zoo executive director Joel Parrott. Its tiger exhibit includes a female Bengal tiger weighing 230 pounds and a female Siberian-Bengal mix weighing 305 pounds.
Finger pointing starts!!!
Wednesday, December 26, 2007
When Animal Attacks
Crime investigators have moved in to the zoo in America where a visitor was killed by a tiger on Christmas Day. Police are investigating the possibility that the three men involved in the attacked may have provoked the animal, or even helped it escape.
The two other men were seriously hurt and are being treated in hospital.
The animal - a Siberian tiger called Tatiana - was killed by armed police who were called to the incident at San Francisco zoo.
Talk about animalsZoo keepers say they don't know how the creature got out of her enclosure, which is surrounded by a high wall.
The dead man has been named as Carlos Sousa, 17, from San Jose.
The injured men - aged 19 and 23 - are expected to make a full recovery, doctors say.
Tuesday, December 11, 2007
Save the Orangutans
Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono launched on Monday an action plan to protect the nation's disappearing orangutans.
The president said that if the world community fails to heed his country's action plan, orangutans could face a fate of extinction by the year 2050.
The Strategy and Action Plan for National Conservation of Orangutans, authored by the Indonesian ministry of Forestry Directorate Conservation and Nature Protection, presents the first specific, enforceable agenda to save orangutans from extinction.
The plan commits to maintain orangutan populations above critical thresholds at which their populations may fail to recover. A core target of the plan is to stabilize orangutan populations and habitat from now until 2017.
The idea for the plan sprang form a forum of scientists in 2004that reviewed data on the viability of orangutan populations and habitats.
The review showed that about 6,650 Sumatran orangutans and 55,000 Bornean orangutans remained in the wild, but most local populations were small, isolated and vulnerable.
Deforestation had directly and indirectly led to 3,000 orangutan deaths per year since 1970s.
The Indonesian president chose to launch the Orangutan Action Plan at the United Nations climate change conference now taking place in Bali, a resort island of Indonesia.
The president said that if the world community fails to heed his country's action plan, orangutans could face a fate of extinction by the year 2050.
The Strategy and Action Plan for National Conservation of Orangutans, authored by the Indonesian ministry of Forestry Directorate Conservation and Nature Protection, presents the first specific, enforceable agenda to save orangutans from extinction.
The plan commits to maintain orangutan populations above critical thresholds at which their populations may fail to recover. A core target of the plan is to stabilize orangutan populations and habitat from now until 2017.
The idea for the plan sprang form a forum of scientists in 2004that reviewed data on the viability of orangutan populations and habitats.
The review showed that about 6,650 Sumatran orangutans and 55,000 Bornean orangutans remained in the wild, but most local populations were small, isolated and vulnerable.
Deforestation had directly and indirectly led to 3,000 orangutan deaths per year since 1970s.
The Indonesian president chose to launch the Orangutan Action Plan at the United Nations climate change conference now taking place in Bali, a resort island of Indonesia.
Monday, December 03, 2007
Visit The Singapore Zoo
Any Enquires?
Contact Info
General Enquiries: 6269 3411 info@zoo.com.sg
Feedback: feedback@zoo.com.sg
Marketing Dept
Advertising and Business Development: 6360 8559 belle@zoo.com.sg
6360 8516 judy@zoo.com.sg
Retail: 6360 8510 retail@zoo.com.sg
Media Relations: 6360 8659 natt@zoo.com.sg
6210 5385 liangmin@zoo.com.sg
6360 8659 natt@zoo.com.sg
Membership: 6360 8546 membership@zoo.com.sg
Sponsorships & Adoptions: 6210 5364 queenie@zoo.com.sg
6360 8515 grace@zoo.com.sg
Sales Dept (Overseas Market)
Travel Trade, International Enquiries & Overseas functions: 6360 8672 / 604 sales@zoo.com.sg
Catering Sales Dept (Local Market)
catering_sales@zoo.com.sg
Family Days, Weddings & Birthdays;
6360 8500 / 8643
Seminars & Local Corporate functions: 6360 8511 / 8643
Meals' Reservation (Breakfast, lunch, dinner programme): 6360 8560
Education Dept
Education Services / School Groups & Camps: 6360 8534 shaiah@zoo.com.sg
Zoology Dept: 6360 8530
(For animal related queries only)
Zoological institutions interested in our Zoo's Surplus and Wanted List can contact Biswajit Guha at biswajit@zoo.com.sg.
Contact Info
General Enquiries: 6269 3411 info@zoo.com.sg
Feedback: feedback@zoo.com.sg
Marketing Dept
Advertising and Business Development: 6360 8559 belle@zoo.com.sg
6360 8516 judy@zoo.com.sg
Retail: 6360 8510 retail@zoo.com.sg
Media Relations: 6360 8659 natt@zoo.com.sg
6210 5385 liangmin@zoo.com.sg
6360 8659 natt@zoo.com.sg
Membership: 6360 8546 membership@zoo.com.sg
Sponsorships & Adoptions: 6210 5364 queenie@zoo.com.sg
6360 8515 grace@zoo.com.sg
Sales Dept (Overseas Market)
Travel Trade, International Enquiries & Overseas functions: 6360 8672 / 604 sales@zoo.com.sg
Catering Sales Dept (Local Market)
catering_sales@zoo.com.sg
Family Days, Weddings & Birthdays;
6360 8500 / 8643
Seminars & Local Corporate functions: 6360 8511 / 8643
Meals' Reservation (Breakfast, lunch, dinner programme): 6360 8560
Education Dept
Education Services / School Groups & Camps: 6360 8534 shaiah@zoo.com.sg
Zoology Dept: 6360 8530
(For animal related queries only)
Zoological institutions interested in our Zoo's Surplus and Wanted List can contact Biswajit Guha at biswajit@zoo.com.sg.
Thursday, November 22, 2007
NEW UPGRADED HABITAT FOR CHEETAHS AT SINGAPORE ZOO
Singapore Zoo's newly upgraded habitat for its cheetahs was officially opened by Mr S.Iswaran, Minister of State for Trade and Industry today. The revamped home offers the cheetahs, acclaimed as the fastest land mammal, more running space, and an unobstructed view for visitors from the tram route. The addition of a new glass-fronted observation hut allows visitors to potentially get nose to nose with the five-year-old cheetahs. The cheetahs, which belong to the southern African subspecies, are listed as Vulnerable to extinction according to the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
“Cheetahs are facing extinction with an estimated population of only 12,000 left in the wild. We hope that with the opening of this newly upgraded habitat and the educational outreach programme which Singapore Zoo is undertaking this year-end school holidays, more people will be informed about the cheetahs’ plight and, more broadly, about the need for wildlife conservation,” said Ms Fanny Lai, Executive Director, Singapore Zoo and Night Safari.
The species is threatened in the wild as they are being squeezed out of their habitat because of human encroachment. Farmers often persecute them, as they are perceived as livestock predators, the cheetah’s natural prey having been replaced by cattle and sheep.
The new habitat will provide good mental stimulus for the cheetahs as there is a central lookout point which gives them a better vantage point from which to view their surroundings. Cheetahs favour flat land area to undulating land, and the newly constructed habitat is ideal for them as it incorporates a number of features that stimulate natural behaviour.
Built over a bigger area with better areas for running, the upgraded habitat of 817 sqm is almost three times bigger than the previous habitat of 284 sqm and took two months to complete.
Despite the numerous challenges to breeding cheetahs in captivity, Singapore Zoo successfully bred four cheetah cubs in 2002, after 29 years of trying. “I am pleased to say that this is truly a testament to the husbandry and expertise of our Zoo team. Not only is Singapore Zoo a wildlife park that visitors can enjoy, our track record for successful breeding also stands us in good stead in the world of wildlife conservation,” Ms Lai added.
In total, the Zoo has five cheetahs in its collection: three males, two of which are Singapore born and one brought in from Cango Wildlife Ranch in South Africa; and two females, one of which was born in Singapore and one brought in from the De Wildt Cheetah Breeding Centre in South Africa.
In addition to the upgraded exhibit, there is a complex of off-exhibit enclosures for the cheetahs and so we will be able to rotate our animals between a number of areas which will also provide them with extra stimulus as well as enabling us to restart breeding of the species in Singapore.
“Cheetahs are facing extinction with an estimated population of only 12,000 left in the wild. We hope that with the opening of this newly upgraded habitat and the educational outreach programme which Singapore Zoo is undertaking this year-end school holidays, more people will be informed about the cheetahs’ plight and, more broadly, about the need for wildlife conservation,” said Ms Fanny Lai, Executive Director, Singapore Zoo and Night Safari.
The species is threatened in the wild as they are being squeezed out of their habitat because of human encroachment. Farmers often persecute them, as they are perceived as livestock predators, the cheetah’s natural prey having been replaced by cattle and sheep.
The new habitat will provide good mental stimulus for the cheetahs as there is a central lookout point which gives them a better vantage point from which to view their surroundings. Cheetahs favour flat land area to undulating land, and the newly constructed habitat is ideal for them as it incorporates a number of features that stimulate natural behaviour.
Built over a bigger area with better areas for running, the upgraded habitat of 817 sqm is almost three times bigger than the previous habitat of 284 sqm and took two months to complete.
Despite the numerous challenges to breeding cheetahs in captivity, Singapore Zoo successfully bred four cheetah cubs in 2002, after 29 years of trying. “I am pleased to say that this is truly a testament to the husbandry and expertise of our Zoo team. Not only is Singapore Zoo a wildlife park that visitors can enjoy, our track record for successful breeding also stands us in good stead in the world of wildlife conservation,” Ms Lai added.
In total, the Zoo has five cheetahs in its collection: three males, two of which are Singapore born and one brought in from Cango Wildlife Ranch in South Africa; and two females, one of which was born in Singapore and one brought in from the De Wildt Cheetah Breeding Centre in South Africa.
In addition to the upgraded exhibit, there is a complex of off-exhibit enclosures for the cheetahs and so we will be able to rotate our animals between a number of areas which will also provide them with extra stimulus as well as enabling us to restart breeding of the species in Singapore.
Monday, November 19, 2007
Coming to Mandai - a new nature tourism cluster
A NEW nature-themed attraction will be coming to Singapore by 2015. Minister of State for Trade and Industry S. Iswaran on Tuesday announced that the Government will be releasing a 30-hectare site in Mandai for tourism development.
The new site will be close to the Singapore Zoo, Night Safari and the Mandai Orchid Garden. Together, they will form a new tourism cluster for those who want to experience nature and get away from the urbanised environment.
Mr Iswaran said at the official opening of the new cheetah habitat at the zoo: 'Beyond shopping, fine dining and spa treatments, an increasing number of tourists are keen to commune with nature, visit natural habitats and see wildlife. Singapore Tourism Board, therefore, plans to develop a cluster of attractions at Mandai to make it one of Asia's top nature destinations.'
Investors and developers will be invited to submit their tender proposals for the new cluster, which is about half the size of the Singapore Zoo and Night Safari, in the middle of 2008.
The tender will be awarded by the end of the year.
At the same time, the Zoo and Night Safari will be spending $70 million over the next five years to improve their facilities, upgrade animal habitats and improve prove visitors' experience by adding more trams and eateries.
Wildlife Reserve Singapore, which owns the Zoo and Night Safari, is also in the midst of planning a third attraction to complement its current facilities.
Zoo executive director Fanny Lai said that the new cluster will probably be about 10 ha in size and will focus on freshwater flora and fauna.
Currently, the Zoo and Night Safari attract 2.5 million visitors annually. With the addition of the third attraction by Wildlife Reserves Singapore and the development on the new site, STB aims to double visitorship to five million annually.
This will help to help Singapore to achieve its tourism targets of 17 million visitors spending $30 billion here.
News of the new Mandai attractions did not go down well with nature lovers like the Nature Society, which is concerned that any development there may upset the fragile ecosystem of the neighbouring nature reserves.
The new site will be close to the Singapore Zoo, Night Safari and the Mandai Orchid Garden. Together, they will form a new tourism cluster for those who want to experience nature and get away from the urbanised environment.
Mr Iswaran said at the official opening of the new cheetah habitat at the zoo: 'Beyond shopping, fine dining and spa treatments, an increasing number of tourists are keen to commune with nature, visit natural habitats and see wildlife. Singapore Tourism Board, therefore, plans to develop a cluster of attractions at Mandai to make it one of Asia's top nature destinations.'
Investors and developers will be invited to submit their tender proposals for the new cluster, which is about half the size of the Singapore Zoo and Night Safari, in the middle of 2008.
The tender will be awarded by the end of the year.
At the same time, the Zoo and Night Safari will be spending $70 million over the next five years to improve their facilities, upgrade animal habitats and improve prove visitors' experience by adding more trams and eateries.
Wildlife Reserve Singapore, which owns the Zoo and Night Safari, is also in the midst of planning a third attraction to complement its current facilities.
Zoo executive director Fanny Lai said that the new cluster will probably be about 10 ha in size and will focus on freshwater flora and fauna.
Currently, the Zoo and Night Safari attract 2.5 million visitors annually. With the addition of the third attraction by Wildlife Reserves Singapore and the development on the new site, STB aims to double visitorship to five million annually.
This will help to help Singapore to achieve its tourism targets of 17 million visitors spending $30 billion here.
News of the new Mandai attractions did not go down well with nature lovers like the Nature Society, which is concerned that any development there may upset the fragile ecosystem of the neighbouring nature reserves.
Thursday, October 25, 2007
School Holiday, Visit the Singapore Zoo
Park Hopper 3-in-1 (Admissions only)- Zoo, Night Safari and BirdPark (Adult) $45.00
Park Hopper 3-in-1 (Admissions only)- Zoo, Night Safari and BirdPark (Child) $22.50
Park Hopper 2-in-1 (Admissions only)- Zoo and Night Safari (Adult) $30.00
Park Hopper 2-in-1 (Admissions only)- Zoo and Night Safari (Child) $15.00
ZOO Admission Ticket with Tram Ride (Adult) $21.50
ZOO Admission Ticket with Tram Ride (Child) $11.00
ZOO Admission Ticket Only (Adult) $16.50
ZOO Admission Ticket Only (Child) $8.50
Park Hopper 3-in-1 (Admissions only)- Zoo, Night Safari and BirdPark (Child) $22.50
Park Hopper 2-in-1 (Admissions only)- Zoo and Night Safari (Adult) $30.00
Park Hopper 2-in-1 (Admissions only)- Zoo and Night Safari (Child) $15.00
ZOO Admission Ticket with Tram Ride (Adult) $21.50
ZOO Admission Ticket with Tram Ride (Child) $11.00
ZOO Admission Ticket Only (Adult) $16.50
ZOO Admission Ticket Only (Child) $8.50
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)