NTU Alumni Family Day 2008 @ Zoo

Event Date 31 May 2008 (Sat), 08:00 AM - 01:00 PM
Venue Pavilion-by-the-Lake, Singapore Zoological Gardens (Location Map)
Organiser NTU Alumni Affairs Office (Email : AlumniFamilyDay@ntu.edu.sg Tel/Fax : 67904875/4434)

Event Info

We are going to the Zoo!
Open to all alumni and their family members, the NTU Alumni Family Day 2008 will offer a variety of fun activities, including but certainly not limited to: a morning walk, exciting performances, carnival games stalls and a lucky draw! Experience the wonders of Mother Nature and make new friends – men and animals alike! Bring your family and fellow alumni. The more the merrier!

Date: 31 May 2008 (Saturday)
Time: 8am - 1pm
Venue: Pavilion-by-the-Lake, Singapore Zoological Gardens


Each alumnus/alumna is only allowed to purchase a maximum of 4 tickets at the subsidised price of $7/adult, $4/child between 3 to 12 years old and $4/senior citizen above 60 years old.

Any additional tickets will have to be purchased at the FULL price of $13.20/adult, $6.80/child and $8.50/senior citizen.

Payment for the tickets have to be made using any of the 3 methods stated below before the admission package is mailed to your designated address as stated during registration.

(1) Cash at the Alumni Affairs Office

(2) Cheque payable to "Nanyang Technological University" and mailed to the Alumni Affairs Office at 60 Nanyang View, #02-08 Nanyang Executive Centre, Singapore 639673.

(3) WorldPay using Master/VISA (AAO staff will contact you for the credit/debit card details for processing of transaction)

Kindly note that full details of your particulars are required for pre-event information and mailing of admission packages.

For enquiries, please email us at AlumniFamilyDay@ntu.edu.sg or call 67904875/4434. Alternatively, you may wish to visit our site at www.ntu.edu.sg/alumnievents

Deadline for registration is Friday, 16 May 2008.

SEAZA

General Information of SEAZA, South East Asian Zoos Association

Vision
The vision of the South East Asian Zoos Association is that its member zoos utilize their animal collections for the primary purposes of educating our public by imparting messages on the urgent need for environmental conservation in a manner that upholds the respect and dignity of the wild animal.

Mission
To educate guests on the preservation of the natural environment
To share the goals of conservation, education, recreation and research with our public
To commit to team work and share our expertise and experience with SEAZA members, other regional and national zoo associations Maintaining the highest standards of quality and professional ethics

Values
Conserve the environment and its wildlife SEAZA actively supports the ex-situ and in-situ conservation of populations of endangered species and their habitat, especially from the South East Asian region.

Educate the public We are committed to increasing public knowledge of and participation in the environmental conservation needs of South East Asia and the world and respect for the welfare of animals through awareness programmes in zoos.

Serve members SEAZA offers members conservation awareness and technical training programmes.

Maintain high standards of quality and ethical conduct SEAZA expects its members to maintain high standards of quality in the presentation and maintenance of their zoos and conduct affairs according to the SEAZA Code of Ethics.

Co-operate with each other We value the co-operation and professional teamwork within zoos and aquariums as the basic building blocks of regional co-operation.

Singapore Zoo included?

Friend of the Singapore Zoo

Get unlimited access to SINGAPORE ZOO all year.
Help endangered species survive for years to come.
Friends of the Zoo Membership

BENEFITS:
Free and unlimited entry to Singapore Zoo for whole year
Free Zoo tram rides (Not valid on Sat, Sun & P. Holidays)
Free quarterly “Wildlife Wonders” Magazine
Free Parking
10% discount at participating retail outlets
10% discount at participating F&B outlets
Special invitation to events and previews
Email updates on latest happenings & promotions Exclusive membership car decal-->
http://www.zoo.com.sg/getinvolved/membership_foz.htm

Zoo Map

Thanks for providing the Singapore Zoo Map, http://www.zoo.com.sg

Frog - Green Kermit

The frog and other amphibians are croaking! Over 100 species have already become extinct in the past 30 years while about a third or more of all frogs and amphibian species are on the brink due to habitat loss, lower population growth and lethal infection outbreaks.
That’s why 2008 (a leap year no less) has been declared Year of the Frog by the global conservation community. We’re jumping in to help raise awareness on how you can help save the frogs.

So, what can you do, really? Here are a few ideas to start you off:

1.
Educate yourself and others What with over 6,000 known species in the world, there’s always something new to be discovered about amphibians. You can easily find out information or interesting facts from books, magazines and the internet. Educate yourself and then educate your family and friends about amphibians and their plight.

2.
Dispose of rubbish the right way. Because of their permeable skin, frogs are usually the first to be affected by pollution in the environment. Always throw your rubbish into designated bins so that it can be disposed of properly. What you discard carelessly could pollute and turn the natural habitats of frogs uninhabitable.

3.
Never release non-native animals into the wild. The introduction of exotic species into our natural environment has meant that native species are finding it harder to earn a living. The aliens such as the aggressive American bull frogs oust our local animals from their place in the ecosystem and directly reduce the biodiversity of the area. Our forests are the last refuge of many local species in urban Singapore. Do not release any non-native animals into our natural reserves – you may be causing more harm than you imagine.

4.
Rein in your pets Dogs and cats have a good nose for sniffing out frogs and can sometimes cause them grievous injury. If you come across a frog while you are out with your pet, study it, listen to it, and then leave it be. Teach your pet never to harass or pester wildlife.

5.
Reduce the size of your carbon footprint Amphibian populations are affected by climate change worldwide. If you reduce your energy consumption, or switch to using renewable energy, you too can help slow the rate of climate change. If you need to drive, drive fuel-efficient cars. If you don’t need to, take the bus or MRT. Think twice about switching on the air-con (could you use the fan instead?) and use energy-saving light bulbs!

6.
Hold back on the pesticidesAs amphibians can absorb chemicals from their surroundings right through their skin, herbicides and insecticides can prove to be lethal for them. Don't use pesticides. Instead, let the spiders, geckos and the frogs themselves get rid of those pests for free. If you have a garden, you can also teach your family members how to identify weeds and pull them out. Employ them as your natural “weed-killers” instead of resorting to chemical warfare.

7.
Make your garden a habitat for frogs to thrive inAll frogs need water and shelter. To make your garden a place that frogs would love to come home to, provide favourite frog furniture like leaf litter, rocks, logs. Plant up the area and if possible, add in a pond. Soon you might find frogs and other wildlife taking up residence.

National Geographic best pictures.

Only if Singapore Zoo can have such a sight - Wow!

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.

Crime Busters

Seen any animal abuse or wild animal smuggling activities?

Report them to Wildlife Crime Hotline+65 97837782

Animal Concerns Research & Education Society

The ACRES Wildlife Rescue Centre (AWRC) will be the first wildlife rescue centre in Singapore and will help save and improve the lives of vast numbers of animals.

The 2 hectare AWRC will be located in Sungei Tengah Agrotech Park. With your support, the AWRC will:

Help end the cruel illegal wildlife trade through serving as an educational facility. The AWRC will create awareness on the illegal wildlife trade and other animal protection issues. Provide a safe haven for animals rescued from the illegal wildlife trade. Serve as a platform to promote volunteerism in Singapore and globally. Complement and assist the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority’s enforcement efforts to tackle the illegal wildlife trade.

ACRES has obtained the piece of land for the AWRC from the Singapore Land Authority and construction began in January 2007. The AWRC is scheduled to begin operations by early 2008.

They Are In Business!

Where can Terrorist Mas Selamat Kastari Be?

Can He be hiding in the Singapore Zoo?

The least expected is also the most possible.

Singapore Not so Green after All

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.

Zoo can be a S'pore global brand: New CEO

New Zoo Chief - Fanny Lai

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?"

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.'

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.

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.

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

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.

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 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.

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.

Year of the Rats

Move over Mr Piggy... Its time for the Rats!

http://www.zoo.com.sg/spotlight/pigturethis.htm

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!!!

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.

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.

Visit The Singapore Zoo

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Zoological institutions interested in our Zoo's Surplus and Wanted List can contact Biswajit Guha at biswajit@zoo.com.sg.

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.

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.

New Attractions

Get up close with the world’s fastest cat

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

Animal Friendly Tourism

Are you an animal-friendly tourist?As a tourist, your money may support trades and events that profit from animal suffering, pain and death. When you are on holiday, you can enjoy the beauty of nature and rich cultural traditions of the countries you visit without taking part in activities that harm animals.

Here is the compassionate person's guide to a cruelty-free holiday:

Animal Acts: Cruelty Parading As Entertainment

Do not pay to watch an animal perform tricks or patronise places that have performing animal shows.Animals forced into entertainment in circus-style shows, such as cycling bears, golfing orangutans and fire-hoop jumping tigers, endure enormous stress and pain. Their training methods include beatings, food deprivation, drugging and surgically removing or impairing their teeth and claws. Often, they are not given adequate housing or care and live in appalling conditions when not performing. ‘Dancing bears' in India and Pakistan and the elephants at many elephant parks in Thailand who are made to play musical instruments, ‘play football' and perform tricks endure similar training methods and treatment.

In some wildlife parks in China , live rabbits, ducks, pigs and calves are thrown to hungry predator animals like tigers. Such cruelty will only stop when we refuse to watch.

Animal Photography: No Fun For The Animals

Never pay to have your photo taken with a wild animal, either on the street or at a zoo.Animals are often used for photography, feeding and cuddling sessions in zoos, hotels and on the streets in some countries. Many of these animals are captured from the wild after their families have been killed. Many are over-handled, starved and stressed. When they are out of sight of tourists, they could be chained, beaten, kicked and confined to tiny, bare cages, with little or no veterinary care. Worldwide, accidents involving people and captive wild animals are also on the increase, some of which result in serious injuries and death. There is also the danger of disease transmission between humans and animals in such settings.

Animal Rides: Abuse On The Roads

Do not participate in animal rides or encourage ‘begging elephants' on the city streets.When traveling, you will frequently come across animals such as elephants and ponies forced to take tourists for rides in sweltering temperatures without sufficient food or water. Some are malnourished, abused, old, injured or even pregnant. In Bangkok , although elephants are banned from the streets, their owners still walk them through the city hoping to make money from sympathetic residents and tourists. Many of these elephants are reported to be suffering from neglect and, at times, mistreatment.

Cockfights: Displays of Brutality

Never watch a cockfight or any other ‘sports' involving animals. Cockfights feature roosters specially bred for aggressiveness, forced to slash and gouge each other until one of them quits from blindness, injury or death. In countries like Thailand , lethal metal spikes on the legs and razor blades on the wings are forbidden. Nevertheless, the birds get severely injured just from the savage claws and powerful beaks. The losers often end up in the cooking pot. Children watching such fights could also develop insensitivity to violence.

Exotic Meat: Recipes for Torture

Do not be tempted to try ‘exotic' meats when on holiday.When you travel you want to try new things, but do not eat wildlife or domestic animals. This fuels illegal poaching and causes great pain and suffering. Wild animals are often captured and slaughtered in brutal ways. In countries like Korea , wild animals are trapped with wires around their mouths, leaving them to starve to death. Turtles have their meat scraped off while still alive. Dogs are struck with blunt blows to the head, then butchered while still conscious. Cats are boiled and skinned alive. Avoid restaurants which serve such meat, and let them know why you won't patronise them.

Live Animal Markets: Kidnapping Animals From Their Homes.

Avoid live animal markets in countries like Indonesia , where native and exotic species of birds, reptiles and mammals are offered for sale. Many of these species are protected by law. These creatures are often orphaned by poachers and illegally captured from the wild. They are mostly kept in filthy, tiny cages with little or no water, food, care, or shade from the grueling sun. Visiting and patronising these places will only encourage this cruel industry.

Marine Mammal Parks: The Underwater Prisons

Do not patronise marine parks that keep marine mammals such as dolphins and whales.Marine animals are known to suffer greatly in captivity, especially dolphins and orcas which are extremely social, intelligent and active animals. Captive marine mammals often live in small, sterile, chlorinated enclosures and are deprived of their natural activity level, social groups and interactions with their natural environment. Many of them develop stereotypic behaviour or aggression which is not known to occur in the wild. They are often forced to entertain visitors with unnatural and degrading tricks which teach nothing about their true behaviour. Training methods can be cruel, often involving food deprivation.

Souvenirs: Murder For The Sake Of Trinkets

Never buy souvenirs made from animals.When you buy souvenirs made from skins, shells, ivory, bone, fur or other animal products, the animals pay with their lives. To make combs and necklaces, turtles are cut up while they are still alive. For the sake of ivory seals and chopsticks, elephants are shot down and sometimes their faces are cut off to remove their tusks. Buying endangered species products not only fuels demand and causes more suffering, it pushes the species further towards extinction. Under the Endangered Species (Import and Export) Act, it is also a serious offence to import, export or posses an endangered species (including their parts, related products or derivatives) without a proper permit.

Zoos: There's Nothing Natural About Them

Some zoos in Asia imprison animals in extremely poor conditions. Wild animals who would hunt, forage and roam for miles every day cannot exercise their natural behaviour in captivity. Many suffer from mental stress, and this is evident from abnormal stereotypic behaviour like pacing up and down and constantly licking the metal cage bars. Instead of educating children about wild animal behaviour, zoos teach them that it is acceptable to keep animals in captivity; bored, cramped, and far from their natural homes. Take the kids to sanctuaries or nature reserves instead, where animals can be observed in their natural habitat.

What Else You Can Do

Encourage your friends and family to be animal-friendly tourists whenever they go on holiday.
Check your tour itinerary (even if the tour is labeled as an eco-tour) to make sure it does not involve cruelty to animals. If it does, tell your travel agent you do not wish to go to places involved in such cruelty. Ask your agent to propose cruelty-free alternatives.

Ensure that your hotel does not display any wild animals. If you are at a hotel or resort that does, express your disapproval in writing to the management.

Find out if there are any local animal welfare societies you may need to contact if an animal needs help.

If you see instances of animal cruelty, record what you have seen through photos or videotape but never pay to take such pictures. Make sure to record the date, time, location, type and number of animals involved.

Write to the management of the facility, the event organiser, the local tourist office, the local police, the local animal welfare society, your tour operator or the Ambassador of that country when you return. You can also contact Acres.

ZOOCHECK

Zoo Negeri Johor, Malaysia.Throughout Asia, many thousands of animals languish in appalling conditions in substandard zoos. Acres tries, wherever possible, to work together with the management of these zoos and discuss ways to improve the welfare of the animals.
Read on for an account of wholly substandard zoo that is situated just a few miles from Singapore. Acres is trying to help the animals there.

Life behind bars at Zoo Negeri Johor, Malaysia.Imagine a zoo where the primates are begging, reaching their hands out of the cages asking for food. Imagine a zoo where the animals are constantly displaying abnormal stereotypic behaviours. Imagine a zoo where enclosures are so filthy that a stench reeks from the enclosures. Imagine a zoo where animals are housed in enclosures resembling wells. Imagine a zoo where animals are housed in enclosures so small that the size is barely 0.001 percent the size of their natural homes.

Does a zoo like this exist? Does it have a place or any role in our society today? Since 2001, with the help of the International Primate Protection League (IPPL), Acres has been investigating Zoo Negeri Johor in Malaysia. The conditions for the animals are far from acceptable and are, in fact, appalling. The paragraph above aptly describes the living conditions.

Toney the chimpanzees' storyFor almost 30 years, Toney, a female chimpanzee lived in a small, barren cage at Zoo Negeri, Johor. In about 1995, her male partner died and she then lived a solitary life for many years until a new cage mate was acquired. While she was living in the cage, a behavioural study was conducted on her and the results proved beyond doubt that she was suffering each day she was kept in these conditions. She displayed a wide range of abnormal stereotypic behaviours repeatedly. These ranged from eating her faeces to regurgitating her food to rocking and swaying. These behaviours are clearly an indication of an abnormal animal-environment interaction. For most wild mammals in captivity, this probably means that the animal grew up in or is currently living in an environment suboptimal for meeting its natural, species-specific behavioural needs.

Since 2001, things have improved slightly for Toney. Toney was finally moved out of the cage into a larger enclosure. However, she now lives in a pit. The zoo also acquired a new male chimpanzee who now shares the enclosure with her. While this may be an improvement in her living conditions and might stimulate some social activity, Toney’s living conditions are still far from ideal.

New animals, old abusesIt is highly questionable whether the zoo should import any new animals when conditions remain unacceptable for all of the animals currently at the zoo. Any available funds should be directed to improving the existing enclosures to meet an acceptable standard before the import of any new animals.

However, since 2001, the zoo has brought in countless new animals including an orang utan, a siamang, a capuchin, a gibbon, Malayan sun bears, macaques and a large number of other animals. These animals are once again housed in appalling conditions. A new infant gibbon seen in 2001, for example, was housed in a cage measuring approximately 0.5 metres by 0.5 metres. This infant was far from the weaning age but was no longer with her mother. She was now living a solitary life.

Animals used for entertainmentZoo Negeri Johor also exploits the animals for entertainment purposes. A lion has been seen being used for photography sessions. Baby gibbons and other animals such as shy, nocturnal slow lorises who are confined in small cages in the blazing sun have also been seen to be used as ‘photo props’. Infant pig-tailed macaques and long-tailed macaques and even young Malayan sun bears are chained to the ground for visitors to touch and tease. Visitors can cuddle and take photos with all these animals upon request. These macaques, gibbons and several other primates and also the bear cubs are far from the weaning age and should be with their mothers.

ARCES work.

Singapore Zoo Host REPTILE SPECIES IDENTIFICATION WORKSHOP

For two and half days, TRAFFIC Southeast Asia (The Wildlife Trade Monitoring Network) together with the Singapore Zoo will share their expertise with 29 Immigration and Checkpoint Authority officers (ICA), and 10 officers from the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority of Singapore (AVA), in the first joint workshop on reptile identification in Singapore.

The workshop, hosted by the Singapore Zoo, will be held from October 3 – 5, 2007. It is part of TRAFFIC Southeast Asia’s continuing effort to increase the capacity of enforcement officers in this region to combat the illegal wildlife trade. Reptiles in particular are one of the most heavily traded species groups, particularly for Singapore.

“More than just a classroom exercise, in this workshop, participants will get hands-on practical exercise in handling live specimens from the reptile family and in identifying different types of skins and products some animals are highly traded for,” said Ms Fanny Lai, Executive Director of Singapore Zoo and Night Safari.

The workshop will focus on the identification of the four main species groups – snakes, turtles and tortoises, lizards and crocodiles. There will be practical tips on identifying species through both classroom teaching as well as demonstration of live specimens and by-products. The lead trainer for this workshop is Dr Mark Auliya, TRAFFIC Southeast Asia’s Scientific Officer who has over thirteen years of field experience and who has published several books and numerous research reports.

From earlier workshops given by TRAFFIC in Southeast Asia on regulating wildlife trade and the implementation of CITES (the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) it has become clear that identification of species in trade is the most important training priority of enforcement officers in this region. For certain species of rare reptiles, trade is the single biggest threat to their continual survival in the wild.

"The training aims to further equip the enforcement and ports officers with the knowledge of CITES and useful identification skills for the different types of reptile species, in order to enhance the implementation of CITES and to combat any illegal reptile trade through Singapore," said Dr. Ms Lye Fong Keng, Head of AVA's Wildlife Regulatory.

The Singapore Zoo has officially been designated as the rescue centre by AVA in caring for confiscated animals. In 2002, in collaboration with AVA, the Singapore Zoo successfully repatriated about 2000 star tortoises, a CITES listed species, to India to be released to their natural environment. "The Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) is always looking into ways to enhance our capabilities to deter the smuggling of unlawful items into Singapore. We look forward to an enriching workshop organised by the TRAFFIC Southeast Asia and the Singapore Zoo," said Mrs Samantha Toh- Koh, Head, Training Branch, Immigration & Checkpoints Authority.

In addition to reptile identification, the workshop will also cover case studies, past seizure cases of reptiles on a global level, wildlife trade and CITES by Traffic Southeast Asia and a module on handling and temporary care of confiscated specimens by staff from the Singapore Zoo.

Hunt and Traps in Pulau Ubin

A nature lover had a rude shock when he went on a trip to Pulau Ubin recently. Ben Lee, founder of Nature Trekker a non—profit organisation dedicated to nature appreciation in Singapore took pictures of a trap that was more than 2 metres (7 feet) high and was set deep in the forest.
According to him, the cage was big enough to house 15 wild boars and could be used for illegal poaching.
He also saw a man walking out of the forest with a sharp sickle.
Mr Lee has reported the incident to the National Parks Board.
NParks said it is illegal to carry out poaching activities in Pulau Ubin, parks and nature reserves

Better conditions for Animals

The sprawling enclosures lush with greenery and tender care will be a welcome respite from the confines of their previous homes tiny cages and cramped tanks.

But funds for the first rescue centre that will house seized illegal animals set up by the Animal Concerns Research and Education Society (Acres), have been slow to come in.
According to Acres president and executive director Louis Ng, the Acres Wildlife Rescue Centre (AWRC) is almost complete and is slated to open in the middle of next month.

But it is still in dire need of funds. The centre has raised S$627,000 since October last year and needs another S$460,000 to cover operations costs.

But while donations from the public have amounted to 46 per cent of the money raised so far, corporations have not been as forthcoming.

"Most (corporations) have declined funding because the project does not fall under their funding criteria or they have an existing adopted charity," Mr Ng said.

"We are confident, however, that if the public and corporate (sectors) learn about our predicament, they will contribute to the AWRC," he said.

In spite of these challenges, Acres is determined to continue its efforts and has resorted to taking loans worth $110,000, free of interest, from its members. "If we don’t set up this centre, no one else will help these animals," said Mr Ng.

The centre, which can house up to 400 animals, will provide a temporary home for prohibited creatures that have been confiscated or given up, such as star tortoises, gibbons, pythons and leopard geckos.

At the moment, seized animals are given to the zoo, the live turtle and tortoise museum, or the Chinese Gardens. But this is not ideal, he said.

"They’ve lived so long in cages, so it is time to live in open air enclosures," he said. But ultimately, the aim is to repatriate as many of these animals home as possible. For those who are unfit to go home, the AWRC will be their permanent home.

The AWRC will also serve as an educational centre that will raise the awareness of the illegal pet trade.

An Acres survey of 100 shops in 2005 found one in five selling animals facing extinction. And between 2001 and last year, about 4,000 wild animals have been confiscated or given up by the public.

Mr Ng hopes the AWRC will be able to help create the much—needed awareness on the illegal wildlife trade and environmental protection issues.

"We hope that the corporates will play an increasing role in the contributing to this growing movement," he added.

To mark World Animal Day, Acres will be celebrating Singaporean’s support for animal protection efforts with a three—day festival from October 5 to 7 at The Atrium @ Orchard (beside Plaza Singapura).

Log on to www.acres.org.sg to donate or to find out more about the AWRC.

CHARITY FUND-RAISING MOONCAKES AT ZOO

Singapore Zoo and Night Safari are celebrating Mid-Autumn Festival this year with a special sale of imported traditional mooncakes. As part of its conservation efforts, five dollars from the sale of each box of mooncakes will go towards the Wildlife Conservation Singapore Fund, an institution of public character – dedicated to research, educational programmes and upkeep of endangered animals.
Sold in a box of four, there are eight different varieties of halal-certified mooncakes from Malaysia available from August 27 – September 24, 2007. So enjoy your mooncakes and do your part for conservation at the same time!
Details:
Venue: Singapore Zoo and Night Safari80 Mandai Lake Road Singapore(Singapore Zoo and Night Safari retail outlets Cheers at Singapore Zoo Ulu Ulu Safari Restaurant - Wok Station)
Date: August 27 – September 24, 2007Price: Ranges from $27-$33 per box of four
Varieties of moon cakes:Pure White Lin YoongPure Lin Yoong MooncakePure Golden Jade MooncakeBlack Sesame Lin Yoong Mooncake1 Yolk White Lin Yoong2 Yolk White Lin Yoong1 Yolk Pure Lin Yoong2 Yolk Pure Lin Yoong

Sun Bear fear no more with latest UPGRADES

Singapore Zoo’s new sun bear enclosure opens after 18 months of careful planning, research and construction. It is constructed over 750 sqm and is more than four times larger than the old facility, which dates to as early as 1975. The new enclosure allows for enhanced enrichment programmes and provides the sun bears with a more natural and interesting abode.

The new home for the sun bears includes logs for climbing as well as bark chip substrate, which allows them to naturally forage and explore for food, which is hidden in an environment akin to a tropical rainforest. As sun bears are also active at night, the off-exhibit night enclosure for the bears is very large and includes bear “toys”, foraging areas, and a variety of sleeping platforms to occupy them.

“With the new enclosure, visitors will learn more about how sun bears behave in their natural environment. Of the eight species of bears, very little is known about the sun bear. But we do know that its wild population is on a sharp decline and they have become extinct in parts of their historical range. This is why over the years, we have funded a field research project to gather as much information as possible on sun bears” said Ms Fanny Lai, Executive Director for Night Safari and Singapore Zoo.

To date, sun bears are listed as data deficient on the International Union for the Conservation of Nature’s Species Survival Commission (IUCN/SSC) Red List as little is known about them. The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) has listed sun bears in Appendix 1 which makes any commercial trade in the bear or its body parts illegal.

The field research project that the Singapore Zoo helps to sponsor on sun bears in the Danum Valley region of Sabah was spearheaded with the intention of gathering data on the ecology of the species and the prospects for survival in disrupted forest habitats. With information gathered from this research, the Zoo is able to gain further insight into the sun bears’ physical and mental needs.

“As we now have a better understanding about sun bears, we will be able to do more for the species. We have taken steps to improve the conditions for our sun bears by making their habitat more naturalistic. In months to come, we will be sending our male bear to another institution, and will receive an unrelated male for our sun bear breeding programme,” said Ms Lai.

In total, the new habitat will initially be home to three sun bears, one male (age five years old) and two females (age 17 and 30 years old respectively). The male bear and younger female bear were both born in Singapore, while the older female was brought in to Singapore when it was a one-year old cub in 1978; she may be the oldest sun bear in captivity. (As with most species, the longevity of a sun bear in the wild will notexceed the captive average age of 20 years.)

Since its inception, the Singapore Zoo has successfully produced and reared three sun bears.
Found mostly in the mainland countries of Southeast Asia, sun bears are losing their habitat to oil palm plantations and poaching for the traditional medicine trade and are probably close to extinction in many parts of their current range. Mr Wong Siew Te, expert field researcher on sun bears and first co-chair of the SunBear Expert Team for the IUCN from 2002 to 2005 was recently in Singapore at the invitation of the Zoo to share information from his Zoo-funded research findings on the plight of sun bears in the wild.

Zoo animal attack 6

A Chinese zookeeper needed more than 100 stitches after a 2-year-old panda viciously bit and scratched him during feeding time at a zoo in northwestern China, a zoo official and a newspaper said Monday.

The zookeeper, surnamed Zhang, was hospitalized after the attack Saturday in Lanzhou, Gansu province, but his life was not in danger, said a woman surnamed Zhou, who is director of the zoo's office. The Lanzhou Morning Post said the man needed more than 100 stitches.

Zhang was feeding the panda from outside the enclosure, sticking his arms through the wire, when the panda, Lan Zai, grabbed his arms and began biting them and then scratched his legs, Zhou said in a telephone interview.

Lan Zai was transferred to the zoo on July 28 from Chengdu in southwestern China and had apparently not adjusted well to Lanzhou's drier climate. The panda had refused to eat for several days, Zhou said.

The panda also had not grown comfortable with Zhang during its weeklong stay at the zoo.
Last October, a panda cub bit off part of the thumb of an American visitor who was feeding the animal at a reserve in southwestern China. A month earlier, a drunken Chinese tourist bit a panda at the Beijing Zoo after the animal attacked him when he jumped into the enclosure and tried to hug it.

Useless when OLD

A BROWN bear rescued by Brigitte Bardot and brought to Scotland has become the latest symbol of conflict between animal-rights campaigners and the debt-ridden Glasgow Zoopark.
Bongo the Bear was to be put down tomorrow, but the plans have been shelved after Advocates for Animals claimed it would be the first in a mass cull of animals unable to be rehoused when the zoo closes in September.

Management at the zoo last night dismissed as "disgracefully sensationalist" the claims by the animal-rights campaigners. They claim Bongo’s death will be a mercy killing, as the beast is suffering from old age and disease.

The war of words came as it emerged that other Scottish zoos have no space to commit to the Glasgow animals.

The 100-acre site at Calderpark in the east end of the city has run up debts approaching £3.65 million and saw a rescue plan involving the sale of land to housebuilders hit by planning delays.
The Scottish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SSPCA) has been brought in to assist the zoo in finding new homes for the 68 species.

However, yesterday, management at Edinburgh Zoo and Blair Drummond Safari Park, in Stirlingshire, admitted they cannot offer accommodation for the beasts.
A spokeswoman for Edinburgh Zoo said: "We don’t have any empty enclosures, so we couldn’t take any big animals.

"But there is a chance we could help with some of the smaller animals, such as the reptiles."
She added: "We just don’t have the resources or the staff."

Gary Gilmour, the manager of Blair Drummond Safari Park, said they could not help in the relocation, adding: "We don’t have the space to take any more animals."
Mr Gilmour said that taking tigers or lions could not happen as they exist in complex social groups which would not accept new additions.

Mr Gilmour said that Glasgow Zoopark was a victim of a slump in visitor numbers.
He added: "It’s a catch 22 situation. If you don’t have the number of visitors coming in then you won’t have the money to improve the enclosures and the conditions."

Advocates for Animals yesterday slammed the zoo, insisting that the death by lethal injection of Bongo would set a precedent for the four remaining bears which, aged between 20 and 30, would be considered too old to move to other sanctuaries.

Yvonne Taylor, the charity’s campaign co-ordinator, said: "They have exploited these animals over the years and they deserve to be cared for in the best possible standards for the rest of their natural lives. Now the zoo is closing, they are saying that any animals not rehoused should be destroyed.

"If there is any money left over from the sale of land, it should be used to provide for these animals and make sure they live out the rest of their lives in comfortable surroundings."
Ms Taylor added that the zoo had declined offers from the charity to help in the bid to rehouse the beasts through global contacts in the animal welfare community.

"We have been completely ignored by the zoo," she insisted. "We have found potential homes for these bears but been told to post the details.

"The zoo says they are outraged by these scare stories, but these will continue unless the zoo works with people in the open."

A spokeswoman for Glasgow Zoopark said there was no "schedule for the slaughter of our animals", adding: "While it is true that Bongo the bear was due to be put down on Wednesday, this decision was taken purely on health grounds as Bongo is a very old, unwell bear and it is entirely unrelated to the zoo’s closure.

"Bongo will no longer be put down on Wednesday. It will happen in the near future, but the date for this cannot be made public following this media frenzy."

Bongo was rescued from a zoo in Italy in 2000. The cost of his transfer was met by the foundation set up by Bardot, the former French actress turned committed animal lover. However, the bear, which has had previous operations for testicular cancer, stomach ulcers and arthritis is now considered too unwell to move to another home. The zoo’s vet, Emma Timperley, has advised that Bongo’s deteriorating quality of life warrants euthanasia.

Singapore Zoo's Orang Utans get Home Upgrades

ORANG UTANS at the Singapore Zoo now have a newly renovated home. The renovation cost about $1 million and took five months to complete.

The centrepiece - the world's first tree top boardwalk that allows visitors to walk among the free range orang utans.

Ms Fanny Lai, Executive Director of Singapore Zoo and Night Safari, said the newly constructed boardwalk is designed to bring visitors closer to the animals.
For example, the new Sumatran habitat allows visitors to stand eye to eye with the 90kg male adult orang utan, Charlie.

In addition, the zoo has upgraded the Borneo exhibit area by adding more live plants, trees and fallen logs which provide shade for the animals.

By attracting more visitors to see the playful orang utans, the zoo hopes to raise public awareness about the endangered species.

There are currently 25 orang utans housed at the zoo.

Is this the same as vote for PAP and get your HDB upgrades. ?

Zoo attack 5

An eight-year-old Indonesian boy died after being attacked by a Komodo dragon in a national park in the east of the country, an official said.

"The dragon bit his waist, tossed him and dragged him. His right leg was badly scratched," Heru Rudiharto of the Komodo National Park said by telephone.

He said the boy had been attacked on Saturday after entering a bush for a toilet stop in a fishing village in the national park on Komodo, an island 1,500 km (930 miles) east of the capital Jakarta.

His uncle, who had been mending fishing nets nearby, tried to free him by throwing stones at the dragon, he added.

"However, the boy bled to death half an hour after the attack," added Rudiharto.
The official said it was rare for such attacks on humans, although in the dry season that started in April the dragon's normal prey became more scarce.

"It is very common here to see dragons roaming in the residential area in the national park. But it is very rare that a Komodo dragon kills a human," said Rudiharto.

"Usually, people here only suffer minor injuries."

There are about 2,000 of the protected and endangered dragons living in the wild, mainly on Indonesia's Komodo and Rinca islands, he said.

The dragons, which are agile and have a keen sense of smell, can grow to a length of 3 metres (more than 9 ft) and weigh on average 200 lbs (90 kg), according to data from Honolulu Zoo.
Komodo dragons regularly kill prey such as pigs and small deer and have been known to take down an adult water buffalo.

But they are opportunistic feeders and are prepared to eat anything they can overpower -- including small dragons and occasionally humans.

The mouth of the dragon also has virulent bacteria that means even if its prey survives an attack it will probably die of infection later.

Zoo animals as Food

A German mayor has filed charges against zoo workers in his town for shooting animals and selling them as meat.

The mayor's spokesperson said deer were amongst animals which had been killed and sold without permission by workers at Erfurt Zoo.

She said: "The case is now with the state prosecutors".

The German Animal Protection League has demanded a review of controls at Erfurt Zoo and all institutions housing animals in the state of Thuringia.

Wolfgang Apel, president of the League, said: "We are worried this is only the tip of the iceberg."
Erfurt Zoo is home to lions, elephants and giraffes among other animals. It has been the subject of complaints from animal rights campaigners and federal authorities over its imports of South American wild elephants.

Polar Stays

WRS Animal Welfare & Ethics Committee (AWEC) Recommendation for Polar Bear Inuka to stay in SingaporeThe Wildlife Reserves Singapore Animal Welfare & Ethics Committee recommends that Singapore-born polar bear Inuka should remain here and not be sent to an institution in a temperate country, upon the demise of his mother Sheba. This recommendation was made during the Committee’s meeting on 27 January 2007.

Following are the supporting arguments for this recommendation, which considers above all else, what is best for Inuka:

Inuka was born in Singapore and already acclimated to the conditions here.
The life span of both Inuka (16 years old) and his mother Sheba (30 years old) indicate that both polar bears are faring well in this environment.

Male polar bears are solitary by nature and associate with females only during the breeding season. Maintaining Inuka alone at the Singapore Zoo after his mother’s demise is not counter to what occurs naturally in the wild.

The transport of a full grown polar bear to an institution in a temperate country will be a stressful situation and carries its own share of risks; most extreme being that Inuka may die during transportation or during the introduction process in the new facility.

Depending on when Sheba passes on, Inuka may have only limited breeding potential because of his age, and if sent to a temperate institution, will probably not contribute to the captive breeding effort.

Moving Inuka to a temperate facility after losing his mother will add further stress, since he will be removed from an environment that he is already familiar with.

Inuka will continue to be the Singapore Zoo’s ambassador for the conservation and educational thrusts regarding climate change, throughout his whole life here.

The public is invited to give their feedback on the Committee’s recommendation.

The WRS Animal Welfare & Ethics Committee comprises:

Chairman

Mr Wong Family at Zoo

http://wongfamily.wordpress.com/2007/07/01/family-trip-singapore-2007-part-iii

Thankfully the weather was clear but cool, so it was a good substitute for the Night Safari that we missed on Friday.

First off, it was lunch at the food court.

Then the Family went for a proper exploration of the Singapore Zoo.

The entrance itself immediately impressed upon us that this was going to be quite different from Zoo Negara – it was a plank walkway high off the ground with trees on the sides, conjuring an atmosphere of going on a jungle adventure!

By walking and taking the tram, we fully explored the Zoo, visiting Orang Utans, birds, big cats, dogs, reptiles, horses (Ama and May’s animal birth year), bears and all manner of animals that had the Kids in ecstasy.

Aba’s lime flavoured Popsicle with vanilla flavoured ice-cream filling (purchased from zoo vendor) helped cool down the Kids in between rest stops. (The Twins had been walking without the stroller the whole day!)

Finally, it was evening.
We took dinner at the KFC, before going to the Causeway, and back to Good Ol’ Malaysia!

Wildlife officials rescue 950 monkeys from smugglers in southern Malaysia, detain 4

Malaysian authorities busted a wildlife smuggling ring, rescuing 950 monkeys believed bound for China and Holland and detaining four men including an Indonesian, an official said Tuesday.
Officials discovered the 950 long-tailed macaques starving and cramped in filthy cages in a raid on a farm in Johor state on Saturday following a two-week investigation, said Wildlife Department assistant director Celescoriano Razond.

"From our initial investigation, they were targeting to send the monkeys to restaurants in China and laboratories in Holland. We are still investigating," Celescoriano said.

The primates were in a pitiful condition, some were eating the carcasses of their young, and another 100 dead monkeys were piled up nearby, he said.

Celescoriano said he believed the macaques had been caught in Malaysian jungles and that they had been caged for at least a month.

"This is the biggest seizure of smuggled monkeys ever," he told The Associated Press, adding that the department has treated the monkeys and released them back into protested forest areas.

Celescoriano said three Malaysians, including one who is believed to be the ring leader, would be charged with unlawful possession and cruelty to wildlife, and that they could be jailed for up to three years or fined up to 6,000 ringgit (US$1,714; €1,428) each if convicted.

The Indonesian, who was a worker at the farm, has been handed over to the immigration department, he said. Immigration officials could not be reached for further details.

NO GST Increase In FEEs

Open 365 days a year, the Singapore Zoo is a must-see destination on every visitor's attractions list. With the following useful information at hand, you can plan your day of fun and exploration with ease.

Opening hours
8.30am to 6.00pm daily
Entrance fees (admission only):
Adult S$15.00Child S$7.50
All prices include 7% GST

Parking charges:
Car/saloon S$3.90Lorry/Van S$4.90

Parking charges are per entry basis. No grace period.
(Electronic Parking System. Please insert your cashcard with sufficient funds into the vehicle's I/U unit when exiting the carpark.)

Tram & Train (unlimited rides for both weekdays & weekends):

The tram ride covers 2.2km with three stopovers.

Adult S$5.00Child (3-12 years old) S$2.50

Park Hoppers special (admissions only):

Zoo & Night Safari Adult S$30.00Child S$15.00
Zoo, Night Safari & BirdPark Adult S$40.00Child S$20.00

When an animal dies at a zoo, what do they do with the body?

Responsible zoos have the policy of doing a necropsy (autopsy) on every single animal that dies on site.
This includes a general health assessment as well as identificiation of the cause of death. Not only is there a physical examination, but samples of blood and tissues are sent off for routine testing, as well as testing that may be associated with the cause of death.

Where possible, the necropsy is also used as a teaching tool - vets and vet students will use this opportunity to learn more about that type of animal. For many exotic animals in zoos there may be limited information about their physiology.

For many species, especially those who are endangered, there may also be a collection of sperm or eggs from the animal, for storage or study. This can be done even after the animal has died, in the process of "gamete rescue". Quite a few North American zoos now have this capability, and if they don't they are able to courier the testes/ovaries to a facility that can perform the rescue.
DNA samples (usually hair or a small section of skin) are often taken from the animal as well, to be used in research or frozen away for possible future needs.

Finally, the animal will be disposed of as appropriate for the species. Generally cremation would happen, but some animals would have their skeletons or hides preserved, or in some rare cases they might even be stuffed - for teaching tool purposes. This would be done by the zoo or an associated museum or similar organisation. Extremely large species (like elephants) are usually buried somewhere on the zoo site, space permitting.

Animals Die with the Forest

INDONESIA'S tropical rainforests are disappearing 30 per cent faster than previously estimated as illegal loggers raid large national parks, threatening the long-term survival of orang utans, according to a United Nations report released on Monday.

The Indonesian authorities recently intercepted shipments totalling 70,000 cu m - about 3,000 truckloads - of illegal timber and arrested several people, but loggers were clearing an estimated 2.1 million ha of forest a year for timber worth US$4 billion (S$6 billion), said the report by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP).

Only about 7,000 Sumatran orang utans and about 50,000 Borneo orang utans now exist in the wild.

'The populations are crashing dramatically,' said Ms Melanie Virtue of UNEP's Great Apes Survival Project, which carried out the study.

The number of Sumatran orang utans has fallen 91 per cent in the last century, based on studies of the number of apes in today's dense forests, said Mr Ian Redmond, also of the Great Apes Survival Project.

It is not known how much the population of the Borneo orang utans has declined.
Orang utans fleeing overlogged areas have ended up in 'refugee camps' run by the UNEP project.

Indonesian rescue centres now have about 1,000 orang utans, and the illegal trade in young orang utans for private zoos and safari parks has increased to 'significant numbers', the report said, without specifying further.

Earlier forecasts have said Indonesia's natural rainforest would be seriously degraded by 2032.
But projections based on new satellite surveillance suggest that 98 per cent of lowland forest will be destroyed by 2022, and many protected areas will be gone within the next five years, said the report, called 'The Last Stand of the Orang Utan'.

Orang utans breed only once in seven years, meaning their numbers struggle to recover even without the loss of their habitat.

But the report said orang utans have shown they can survive selective logging. Evidence from Ketgambe and Gunung Leuser in Sumatra showed their numbers declined after large trees were extracted from the forest, but rebounded as the forest regenerated.

The report was released at the triennial meeting of the 171-nation Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (Cites).

The 1975 Cites treaty prohibits all trade in orang utans except by special permit.

The report said illegal loggers were operating in 37 out of 41 Indonesian national parks. Further pressure came from plantation owners clearing forests for palm oil trees to meet the demand for biofuels.

The report estimates that up to 88 per cent of all Indonesian timber is logged illegally and usually shipped abroad after being processed into lumber in saw mills or used as pulp.

First Released Panda Died in Wild

A five-year-old panda - who last year became the first to be released into the wild after being bred in captivity - has died, state media and Chinese nature reserve officials said yesterday.

The body of Xiang Xiang was found Feb. 19 on snow-covered ground in the forests of Sichuan province in China's southwest, the Xinhua News Agency said. He survived less than a year in the wild after nearly three years of training in survival techniques and defence tactics.

"Xiang Xiang died of serious internal injuries in the left side of his chest and stomach by falling from a high place," said Heng Yi, an official from the Wolong Giant Panda Research Centre in Sichuan. "The scratches and other minor injuries caused by other wild pandas were found on his body.

So Xiang Xiang may have fallen from trees when being chased by those pandas."Heng said the long delay in announcing Xiang Xiang's death was attributed to the need for a full investigation."We are all sad about Xiang Xiang, but it doesn't mean the project has failed," Zhang Hemin, the centre's head, was quoted as saying by Xinhua. "The lessons we have learned from what happened to Xiang Xiang will help us adapt and improve the project."

The nearly 80-kilogram male panda was released from Wolong in April 2006 and had been trained almost three years to survive in the wild. Xiang Xiang, whose name means auspicious, learned how to build a den, forage for food and mark his territory, experts at Wolong have said. He also developed defensive skills like howling and biting.

Li Desheng, deputy director of the Wolong centre, said Xiang Xiang's case proves that wild-panda communities are reluctant to accept male outsiders."We chose Xiang Xiang because we thought that a strong male panda would have a better chance of surviving in the harsh natural environment," Li was quoted as saying. "But the other male pandas clearly saw Xiang Xiang as a threat.

Next time we will choose a female panda."State media last year said that Xiang Xiang hesitated for a second when the door of his cage was opened, then scampered off into a nearby bamboo forest where he was tracked by a global positioning device attached to his collar.

He has been buried at the foot of a mountain, about 13 kilometres from the Wolong centre, Li said.

A splashing season at the Singapore Zoo

Zoo: When animal attack 4

An orangutan escaped from a Taiwanese zoo and terrified patrons at a nearby restaurant Wednesday, overturning picnic tables and motorbikes and forcing terrified diners to cower inside the eatery.

The orangutan, who pushed his way out of his cage before wandering into the restaurant, was subdued when an official shot him with a tranquilizer dart. He was carted off for treatment in the scoop of a small bulldozer.

Wednesday's incident occurred six weeks after a 440-pound crocodile chewed the forearm off a veterinarian at the same zoo. The vet's limb was reattached in a seven-hour surgery.

Orangutans are native to the forests of Malaysia and Indonesia. They have a shaggy, reddish-brown coat, long arms and no tail.

Zoo: when animals attack 3

A 57-year-old Dutch woman who was attacked by a gorilla at a Rotterdam zoo said the ape was still her favorite even though she felt she was going to die when he bit her.

"I go to the zoo almost every day with my husband, and we're always going to see Bokito. I even have pictures and videos from Berlin when he was only four months old," the woman told Dutch mass-circulation daily Telegraaf.

"He is and remains my darling," the paper quoted the woman as saying from her hospital bed, where she is being treated for bite wounds and a broken arm and wrist. The 11-year old male gorilla burst out of its enclosure on Friday and went on a rampage in the zoo's cafeteria before being recaptured.

"I stood by the small apes in the Africa section when I heard a thud behind me. I turned around and there was Bokito. I had nowhere to go. He gripped me, sat on me with his full weight and began biting me," the woman told the Telegraaf.

"I could only think 'O God, I'm going to die, I'm going to die'."

The Telegraaf said people had since come from across the country to Rotterdam Zoo to see the gorilla.

TCM Singapore Zoo

Acupuncture for a limping elephant? Herbal tea for a constipated orangutan? The Singapore Zoo has tried it all, and it works.

Around 200 animals, including giraffes, elephants, horses, pythons and sea lions, have successfully been treated with acupuncture and traditional herb-based Chinese medicine in the past decade, although Western medicine remains the first line of treatment in the zoo.
"The Western medicine did not always work, so we had to find other solutions," Oh Soon Hock, a senior veterinarian at the zoo told Reuters on Friday.

Earlier this week the zoo received a S$30,000 ($19,700) grant for further research into traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) for animals from a Singapore-based firm that produces TCM.

Oh -- who was trained in Western veterinarian medicine but also studied Chinese medicine -- said this sort of healing is typically used after Western medicine fails to produce results.
He said an orangutan who had received modern medication for constipation for more than a year recovered after drinking an ancient Chinese brew of herbs, ground and dissolved in its honey drink, for just one week.

The zoo has also used acupuncture to reduce the swelling around the fractured leg of a sedated cheetah.

Treating an elephant with acupuncture requires some industrial-size needles to pierce its 2.5 centimeter (one inch) thick hide and sometimes through 15 centimeters of muscles.
The custom-made stainless steel needles are 15 to 20 cm long and 0.6 mm (0.024 inch) thick, Oh said.

"We use stainless steel needles because they bend but won't break," Oh said, adding that the needles need to pierce through the hide and muscles to get close to the bones for the treatment to be most effective.

Acupuncture, an ancient Chinese treatment, stimulates blood circulation by sticking needles at specific points of the body through which the body's energy flows.

According to Chinese medicine, the blood carries "qi", or body energy, that flows along pathways through the body. Acupuncture stimulates the blood by stimulating the "qi".