SYDNEY - A FIVE-YEAR-OLD boy is feared to have been snatched by a crocodile in floodwaters in northern Australia while walking with his dog on Sunday, police said.
'The boy was walking with his seven-year-old brother earlier this morning when he followed his dog into floodwaters,' police said in a statement.
'He disappeared in the water and his brother saw a large crocodile in the vicinity of his disappearance.' A large-scale search for the boy has been launched at Cape Tribulation in far north Queensland.
Police were also searching for two people missing after their car was washed away as they tried to drive through floodwaters south of Tully in Queensland.
Much of the state has been declared a disaster zone, with an area of more than a million square kilometres and 3,000 homes affected by floods due to torrential rains.
Hundreds of people were forced to evacuate and others have been stranded in their homes.
Rain continued to fall on the saturated state on Sunday, easing in the worst-hit north but threatening to flood areas that have so far escaped the monsoonal downpours.
'Tomorrow, the monsoon trough continues its movements south and the bulk of the rain will head down towards Rockhampton,' a weather bureau spokesman said.
'We can expect local flooding to occur as that rain moves south.' While the north of eastern Australia has been swamped, the south has faced scorching heat and deadly wildfires.
The death toll from bushfires raging through Victoria state soared to 35 Sunday and was set to mount in a disaster Prime Minister Kevin Rudd described as 'hell in all its fury.' Most of those killed were caught up in an inferno northwest of Melbourne, where entire townships had been razed in the firestorm, which continued to burn out of control on Sunday. -- AFP
Monday, February 09, 2009
Thursday, February 05, 2009
Huge snake fossil found!
Stunned scientists have found the fossilised remains of the world's greatest snake -- a record-busting serpent that was as long as a bus and snacked on crocodiles.
The boa-like behemoth ruled the tropical rainforests of what is now Colombia some 60 million years ago, at a time when the world was far hotter than now, they report in a study released on Wednesday.
The size of the snake's vertebrae suggest the beast weighed some 1.135 tonnes, in a range of 730 kilos (1,600 pounds) to 2.03 tonnes.
And it measured 13 metres (42.7 feet) from nose to tail, in a range of 10.64-15 metres (34.6-48.75 feet), they estimate.
"Truly enormous snakes really spark people's imagination, but reality has exceeded the fantasies of Hollywood," said Jonathan Block, a vertebrate palaeontologist at the University of Florida, who co-led the work.
"The snake that tried to eat Jennifer Lopez in the movie 'Anaconda' is not as big as the one we found."
"At its greatest width, the snake would have come up to about your hips," said David Polly, a geologist at the University of Indiana at Bloomington.
The investigators found the remains of the new species at an unlikely location -- at one of the world's biggest open-cast coalmines, in Cerrejon, Colombia, where giant machines had obligingly gnawed away surface layers of dirt.
Working as huge coal-laden trucks thundered by, the team sifted through the earth, laying bare the remains of supersized snakes and their likely prey -- extinct species of crocodiles and giant turtles -- and evidence that a massive rainforest once covered the ground.
"The giant Colombian snake is a truly exciting discovery. For years, herpetologists have argued about just how big snakes can get, with debatable estimates of the max somewhere less than 40 feet" (12.3 metres), said leading snake expert Harry Greene of Cornell University, New York.
Titanoboa cerrejonensis -- whose Latin name honours the coal mine -- is not only a source of jaw-dropping wonder.
It is also a useful indicator as to the world's climate after the dinosaurs were wiped out some 65 million years ago, the team say.
Unlike mammals, reptiles cannot regulate their own temperature.
As a result, they are limited in body size by the ambient temperature of where they live. For example, reptiles today are bigger in the tropics than they are in cooler latitudes.
Based on T. cerrejonensis, the scientists calculate that the mean annual temperature in equatorial South America 60 million years ago would have been 30-34 degrees Celsius, or 86-93 degrees Fahrenheit.
That makes it around 3-4 C (5.5-7.2 F) hotter than tropical rainforests today.
If so, this is a welcome piece of news about climate change.
Simulations about global warming suggest that, on present trends, the world's surface temperatures could rise by between 1.8-4.0 C (3.2-7.2 F) by 2100.
If the supersnakes are a guide, tropical rain forests could still exist at such temperatures, although a fast, massive rise in warming could well be devastating to many species.
The paper is published by the British-based weekly science journal Nature.
The world's longest snake today is the Asian reticulated python, specimens of which can grow around 10 metres (32.5 feet), and the biggest in terms of mass is the green anaconda, with some specimens weighing 227 kilos (550 pounds).
The boa-like behemoth ruled the tropical rainforests of what is now Colombia some 60 million years ago, at a time when the world was far hotter than now, they report in a study released on Wednesday.
The size of the snake's vertebrae suggest the beast weighed some 1.135 tonnes, in a range of 730 kilos (1,600 pounds) to 2.03 tonnes.
And it measured 13 metres (42.7 feet) from nose to tail, in a range of 10.64-15 metres (34.6-48.75 feet), they estimate.
"Truly enormous snakes really spark people's imagination, but reality has exceeded the fantasies of Hollywood," said Jonathan Block, a vertebrate palaeontologist at the University of Florida, who co-led the work.
"The snake that tried to eat Jennifer Lopez in the movie 'Anaconda' is not as big as the one we found."
"At its greatest width, the snake would have come up to about your hips," said David Polly, a geologist at the University of Indiana at Bloomington.
The investigators found the remains of the new species at an unlikely location -- at one of the world's biggest open-cast coalmines, in Cerrejon, Colombia, where giant machines had obligingly gnawed away surface layers of dirt.
Working as huge coal-laden trucks thundered by, the team sifted through the earth, laying bare the remains of supersized snakes and their likely prey -- extinct species of crocodiles and giant turtles -- and evidence that a massive rainforest once covered the ground.
"The giant Colombian snake is a truly exciting discovery. For years, herpetologists have argued about just how big snakes can get, with debatable estimates of the max somewhere less than 40 feet" (12.3 metres), said leading snake expert Harry Greene of Cornell University, New York.
Titanoboa cerrejonensis -- whose Latin name honours the coal mine -- is not only a source of jaw-dropping wonder.
It is also a useful indicator as to the world's climate after the dinosaurs were wiped out some 65 million years ago, the team say.
Unlike mammals, reptiles cannot regulate their own temperature.
As a result, they are limited in body size by the ambient temperature of where they live. For example, reptiles today are bigger in the tropics than they are in cooler latitudes.
Based on T. cerrejonensis, the scientists calculate that the mean annual temperature in equatorial South America 60 million years ago would have been 30-34 degrees Celsius, or 86-93 degrees Fahrenheit.
That makes it around 3-4 C (5.5-7.2 F) hotter than tropical rainforests today.
If so, this is a welcome piece of news about climate change.
Simulations about global warming suggest that, on present trends, the world's surface temperatures could rise by between 1.8-4.0 C (3.2-7.2 F) by 2100.
If the supersnakes are a guide, tropical rain forests could still exist at such temperatures, although a fast, massive rise in warming could well be devastating to many species.
The paper is published by the British-based weekly science journal Nature.
The world's longest snake today is the Asian reticulated python, specimens of which can grow around 10 metres (32.5 feet), and the biggest in terms of mass is the green anaconda, with some specimens weighing 227 kilos (550 pounds).
Wednesday, February 04, 2009
Stolen tortoise case
Owner of 10 stolen exotic tortoises worth almost $75,000 have got seven of them back - but the man who returned them is now assisting the police with their investigations.
According to the owners of the Live Turtle and Tortoise Museum at the Chinese Garden in Jurong, he resembles one of the two thieves caught on closed-circuit television (CCTV) making off with the reptiles.
The Indian Star Tortoises and highly endangered Radiated Tortoises were stolen on Saturday night.
According to the owners of the Live Turtle and Tortoise Museum at the Chinese Garden in Jurong, he resembles one of the two thieves caught on closed-circuit television (CCTV) making off with the reptiles.
The Indian Star Tortoises and highly endangered Radiated Tortoises were stolen on Saturday night.
Sunday, January 25, 2009
Should animals be caged? Protection or Depriving freedom
20 January 2009
Straits Times
Forum
Dear Sir/Madam,
Pity the dolphins caught from the wild
I REFER to the article, 'Senator cites Mexico's sad experience with dolphins' (Jan 12), which reported that Mexican senator Jorge Legorreta Ordorica had written to National Development Minister Mah Bow Tan last month to relate Mexico's experience - 12 out of 28 dolphins Mexico had imported from the Solomon Islands in 2003 had died from illnesses, ranging from a muscle disorder to pneumonia.
Mr Ordorica urged Mr Mah to consider the disturbing mortality rate of the animals when evaluating import applications for such animals.
It had been reported previously that seven bottlenose dolphins, part of a group of 18 destined for Resorts World Sentosa, were taken from the wild in the Solomon Islands.
Although Singapore reportedly thanked Mr Ordorica for his letter, and has stated that the dolphins here will require Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (Cites) import and export permits, this in no way addresses or eliminates the stress, suffering and health risks these creatures
have been subjected to and will endure in the whole process.
Marine Life Park has said its dolphin enclosure will more than meet the minimum space requirements for the dolphins, but in an era where corporate social responsibility is emphasised in relation to environmental concerns, it will not reflect well on Singapore's image and may also cause a dent in its reputation.
The act of taking these animals from the wild (endangered or not) is at odds with the letter and spirit of Singapore's Wild Animals & Birds Act, which prohibits the taking of an animal from the wild.
The list of injustices throughout the dolphins' ordeal is extensive and heart-rending to those in animal welfare:
- Removing them from their natural habitat involves loss of their freedom and natural behaviour;
- Being subjected to long holding periods before their arrival in Singapore;
- Having to endure a stressful journey involving handling and transport; and
- Forcing them to adapt to an alternative lifestyle in a man-made structure, to be tamed and trained for human benefit and enjoyment.
The SPCA wrote recently to Resorts World Sentosa to object to the import of these dolphins caught from the wild and asked for a review and reversal of its decision.
Kudos to cargo air services company UPS, which reportedly refused to ship the dolphins from the Philippines to Singapore because 'the practice violated its environmental principles'.
Yes, people must be educated to appreciate marine life, but not at the animals' expense.
Deirdre Moss (Ms)
Executive Officer
Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
Straits Times
Forum
Dear Sir/Madam,
Pity the dolphins caught from the wild
I REFER to the article, 'Senator cites Mexico's sad experience with dolphins' (Jan 12), which reported that Mexican senator Jorge Legorreta Ordorica had written to National Development Minister Mah Bow Tan last month to relate Mexico's experience - 12 out of 28 dolphins Mexico had imported from the Solomon Islands in 2003 had died from illnesses, ranging from a muscle disorder to pneumonia.
Mr Ordorica urged Mr Mah to consider the disturbing mortality rate of the animals when evaluating import applications for such animals.
It had been reported previously that seven bottlenose dolphins, part of a group of 18 destined for Resorts World Sentosa, were taken from the wild in the Solomon Islands.
Although Singapore reportedly thanked Mr Ordorica for his letter, and has stated that the dolphins here will require Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (Cites) import and export permits, this in no way addresses or eliminates the stress, suffering and health risks these creatures
have been subjected to and will endure in the whole process.
Marine Life Park has said its dolphin enclosure will more than meet the minimum space requirements for the dolphins, but in an era where corporate social responsibility is emphasised in relation to environmental concerns, it will not reflect well on Singapore's image and may also cause a dent in its reputation.
The act of taking these animals from the wild (endangered or not) is at odds with the letter and spirit of Singapore's Wild Animals & Birds Act, which prohibits the taking of an animal from the wild.
The list of injustices throughout the dolphins' ordeal is extensive and heart-rending to those in animal welfare:
- Removing them from their natural habitat involves loss of their freedom and natural behaviour;
- Being subjected to long holding periods before their arrival in Singapore;
- Having to endure a stressful journey involving handling and transport; and
- Forcing them to adapt to an alternative lifestyle in a man-made structure, to be tamed and trained for human benefit and enjoyment.
The SPCA wrote recently to Resorts World Sentosa to object to the import of these dolphins caught from the wild and asked for a review and reversal of its decision.
Kudos to cargo air services company UPS, which reportedly refused to ship the dolphins from the Philippines to Singapore because 'the practice violated its environmental principles'.
Yes, people must be educated to appreciate marine life, but not at the animals' expense.
Deirdre Moss (Ms)
Executive Officer
Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
Thursday, January 15, 2009
Jobs available at Singapore Zoo
Part Time Receptionist at Singapore Zoo
Responsibilities:
Operates the telephone switchboard
Handles incoming calls and attends to general telephone enquiries
Forward email enquiries/feedback to the appropriate departments
Attends to visitors
Handles all incoming and outgoing mails and couriers
Requirements:
Min GCE “A” Level
Relevant working experience will be an advantage
Good communications skill
Pleasant, cheerful with good telephone etiquette
Computer literate
Able to work on weekends and PH
If you have an affinity to work with nature or in a wildlife environment, please send in your detailed resume to:
Human Resources Department
Singapore Zoological Gardens
80 Mandai Lake Road Singapore 729826
Email: recruit@zoo.com.sg
Responsibilities:
Operates the telephone switchboard
Handles incoming calls and attends to general telephone enquiries
Forward email enquiries/feedback to the appropriate departments
Attends to visitors
Handles all incoming and outgoing mails and couriers
Requirements:
Min GCE “A” Level
Relevant working experience will be an advantage
Good communications skill
Pleasant, cheerful with good telephone etiquette
Computer literate
Able to work on weekends and PH
If you have an affinity to work with nature or in a wildlife environment, please send in your detailed resume to:
Human Resources Department
Singapore Zoological Gardens
80 Mandai Lake Road Singapore 729826
Email: recruit@zoo.com.sg
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Visit Ah Meng Restaurant
Singapore, January 13, 2009 - The Singapore Zoo wanted to remember her but a sculpture of her wasn't enough.
So it decided to open two new eateries named after its longtime resident and icon Ah Meng the orang utan who died of old age last year. Called Ah Meng Restaurant and Ah Meng Kopi, the zoo hope it will help keep the memory of is best-known resident alive.
But already, there's an Ah Meng Cafe, operating since 1994, in Orchard Plaza in Orchard Road, catering to locals and tourists.
But the good-natured owner, Michael Tan, 65, a fan of the orang utan, would not be taking action against the zoo for using Ah Meng's name.
He said: "I registered my cafe's name but the zoo has the right to use the same name. But I'm not going to sue them or insist that they change the name," he told SoShiok.com
"I named my restaurant Ah Meng Cafe as Ah Meng is a famous Singapore icon. I kept a photo of Ah Meng having breakfast with Bernard Harrison before. I felt sad when Ah Meng died last year, and I did think of giving up the business. And also partly because I'm old and my children are not interested in the business," Mr Tan added.
His mission in opening the restaurant, which has sidewalk seating, was to help rescue the old street food of Singapore from vanishing. He was in showbiz in his younger days but was influenced by the F & B trade at his performing venues.
In fact, Mr Tan, also nicknamed as "Ah Meng" by regular patrons, has also earned international fame. His cafe, which offers local dishes, seafood and BBQ dishes, is shown in a video to passengers on SIA flights arriving in Singapore.
"SIA has done a good job by introducing foreigners to our cafe," said hardworking Mr Tan whose cafe is open from 11am till as late as 3am if there are still customers at that time.
The Peranakan man declared: "Every dish is authentic. Fish head curry, chilli crab, char siew rice, laksa, hor fun, curry chicken, satay, chicken rice and nasi lemak....Our chicken rice is popular. I learnt cooking before starting this restaurant but today I don't cook as much as my assistants can do those dishes very well."
Singapore Zoo lost its famous icon Ah Meng (left) when she died last year. Zookeeper Sam (seen here with her) was heartbroken.
Ah Meng eateries at the zoo
Singapore food is also the focus of the zoo's Ah Meng Kopi while its Ah Meng Restaurant has both local and western dishes.
Ah Meng Restaurant, located inside the zoo, offers chicken rice, dim sum, otak otak, chwee kuay, vegetarian and chicken briyani (pretty good), alongside western items like spaghetti, sandwiches, salad, hotdogs, fish & chips and cheesecake.
There are also 'Ah Meng flavoured' Durian Puffs...erm...you gotta go there to try them yourself. Don't try to prise our lips, we're not revealing more. Anyway, don't we all know that Ah Meng loved durians?
Located at the zoo's entrance, Ah Meng Kopi offers 'kopitiam' favourites like tea, coffee and dishes like mee siam and mee rebus.
Naming two restaurants after Ah Meng is not inappropriate as she was the star of countless "Breakfast with Ah Meng" events with visitors from all over the world including well-known celebrities.
So check out the new Ah Meng eateries soon and don't forget to say Hello to her - Ah Meng's resting place is by the water's edge of the lake.
And if you're in Orchard Road, drop in at Ah Meng Cafe at Orchard Plaza before Michael calls it a day.
Ah Meng Restaurant
Ah Meng Kopi
Singapore Zoo
80 Mandai Lake Road
Singapore 729826
Ah Meng Cafe (not related to the zoo)
150 Orchard Road
#01-35 Orchard Plaza
Singapore 238841
Tel: 67373611/ 67343611
Email: sales@ahmengcafe.com
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Poor, abused workers at Singapore Zoo
Following our report on Sun City superviser's abuse of staff...
MOM, zoo act to protect workers
It Started with one brave soul and a fuzzy handphone video.
When a whistle blower contacted The New Paper last November, a week after zoo worker Nordin Montong was killed at the white tiger enclosure, a one-minute-long video was all he had.
It showed a worker from Sun City Maintenance, the same maintenance company Mr Nordin(the man who jump into white tigers' den) worked for, being verbally abused and beaten up by his supervisor in front of a crowd of onlookers.
The informant claimed that Sun City workers were also overworked and underpaid.
One month after The New Paper's report on the video, Sun City is now under investigation by the Manpower Ministry (MOM) for overworking its workers and making unauthorised salary deductions.
In the meantime, the zoo's parent company, Wildlife Reserves Singapore (WRS), has announced a slew of measures to protect Sun City workers.
Among the measures are dormitory inspections by WRS staff, making background checks on future sub-contractors and introducing compliance with employment laws as a condition in their contracts with sub-contractors.
Said Ms Fanny Lai, group chief executive officer of WRS: 'The video incident brought our awareness to a greater height... that workers, whether local or foreign, must be treated fairly. This is an issue very dear to my heart and I want to make sure that we walk the talk.'
Ms Lai was speaking to The New Paper on the sidelines of a thank-you brunch for the media, held at the Jurong Bird Park last week, where WRS also unveiled its revamped waterfall aviary.
Ms Lai said that when the allegations of worker abuse came to light, an internal investigation was immediately carried out.
WRS also brought up the issue to MOM and sought advice from the Singapore Manual and Mercantile Workers' Union.
'Our HR people checked the living conditions of the Sun City workers and we had a few discussions with them,' said Ms Lai.
She declined to elaborate on what was discussed at the meetings but subsequently, WRS issued a warning letter to Sun City, stating that a repeat of the incident may result in the termination of its contract.
But the question remained. Why didn't alarm bells go off earlier?
The handphone video, originally taken last August by a Sun City worker who witnessed the beating, was passed to Sun City workers and WRS employees soon after.
'The video was circulating widely. Even the upper management at WRS saw the video a few weeks after the incident but they ignored it,' claimed the whistle-blower who wanted to be known only as Lawrence.
On hindsight, could the feedback channels at WRS have been improved?
Ms Lai agreed with the need for open feedback channels but added: 'We don't want to go back and ask (our staff), did you have the video, who gave it to you, when did you receive it, and so on and so forth. I focus more on the energy to move forward and how we can prevent a repeat of this incident.'
'Isolated'
It was an 'isolated' incident, she said, and one that WRS regrets took place.
But she also emphasised: 'The incident happened outside the zoo, at the carpark which is outside the work area of the zoo, and after office hours when the workers were waiting for the company bus to take them home.
'It was really not within our purview to intervene at that point in time.'
For Lawrence, however, the incident was less an isolated incident and more a 'tipping point' of the ill-treatment Sun City workers had been enduring silently for a long time.
The question of how much WRS knew about the allegations - and whether it should have acted earlier - might rest on the identity of a mystery man involved in the incident.
Towards the end of the video, a man wearing a yellow polo shirt and carrying a walkie-talkie on his belt was seen intervening and ordering the Sun City supervisor to stop the assault. After the situation was defused, he took out his walkie-talkie and spoke into it.
Who was this man? Night safari staff wear yellow shirts as part of their uniform, but they are not the only ones with walkie-talkies: Sun City supervisors use them too.
But Lawrence insisted that he is '101 per cent certain' the man is a manager from the Night Safari's operations department. He provided us his name.
'Even my colleagues agreed that it was him when they saw the pictures in the report,' he said.
Ms Lai, however, maintained that everyone involved was from Sun City. She said that WRS staff were informed about the incident afterwards but were 'not aware of its extent'.
She also said that WRS was unaware of Sun City's tainted record.
Checks with MOM had showed that Sun City was fined last October for overworking its workers and depriving them of annual leave.
What's most important now, she said, is to find a practical way forward.
Ms Lai said: 'Instead of going into the details, what I can say is that the whole incident happened within the contractors. But when people have committed a mistake, I think we should try to let it go. The most important thing is to move on, to have a better tomorrow.'
A happy worker will help the animals to be happy to.
MOM, zoo act to protect workers
It Started with one brave soul and a fuzzy handphone video.
When a whistle blower contacted The New Paper last November, a week after zoo worker Nordin Montong was killed at the white tiger enclosure, a one-minute-long video was all he had.
It showed a worker from Sun City Maintenance, the same maintenance company Mr Nordin(the man who jump into white tigers' den) worked for, being verbally abused and beaten up by his supervisor in front of a crowd of onlookers.
The informant claimed that Sun City workers were also overworked and underpaid.
One month after The New Paper's report on the video, Sun City is now under investigation by the Manpower Ministry (MOM) for overworking its workers and making unauthorised salary deductions.
In the meantime, the zoo's parent company, Wildlife Reserves Singapore (WRS), has announced a slew of measures to protect Sun City workers.
Among the measures are dormitory inspections by WRS staff, making background checks on future sub-contractors and introducing compliance with employment laws as a condition in their contracts with sub-contractors.
Said Ms Fanny Lai, group chief executive officer of WRS: 'The video incident brought our awareness to a greater height... that workers, whether local or foreign, must be treated fairly. This is an issue very dear to my heart and I want to make sure that we walk the talk.'
Ms Lai was speaking to The New Paper on the sidelines of a thank-you brunch for the media, held at the Jurong Bird Park last week, where WRS also unveiled its revamped waterfall aviary.
Ms Lai said that when the allegations of worker abuse came to light, an internal investigation was immediately carried out.
WRS also brought up the issue to MOM and sought advice from the Singapore Manual and Mercantile Workers' Union.
'Our HR people checked the living conditions of the Sun City workers and we had a few discussions with them,' said Ms Lai.
She declined to elaborate on what was discussed at the meetings but subsequently, WRS issued a warning letter to Sun City, stating that a repeat of the incident may result in the termination of its contract.
But the question remained. Why didn't alarm bells go off earlier?
The handphone video, originally taken last August by a Sun City worker who witnessed the beating, was passed to Sun City workers and WRS employees soon after.
'The video was circulating widely. Even the upper management at WRS saw the video a few weeks after the incident but they ignored it,' claimed the whistle-blower who wanted to be known only as Lawrence.
On hindsight, could the feedback channels at WRS have been improved?
Ms Lai agreed with the need for open feedback channels but added: 'We don't want to go back and ask (our staff), did you have the video, who gave it to you, when did you receive it, and so on and so forth. I focus more on the energy to move forward and how we can prevent a repeat of this incident.'
'Isolated'
It was an 'isolated' incident, she said, and one that WRS regrets took place.
But she also emphasised: 'The incident happened outside the zoo, at the carpark which is outside the work area of the zoo, and after office hours when the workers were waiting for the company bus to take them home.
'It was really not within our purview to intervene at that point in time.'
For Lawrence, however, the incident was less an isolated incident and more a 'tipping point' of the ill-treatment Sun City workers had been enduring silently for a long time.
The question of how much WRS knew about the allegations - and whether it should have acted earlier - might rest on the identity of a mystery man involved in the incident.
Towards the end of the video, a man wearing a yellow polo shirt and carrying a walkie-talkie on his belt was seen intervening and ordering the Sun City supervisor to stop the assault. After the situation was defused, he took out his walkie-talkie and spoke into it.
Who was this man? Night safari staff wear yellow shirts as part of their uniform, but they are not the only ones with walkie-talkies: Sun City supervisors use them too.
But Lawrence insisted that he is '101 per cent certain' the man is a manager from the Night Safari's operations department. He provided us his name.
'Even my colleagues agreed that it was him when they saw the pictures in the report,' he said.
Ms Lai, however, maintained that everyone involved was from Sun City. She said that WRS staff were informed about the incident afterwards but were 'not aware of its extent'.
She also said that WRS was unaware of Sun City's tainted record.
Checks with MOM had showed that Sun City was fined last October for overworking its workers and depriving them of annual leave.
What's most important now, she said, is to find a practical way forward.
Ms Lai said: 'Instead of going into the details, what I can say is that the whole incident happened within the contractors. But when people have committed a mistake, I think we should try to let it go. The most important thing is to move on, to have a better tomorrow.'
A happy worker will help the animals to be happy to.
Sunday, January 11, 2009
Please Visit Singapore - We need you, our Tourist, Friends
Singapore's tourism sector fell short of its 2008 targets for visitor arrivals and revenue.
In a statement, the Singapore Tourism Board said that the industry had been hit by a dramatic slowdown in the second half of this year.
The tourism receipts grew by five percent over 2007, generating a record 14.8 billion dollars.
But this was still below the official target of 15.5 billion dollars.
Singapore also welcomed an estimated 10 million visitors in 2008, a decline of two percent against the previous year.
Visitors from Indonesia, China, Australia, India and Malaysia accounted for about half of total arrivals.
Average room rates based on data from January to November rose 23.5 percent over the same period in 2007, and total hotel room revenue climbed by about 14 percent.
But the average occupancy rate fell by almost six percent points to 82 percent.
In the statement, STB's Chief Executive, Aw Kah Peng said that Singapore's tourism turned in a credible and robust performance in 2008 despite the dramatic turn in the global economy in the second half of the year.
To help the sector through the tough times expected this year, STB is developing a global marketing campaign to drive visitorship to Singapore, emphasising on regional markets.
Saturday, January 10, 2009
SINGAPORE ZOO AND NIGHT SAFARI OFFER VENUE FOR INAUGURAL SAFARI ZOO RUN ON FEB 7, 2009
Singapore Zoo and Night Safari are opening its doors for runners, joggers and walkers for the first time ever on February 7, 2009 at the inaugural Safari Zoo Run. The run is organised by Pink Apple Pte Ltd and part of the proceeds will go towards the care of endangered animals at Night Safari and Singapore Zoo. The inaugural Safari Zoo Run is a non-competitive run open to members of the public. It is non-competitive so that parents, families and children can participate in this event to bond and spend time, and also to encourage a healthy lifestyle through walks, jogs or runs.
“Singapore Zoo and Night Safari are located on 68 hectares of lush greenery overlooking the Upper Seletar Reservoir, and participants will be soaking in the beauty of nature during their jogs. We are pleased to offer our venues for families and individuals to enjoy the wonders of the parks in a different way. As Ah Meng was Singapore Zoo’s icon, we are glad that the run will not only remember her but will aid in conservation causes,” said Ms Fanny Lai, Group CEO, Wildlife Reserves Singapore.
Spanning a 6.2 km route that traverse the tram route across both parks, the run will begin at the coach bay area between Night Safari and Singapore Zoo covering the 3.2 km run at Night Safari before continuing with the Singapore Zoo route. Participation is open across all ages and is not segmented into categories. With an expected turnout of approximately 6,000 participants, both parks have in place multiple first aid and water points. With the flag-off at 4 pm, runners will have the luxury to complete the run by 5 pm for Night Safari and by 6 pm for Singapore Zoo. As the Safari Zoo Run is a non-competitive run, a lucky draw will be held at the end of the run. Three participants whose numbers are called will walk away with 42-inch TV, a video camera and a home entertainment set in the order the number is called, respectively. Registration Details: Registration is now open. As health and safety is a concern, participants below 21 years old will need to obtain parental or guardian consent. The indemnity form can be downloaded from Safari Zoo Run website below. Registration fee for adult (13 years and above) is at S$38 and for child (3-12 years) is S$18. The entry pack will come with an exclusive Safari Zoo Run number tag, exclusive Singapore Zoo polo T-shirt, goody bag with sponsored items, free 3 years PAssion membership card and 50% discount on admission fee to the park on same day visit for friends and family of participants*, and many more.
For more information on rules and regulations, prospective participants can log on to http://www.safarizoorun.com.sg
Friday, January 09, 2009
140 year old lobster freed by restaurant
NEW YORK – A 140-year-old lobster once destined for a dinner plate received the gift of life Friday from a Park Avenue seafood restaurant.
George, the 20-pound supercentenarian crustacean, was freed by City Crab and Seafood in New York City.
"We applaud the folks at City Crab and Seafood for their compassionate decision to allow this noble old-timer to live out his days in freedom and peace," said Ingrid E. Newkirk, president of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals.
PETA spokesman Michael McGraw said the group asked City Crab to return George to the Atlantic Ocean after a diner saw him at the restaurant, where steamed Maine lobster sells for $27 per pound. George had been caught off Newfoundland, Canada and lived in the tank for about 10 days before his release.
Some scientists estimate lobsters can live to be more than 100 years old. PETA and the restaurant guessed George's age at about 140, using a rule of thumb based on the creature's weight.
He was to be released Saturday near Kennebunkport, Maine, in an area where lobster trapping is forbidden.
Monday, January 05, 2009
More Gifts from China dies in Hong Kong
One of Hong Kong's famed attractions, Ocean Park, is battling a public relations nightmare. Over the weekend, it announced that a rare sturgeon from mainland China had died in its care – the third reported death in six months.
Experts said the rare fish suffered from a head injury and blood clotting.
Ocean Park has been transitioning the sturgeons from freshwater to saltwater, and initial investigations showed that it was possible the fish might not have adapted well.
Just three weeks earlier, a sturgeon had died from an infection and yet another died in June after being bitten by a barracuda.
The fish were a gift from mainland China to mark the Olympics and their deaths are seen as a diplomatic embarrassment for Hong Kong. To make matters worse, two of the remaining seven sturgeons are sick.
The sturgeons are deemed as one of China's national treasures and are often referred to as "living fossils".
The popular sturgeon aquarium in Ocean Park has been closed indefinitely. The park has also been grappling with bad press from two other animal capers in which a panda and a sea lion had attacked staff members.
A video has been posted on YouTube showing the aftermath of a panda attack on a keeper in November. The panda, whose name ironically translates to 'peace', bit his female keeper in the leg and she had to be hospitalised.
A few weeks later, a sea lion also bit a trainer in the arm during a public feeding demonstration.
This latest string of animal mishaps has been a public relations disaster for Ocean Park.
Board members have called for an investigation into whether or not there are any management or operational problems behind the incidents. - AP
Experts said the rare fish suffered from a head injury and blood clotting.
Ocean Park has been transitioning the sturgeons from freshwater to saltwater, and initial investigations showed that it was possible the fish might not have adapted well.
Just three weeks earlier, a sturgeon had died from an infection and yet another died in June after being bitten by a barracuda.
The fish were a gift from mainland China to mark the Olympics and their deaths are seen as a diplomatic embarrassment for Hong Kong. To make matters worse, two of the remaining seven sturgeons are sick.
The sturgeons are deemed as one of China's national treasures and are often referred to as "living fossils".
The popular sturgeon aquarium in Ocean Park has been closed indefinitely. The park has also been grappling with bad press from two other animal capers in which a panda and a sea lion had attacked staff members.
A video has been posted on YouTube showing the aftermath of a panda attack on a keeper in November. The panda, whose name ironically translates to 'peace', bit his female keeper in the leg and she had to be hospitalised.
A few weeks later, a sea lion also bit a trainer in the arm during a public feeding demonstration.
This latest string of animal mishaps has been a public relations disaster for Ocean Park.
Board members have called for an investigation into whether or not there are any management or operational problems behind the incidents. - AP
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
Countdown at Singapore Marina Barrage
View Fireworks and enjoy the atmosphere at Countdown 08/09.
Merry X'mas and Happy New Year!
Monday, December 29, 2008
Donations
HELP US HELP THE ANIMALS
ACRES is a local charity and we depend heavily on public support and contributions to continue our mission of ending the exploitation of all animals.
We need funds to conduct fieldwork, publish reports and educational materials, rescue animals and campaign for a better life for all animals.
ACRES has the Institution of Public Character (IPC) status (Registration no. IPC000559). This means that donations to ACRES qualify for double tax exemption. For example, if you donate $100 to ACRES, $200 will be deducted from your taxable income.
ACRES address:
91 Jalan Lekar, Singapore 698917
Fax: + 65 6892 9721
http://www.acres.org.sg/donate.html
ACRES is a local charity and we depend heavily on public support and contributions to continue our mission of ending the exploitation of all animals.
We need funds to conduct fieldwork, publish reports and educational materials, rescue animals and campaign for a better life for all animals.
ACRES has the Institution of Public Character (IPC) status (Registration no. IPC000559). This means that donations to ACRES qualify for double tax exemption. For example, if you donate $100 to ACRES, $200 will be deducted from your taxable income.
ACRES address:
91 Jalan Lekar, Singapore 698917
Fax: + 65 6892 9721
http://www.acres.org.sg/donate.html
Friday, December 26, 2008
Taiwan & China - thru Pandas
Two Chinese pandas whose combined names mean "reunion" arrived in Taiwan on Tuesday, the latest installment in a Beijing charm offensive aimed at convincing the island's people to embrace their Communist rival.
A male panda, "Tuan Tuan," and his female companion, "Yuan Yuan," set down at the Taipei airport after a three-hour flight from southwestern China, as millions of Taiwanese watched spellbound on local television. Chinese pandas are usually loaned abroad in pairs, with hopes that they will mate.
Knots of eager onlookers at the zoo waited to see the couple _ the first-ever pandas to inhabit the island _ though all they could see was the red, panda-ornamented tarpaulin covering the pandas' cages.
The giant panda is unique to China and serves as an unofficial national mascot. China regularly sends the animals abroad as a sign of warm diplomatic relations or to mark breakthroughs in ties.
Front-page photographs of the pandas in their native Sichuan province habitat were splashed across Taiwanese papers Tuesday and TV stations followed their flight to Taipei with breathless updates.
The pandas' arrival _ more than three years in the making _ comes amid rapidly improving relations between Taiwan and China, which split amid civil war in 1949.
Only a week ago they initiated daily air and direct maritime links across the 100-mile- (160-kilometer-) wide Taiwan Strait, and several days later China agreed to loan 130 billion yuan ($19 billion) to mainland-based Taiwanese companies struggling to keep afloat in the global economic slowdown.
The rapid-fire Chinese moves underscore the determination of the Beijing government to leverage Taiwanese President Ma Ying-jeou's readiness to turn his back on his predecessor's contentious anti-China policies _ and move closer to Beijing's ultimate goal of China-Taiwan unity.
Since his inauguration seven months ago, Ma has moved aggressively to link Taiwan closer to the mainland, opening the door to a substantially increased flow of Chinese tourists and sanctioning a more liberalized regime for bilateral investments on both sides of the Taiwan Strait.
His steps contrast sharply with predecessor Chen Shui-bian's efforts to emphasize Taiwan's political and cultural separateness, which enraged Beijing, and prompted it to reaffirm long-standing threats to use military force against the democratic island it claims as its own.
Tuesday's voyage for Tuan Tuan and Yuan Yuan began at the Chengdu airport, where the two animals were loaded on a green-liveried charter operated by Taiwan's Eva Airways.
After the three-hour flight across southern China and the Taiwan Strait, Yuan Yuan and Tuan Tuan were taken from Taipei airport for the short trip to the city's zoo, where they are expected to remain in quarantine for 30 days.
The pandas _ and their new, two-story zoo habitat _ will be unveiled to the public during the Chinese Lunar New Year holiday in late January.
China expects big benefits from its panda largesse.
For more than five decades, Beijing has used panda diplomacy to make friends and influence people in countries ranging from the United States to the former Soviet Union.
The offer to send Yuan Yuan and Tuan Tuan to Taiwan was first made in 2005 when the pro-independence Chen was still in charge. Citing various bureaucratic obstacles, his government rejected it, but after Ma's inauguration in May, the way was cleared to reverse that decision.
While most Taiwanese support Ma's panda stand and his overall policy of greater China engagement, they still reject unity with the mainland, seeing it as a direct threat to their hard-won democratic freedoms.
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
Singapore Flyer Halted
The world's largest observation wheel, the Singapore Flyer, will be closed until investigations into Tuesday's incident are complete.
A major power disruption left 173 passengers stranded for about six hours.
Police say operations will be allowed to resume once the ride is certified safe.
All trapped passengers were able to leave their capsules after the Singapore Flyer resumed rotating at about 11:11pm (1511 GMT) on Tuesday.
Earlier, a few passengers were lowered down to safety in a sling-like device from one of the observation capsules.
A 59-year-old woman complaining of dizziness, and a boy who vomited were taken to hospital, said Lieutenant Colonel N. Subhas, of the Singapore Civil Defence Force.
A spokeswoman for the attraction said about 173 people were onboard the wheel when a short circuit in one of the drive motors occurred at around 5:00pm.
At least five passengers were lifted through the hatch on top of each capsule and winched to the ground by a private rescue firm engaged by Singapore Flyer.
The Flyer's technical team managed to isolate the problem and restored electricity, including the air-conditioning, to the capsules. The team also worked with the Singapore Civil Defence Force to resolve the problem.
Those stranded were provided with food and drink.
Mr Steven Yeo, General Manager of the Singapore Flyer, said: "At 4.50pm, we experienced an electrical problem on our drive unit number 1, north unit, which caused several of our electrical supplies to be cut. The defect has actually been isolated. We found it to be the drive unit itself. The rest of the wheel, the rest of the supply, is in full functioning order at the moment."
A passenger who was stuck in one of the capsules said there was a sudden jerk before the wheel stopped turning. An announcement a few minutes later said there was a technical error.
Madam Lim Boon Siang, a passenger stuck in one of the capsules, said: "About 4.30pm or 4.15pm, after we passed the maximum altitude, it suddenly jerked to a stop, and then for a good five to 10 minutes, we waited.
"We thought that this could be something normal. And then there was a message that came in that said that it has stopped temporary. Everybody was calm, but initially the air-con was switched off, so it was very hot due to the evening sun. They opened up the air ventilator, and the air-con is working now."
She said there were about 10 other people, including children, in her cabin.
The spokesperson said: "Their safety was never at risk while they were in the capsules. Every capsule is equipped with an intercom system which is linked to the control room - for passengers and the control room personnel to communicate.
"Our staff promptly informed passengers of the situation and reassured them that measures were being taken to fix the technical problem. There are also surveillance cameras installed in every capsule for the operations team to monitor what is going on in all capsules."
Singapore Flyer has reimbursed all affected passengers for their tickets and is making alternative transport arrangements for travellers who missed their flights to Europe and coaches to Malaysia.
A ride on the 165-metre tall wheel, about 42 storeys high, typically takes half an hour and each capsule can take up to 28 people.
Since the Flyer became operational in February this year, this is the third time it has encountered problems.
The last time a technical glitch occurred was just three weeks ago, on December 4. The wheel was stuck for nearly five hours due to extreme weather conditions and some 70 people were affected. In July, the Flyer stopped due to a minor fault in the braking system.
Unlike cramped, old-style Ferris wheel carriages that hang in the open air, the Singapore Flyer and other large observation wheels feature fixed "capsules".
The 28 sleek-looking capsules - about the size of a city bus - can hold up to 28 people, and passengers can walk around during the slowly-moving ride.
The Singapore Flyer, worth about S$240 million (US$171 million), was a private venture backed mainly by German investors and built by Mitsubishi Corp and Takenaka Corp of Japan.
Singapore-based Great Wheel Corp is also building wheels in Beijing and Berlin, which will edge out the Singapore Flyer as the world's biggest when they begin turning in about two years, the chairman of Singapore Flyer, Florian Bollen, said before the attraction opened. - AFP
Visit the Singapore Zoo then.
A major power disruption left 173 passengers stranded for about six hours.
Police say operations will be allowed to resume once the ride is certified safe.
All trapped passengers were able to leave their capsules after the Singapore Flyer resumed rotating at about 11:11pm (1511 GMT) on Tuesday.
Earlier, a few passengers were lowered down to safety in a sling-like device from one of the observation capsules.
A 59-year-old woman complaining of dizziness, and a boy who vomited were taken to hospital, said Lieutenant Colonel N. Subhas, of the Singapore Civil Defence Force.
A spokeswoman for the attraction said about 173 people were onboard the wheel when a short circuit in one of the drive motors occurred at around 5:00pm.
At least five passengers were lifted through the hatch on top of each capsule and winched to the ground by a private rescue firm engaged by Singapore Flyer.
The Flyer's technical team managed to isolate the problem and restored electricity, including the air-conditioning, to the capsules. The team also worked with the Singapore Civil Defence Force to resolve the problem.
Those stranded were provided with food and drink.
Mr Steven Yeo, General Manager of the Singapore Flyer, said: "At 4.50pm, we experienced an electrical problem on our drive unit number 1, north unit, which caused several of our electrical supplies to be cut. The defect has actually been isolated. We found it to be the drive unit itself. The rest of the wheel, the rest of the supply, is in full functioning order at the moment."
A passenger who was stuck in one of the capsules said there was a sudden jerk before the wheel stopped turning. An announcement a few minutes later said there was a technical error.
Madam Lim Boon Siang, a passenger stuck in one of the capsules, said: "About 4.30pm or 4.15pm, after we passed the maximum altitude, it suddenly jerked to a stop, and then for a good five to 10 minutes, we waited.
"We thought that this could be something normal. And then there was a message that came in that said that it has stopped temporary. Everybody was calm, but initially the air-con was switched off, so it was very hot due to the evening sun. They opened up the air ventilator, and the air-con is working now."
She said there were about 10 other people, including children, in her cabin.
The spokesperson said: "Their safety was never at risk while they were in the capsules. Every capsule is equipped with an intercom system which is linked to the control room - for passengers and the control room personnel to communicate.
"Our staff promptly informed passengers of the situation and reassured them that measures were being taken to fix the technical problem. There are also surveillance cameras installed in every capsule for the operations team to monitor what is going on in all capsules."
Singapore Flyer has reimbursed all affected passengers for their tickets and is making alternative transport arrangements for travellers who missed their flights to Europe and coaches to Malaysia.
A ride on the 165-metre tall wheel, about 42 storeys high, typically takes half an hour and each capsule can take up to 28 people.
Since the Flyer became operational in February this year, this is the third time it has encountered problems.
The last time a technical glitch occurred was just three weeks ago, on December 4. The wheel was stuck for nearly five hours due to extreme weather conditions and some 70 people were affected. In July, the Flyer stopped due to a minor fault in the braking system.
Unlike cramped, old-style Ferris wheel carriages that hang in the open air, the Singapore Flyer and other large observation wheels feature fixed "capsules".
The 28 sleek-looking capsules - about the size of a city bus - can hold up to 28 people, and passengers can walk around during the slowly-moving ride.
The Singapore Flyer, worth about S$240 million (US$171 million), was a private venture backed mainly by German investors and built by Mitsubishi Corp and Takenaka Corp of Japan.
Singapore-based Great Wheel Corp is also building wheels in Beijing and Berlin, which will edge out the Singapore Flyer as the world's biggest when they begin turning in about two years, the chairman of Singapore Flyer, Florian Bollen, said before the attraction opened. - AFP
Visit the Singapore Zoo then.
Sunday, December 21, 2008
Christmas at Park
Spend an unforgettable and enriching day with us through our half-day Bird Camps, specially designed to enhance your experience at the Park. Choose to be enthralled by the majestic Birds of Prey, delighted by the intelligent parrots or just spend a wild and special day with us!
Predator Vs Prey
Size up magnificent condors, formidable eagles and fearsome falcons as we shed 'feathers' on these majestic creatures. Also, learn about the adaptation skills of these birds in their various habitats. The camp comes with a panorail ride around the BirdPark.
Time
Activity
9.00am
Pitter Pellets Special Tour
10.00am
Birds-of-Prey Show
10.30am
Break (have your snacks and drinks or play at the Wet and Splash Playground)
11.00am
Birds-of-Prey Behind-the-Scenes
12.00pm
Free & Easy
Parrot Chitchat
Step into the noisy and vibrant world of parrots and join us in a parrot discovery tour. Uncover their habits, lifestyle and intelligence as we have an enjoyable time in the Lory Loft and watch the parrots perform in the all-time favorite - Birds n Buddies Show! Check out their eggs and how our foster parents take good care of eggs and chicks abandoned by their parents. The camp comes with a panorail ride around the BirdPark. It's going to be a chirpy chatty time!
Time
Activity
9.00am
Parrot Discovery Tour
10.00am
Eggs and Chicks Behind-the-Scenes
10.45am
Break
11.00am
Birds n Buddies Show
11.30am
Special Bird Interaction
12.00pm
Free & Easy
Into The Nursery
Where do baby birds come from? Do all baby birds look the same? Are all of them born blind and 'naked'? Get all your questions answered as we visit babies big and small, and take you behind the scenes into our nursery. Help the babies make a home by building them a nest. The camp comes with a panorail ride around the BirdPark.
Time
Activity
9.00am
Nest workshop
10.00am
Birds-of-Prey Show
10.30am
Break
11.00am
Birds n Buddies Show
11.30am
Eggs and Chicks Behind-the-Scenes
12.00pm
Free & Easy
Conservationist Explorer half-day Bird Camp
Be a conservationist for a day! Start the day learning how we help abandoned eggs and chicks in the nursey, then meet the endangered toucans from South America and learn about their interesting breeding habits and colorful beaks. The Lories from Australia needs your help in feeding them and also to spread the word to stop deforestation. Lastly, hop on the panorail and take in the sights of the whole park, but don't miss out the magnificent Birds of Prey show!
Time
Activity
9.00am
Eggs & Chicks Behind-the-Scenes
9.30am
Hornbills & Toucans Tour
10.00am
Birds-of-Prey Show
10.30am
Break
11.00am
Lory Loft Feeding
12.00pm
Free & Easy
We try our best to adhere to the itinerary, which may change due to unforeseen circumstances.
Contact Info : Jurong BirdPark
Tel: (65) 6265 0022
www.birdpark.com.sg
Date : 22 Dec 2008 9:00 am - 30 Oct 2009 12:00 pm
Venue : Jurong BirdPark
2 Jurong Hill
Thursday, December 18, 2008
Berlin zoo thrilled with baby hippo
It is the ultimate in swimming lessons as Paula the baby hippo struggles to keep up with her mother Kathi.
The 18-day-old calf, Paula, had its first public outing at Berlin Zoo, as it swam alongside mother Kathi.
Although only a fraction of its mother's size, currently only 40kg, the zoo's newest resident is expected to weigh up to two tons when fully grown.
Until now the calf, Kathi's second baby, had only spent time with its mother, away from the other hippos.
She is the first hippo to born in Berlin in three years.
The cute calf is not the first animal to gain worldwide attention from the German zoo, following in the footsteps of Knut the Polar Bear.
Knut was made a star in 2006 when the zoo decided to hand-raise him after his mother abandoned him and some animal rights activists said it was better to let him die.
Last week it was reported that Knut could soon be evicted by the cash-strapped zoo because of financial woes.
Neumuenster Zoo, in the country's far north, is claiming guardianship of Knut under an agreement it says was struck when it loaned Berlin Knut's father, Lars, in 1999.
Although they cannot house Knut because they already have a polar bear with whom Knut would not get along, they are demanding Berlin show them architectural plans for a new enclosure and evidence he will properly be cared for. --Reuters
Friday, December 12, 2008
In Hard Economic Times, Berlin Zoo Turns to Selling Polar Bears
Last year Knut the polar bear cub got a giant marzipan cake with a wooden candle for his birthday; this year he’ll get a quiche frozen in a block of ice. The global economic crisis is hitting even the celebrity polar bear sector, including Knut, whose fluffy features and adorable antics have earned the Berlin Zoo more than $7 million in endorsments. But now nearly two, Knut has lost his cuteness, and the Berlin Zoo has announced that it is ready to sell him.
“It’s time for him to go—the sooner he gets a new home the better. Anything else would be financially irresponsible,” said Heiner Kloes, the senior bear keeper. The zoo says it cannot afford to build a new compound large enough to accommodate the now-210 kilogram and 2.5-meter-tall bear. Neither can it afford to take on a mate for him. Several zoos around the world appear eager to welcome Knut, but the winning bid is likely to come from Gelsenkirchen Zoo, also in Germany, which has spacious facilities and Lara, a three-year-old female cub.
In his cuddlier days, Knut graced the cover of Vanity Fair, starred in films, inspired pop songs, and was honored on a postage stamp. (He’s even been accused of being a diva and has been called the Britney Spears of zoo animals.) But boy have times changed. Along with the stock market (and Britney), Knut’s stardom has taken a nosedive. Nowadays, he is often cranky and only rouses from his naps to eat. Knut was once an icon of the environmental movement, but some say his transfer to a new zoo may be funded by Gazprom, the Russian energy giant.
“It’s time for him to go—the sooner he gets a new home the better. Anything else would be financially irresponsible,” said Heiner Kloes, the senior bear keeper. The zoo says it cannot afford to build a new compound large enough to accommodate the now-210 kilogram and 2.5-meter-tall bear. Neither can it afford to take on a mate for him. Several zoos around the world appear eager to welcome Knut, but the winning bid is likely to come from Gelsenkirchen Zoo, also in Germany, which has spacious facilities and Lara, a three-year-old female cub.
In his cuddlier days, Knut graced the cover of Vanity Fair, starred in films, inspired pop songs, and was honored on a postage stamp. (He’s even been accused of being a diva and has been called the Britney Spears of zoo animals.) But boy have times changed. Along with the stock market (and Britney), Knut’s stardom has taken a nosedive. Nowadays, he is often cranky and only rouses from his naps to eat. Knut was once an icon of the environmental movement, but some say his transfer to a new zoo may be funded by Gazprom, the Russian energy giant.
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
Doing the Singapore's Part in Earth Day 2009
Earth Hour starts ticking
By Tania Tan
SIXTY black balloons dotted the sky over the Hort Park on Wednesday as drums sounded to launch Earth Hour 2009.
The 60 orbs represented the minutes of the hour during which people are encouraged to turn off their lights, in a symbolic gesture to support the fight against climate change.
Spearheaded by the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), Earth Hour gained international recognition after its inaugural launch in Sydney last year), with over 74 cities pledging their involvement.
WWF Singapore wants to see some one million people taking part during Earth Hour at 8.30pm on March 28, and hopefully throughout 2009 as well.
Already, companies like Microsoft and Meritus Hotels & Resorts - parent company of Meritus Mandarin and Marina Mandarin Hotels - have pledged their participation.
'It's not just about that one hour, it's about taking action in our everyday lives,' said WWF Singapore's managing director Amy Ho.
Using a fan instead of the air-conditioning, turning off lights not in use, and recycling plastic bottles are just some of the simple changes people can make to combat climate change, she added.
For more information and to get involved visit www.earthhour.org.
By Tania Tan
SIXTY black balloons dotted the sky over the Hort Park on Wednesday as drums sounded to launch Earth Hour 2009.
The 60 orbs represented the minutes of the hour during which people are encouraged to turn off their lights, in a symbolic gesture to support the fight against climate change.
Spearheaded by the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), Earth Hour gained international recognition after its inaugural launch in Sydney last year), with over 74 cities pledging their involvement.
WWF Singapore wants to see some one million people taking part during Earth Hour at 8.30pm on March 28, and hopefully throughout 2009 as well.
Already, companies like Microsoft and Meritus Hotels & Resorts - parent company of Meritus Mandarin and Marina Mandarin Hotels - have pledged their participation.
'It's not just about that one hour, it's about taking action in our everyday lives,' said WWF Singapore's managing director Amy Ho.
Using a fan instead of the air-conditioning, turning off lights not in use, and recycling plastic bottles are just some of the simple changes people can make to combat climate change, she added.
For more information and to get involved visit www.earthhour.org.
Panda bites keeper
A GIANT panda named Peace bit a park keeper's left leg while he was laying bamboo leaves in the animal's pen at a Hong Kong amusement park, officials said on Tuesday.
The park staffer was recovering well in hospital after the attack at Ocean Park, which has four giant pandas from China, park spokesman Christie Lau said.
Ms Lau said park officials were still investigating the Nov 30 incident involving the male panda, whose name, An An, means 'peace' in Mandarin. Ms Lau declined to provide further details.
A park visitor posted a video clip on YouTube that allegedly shows the post-attack scene, with the keeper in a green park uniform crawling out of the panda pen as the furry animal runs back into its den.
The mass-market Apple Daily newspaper quoted an unidentified park employee as saying the keeper did not follow proper protocol, which requires locking pandas in their sleeping dens before putting bamboo leaves in their habitat.
Although pandas look cute and cuddly, they are wild animals that can be violent when provoked or startled.
Last month, a panda bit a college student in the southern Chinese city of Guilin after the student went into the animal's enclosure and tried to hug it.
A gift from the mainland Chinese government, An An arrived in Hong Kong in 1999 with female consort Jia Jia from the south-western province of Sichuan. Another two giant pandas were also moved to the territory last year to celebrate the 10th anniversary of this former British colony's return to Chinese rule. -- AP
The park staffer was recovering well in hospital after the attack at Ocean Park, which has four giant pandas from China, park spokesman Christie Lau said.
Ms Lau said park officials were still investigating the Nov 30 incident involving the male panda, whose name, An An, means 'peace' in Mandarin. Ms Lau declined to provide further details.
A park visitor posted a video clip on YouTube that allegedly shows the post-attack scene, with the keeper in a green park uniform crawling out of the panda pen as the furry animal runs back into its den.
The mass-market Apple Daily newspaper quoted an unidentified park employee as saying the keeper did not follow proper protocol, which requires locking pandas in their sleeping dens before putting bamboo leaves in their habitat.
Although pandas look cute and cuddly, they are wild animals that can be violent when provoked or startled.
Last month, a panda bit a college student in the southern Chinese city of Guilin after the student went into the animal's enclosure and tried to hug it.
A gift from the mainland Chinese government, An An arrived in Hong Kong in 1999 with female consort Jia Jia from the south-western province of Sichuan. Another two giant pandas were also moved to the territory last year to celebrate the 10th anniversary of this former British colony's return to Chinese rule. -- AP
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