CELEBRATE CHILDREN’S DAY WITH INUKA THE POLAR BEAR

Chill out in Singapore Zoo’s Frozen Tundra with the little ones this Children’s Day and enjoy a frosty fun time with a lineup of educational activities about polar bears. Pique your child’s curiosity about polar bears – the largest land predator in the world – in our ‘Snow’ & Tell session, and see the children go wild on a great seal hunt. To end off on a warm and fuzzy note, work on a beautiful ‘Happy Children’s Day’ card together for Inuka the polar bear!

Children’s Day activities at Singapore Zoo
Date: 4– 5 October 2013
Venue: Singapore Zoo, 80 Mandai Lake Road, Singapore 729826
Fee: Free of charge
Notes: Singapore Zoo admission rates still apply

1. Snow & Tell session
Venue: Auditorium
Duration: 20min
Time: 9.30am, 10.30am, and 11.30am

Discover how polar bears adapt, survive, and live comfortably in their cold environment in a Snow and Tell session. Participants will learn interesting facts such as the polar bears’ habitat, diet, and threats they face in the wild. Also find out how zookeepers at Singapore Zoo look after and engage our very own polar bear, Inuka. This talk is free of charge* and requires no registration. Simply follow the signs to the auditorium at the specified time slots.

2. The Great Seal Hunt
Venue: Frozen Tundra
Time: 10.00am to 2.00pm

Children get to hone their predatory instincts in the Frozen Tundra Great Seal Hunt. Participants play the role of little polar bears hunting for prey — hidden seal stickers around the Frozen Tundra exhibit. Follow the instructions on the stickers and mark out the specially designed Frozen Tundra map provided by Singapore Zoo staff. The first 100 participants to complete their map will win attractive prizes!

 3. Draw for Inuka!
Venue: Frozen Tundra
Time: Zoo operating hours – 8.30am to 6.00pm

Have your child express their creativity by penning their own drawings of Inuka wishing him a Happy Children’s Day! Participants can bring their drawings when visiting the Zoo and their work will possibly be displayed at the Frozen Tundra exhibit. A drawing corner and drawing materials will be available for children who wish to draw at the Zoo itself.

Singapore Cat Abuser

"I was informed by a friend who worked at a vet that a customer came in with a dying cat, along with the letter.

"The owner told my friend that their cat went missing for 3 to 4 weeks, and was later found at their doorstep inside a plastic bag together with the letter.

"The letter mentions that the cat was kidnapped and tortured extensively. The abuser even went as far as to describe the details of the torture.

"The cat is now in its last moments and may leave this world at any time. I hope this pyscho gets apprehended and faces the highest degree of punishment there is in this world.

"There are a lot of cases of cat abuse in Singapore, and very few of the abusers have been caught. Cats are being cut apart, thrown from buildings, and even beheaded.

"I do not understand what kind of sick-minded people who do such a thing to another living thing, let alone a helpless animal.

"Please share this post with all your family and friends. I hope someone who has any information on this case will step up and inform the authorities if you know who the culprit is.

"To that sick-minded person, I hope you get help soon. Please help yourself before you actually kill someone."

Do you need more reason to visit the Singapore Zoo?

Great Discount. New Exhibits. Celebrating her Birthday. Come, come, don't shy!

http://thedeadcockroach.blogspot.sg/2013/06/singapore-zoo-celebrates-its-40th.html

Kid's play at the Zoo this School Holiday

Rainforest Kidzworld offers a multitude of activities that encourage kids to satisfy their curiosity, learn through self discovery, and simply play like they don’t have a care in the world.

Whether they want to have a splashing good time in a watery playground, spend time with farmyard animals, take a rainforest challenge, visit the interesting residents of the kampung house or ride a wild animal carousel, there’s always plenty to see, do and experience.

Don’t miss our Animal Friends Show where the whole family can also enjoy a barrel of laughs watching some very special everyday pets performing amazing feats.

This thoughtfully planned attraction is an essential stop especially if you’re visiting with young children. Rainforest Kidzworld operating hours:
Opening Time:     9.00am
Closing Time:     6.00pm

(Wet Play Area closes at 5.30pm)

Please note that the Wild Animal Carousel Ride and Wet Play Area at the Rainforest Kidzworld are scheduled for maintenance closures on the following dates:

Wet Play Area Closure Dates:     Wild Animal Carousel Closure Dates:
17 Sep 2013                                2 Sep 2013
8 Oct 2013                                  1 Oct 2013
12 Nov 2013                               5 Nov 2013
3 Dec 2013                                 10 Dec 2013

New Panda born

Giant panda Mei Xiang gives birth at Washington's national zoo

Zookeepers say giant pandas give birth to twins 50% of the time, so they will keep an eye on Mei Xiang for 24 hours

A giant panda gave birth at Washington's national zoo on Friday, causing a buzz among fans as they flocked to a panda cam's live feed to hear the cub squeal and watch the mother immediately start caring for it.

The zoo said Mei Xiang gave birth two hours after her water broke. Zoo officials said the panda team heard the cub vocalize and that the mother picked it up immediately and began cradling and caring for it.

"We have a cub!! Born at 5.32pm this evening," the zoo tweeted.

"I'm glued to the new panda cams and thrilled to hear the squeals, which appear healthy, of our newborn cub," said Dennis Kelly, director of the Smithsonian's national zoo.

Fans of the 15-year-old panda who had been tracking her suspected pregnancy on a Giant Panda Cam flocked to the live feed.

With the zoo heralding the cub's birth on Twitter, the pandas' excited fans responded in kind. Congratulations poured in under the hashtag "cubwatch," including hopes that this year's cub would survive. "Last year was so heartbreaking," as one person tweeted, while another said, "Good luck, little Butterstick 2 !!!"

Mei Xiang had previously given birth to two cubs. Tai Shan was born in 2005 and a week-old cub died last September.

Panda cubs are especially delicate and vulnerable to infection and other illness. They are about the size of a stick of butter at birth. The first weeks of life are critical for the cubs as mothers have to make sure they stay warm and get enough to eat.

Zookeepers said at a news conference on Friday night that giant pandas give birth to twins 50 percent of the time, so they will continue to keep an eye on Mei Xiang for 24 hours.

Brandie Smith, curator of mammals at the zoo, said Friday night that mindful of last year's loss, zookeepers will be more hands-on with this cub.

"We know that Mei Xiang is an excellent mother," Smith said. "When she has a cub, she will take care of it."

Smith said that will zookeepers don't want to disturb the bonding between the mother and cub, but they will take the risk and do an assessment of the cub within the first 48 hours.

The biggest concern is the cub's weight, Smith said, and that it continues to gain weight. Zookeepers will also be listening for healthy squeals from the cub, and signs and sounds that it is nursing.

The panda team will perform health checks every few days. Its gender was not immediately known.

Mei Xiang is expected to spend almost all of her time in her den for the next two weeks with her new cub.

The zoo has been on round-the-clock panda watch since August 7, when Mei Xiang began showing behavioral changes consistent with a pregnancy or pseudo-pregnancy.

A Chinese panda expert performed artificial inseminations on Mei Xiang on March 30 after she failed to breed naturally with male panda Tian Tian.

Zookeepers had not been certain that Mei Xiang was pregnant, because she refused to cooperate with attempts to perform an ultrasound.

The David M Rubenstein Family Giant Panda Habitat, which has been closed to the public since August 2, will remain closed to provide quiet time for Mei Xiang and her cub.

WRS not acquiring new polar bears

The Wildlife Reserves Singapore (WRS) has released a statement on Thursday saying that it does not intend to acquire new polar bears, despite a press release issued to local media on Aug 21, 2013 claiming that the Singapore Zoo will receive a polar bear cub as part of a "corporate gifting scheme".

WRS told AsiaOne that it is "not aware of this (corporate gifting) arrangement, and has not been approached by any of the parties mentioned".

Following the open of the Frozen Tundra, WRS said that there have been several enquiries from various stakeholders on whether more polar bears will be added to the park's collection as companions to Inuka.

Inuka, the first polar bear born in the tropics, moved into the new 2,700 sq m Frozen Tundra exhibit at the Singapore Zoo on May 29, 2013.

WRS said that it is currently "not actively seeking to acquire new polar bear".

"Polar bears are solitary animals by nature. Inuka's new habitat features a spacious outdoor area with multiple substrate types for him to dig and play in, a large pool, and in addition our keepers engage the bear with enrichment activities to keep him suitably stimulated," WRS added.

Here is the earlier press release issued by Gazprom on Aug 21:

The City of Singapore will soon be getting a new polar bear cub for the Zoo, courtesy of Gazprom and Royal Dutch Shell.

"The polar bear is a symbol of strength and purity," said Timur Grigolyuk, Director of Strategic Partnerships for Gazprom, Russia's largest gas company. "Like Russian oil and gas, she is a precious resource that we can share with all the world."

Gazprom and Shell are relocating polar bears to ten cities around the world. They are doing this as part of a new business partnership which will see them drill for oil in the Russian Arctic, which is losing sea ice. The companies distributed a video news release on their website explaining the process after the first polar bear was gifted to the Artis Zoo in Amsterdam, the Netherlands.

Moving polar bears also makes sense because polar bears have become a problem in the Arctic. Although "Arctic" means "near bear" in Greek, polar bears are today in conflict with the oil extraction industry.

"Singapore must be Arctic, not Antarctic," said Grigolyuk. "Children are very happy with bears, and we want Singapore to have maximum happiness."

Find a mate for remaining polar bear
Nov 19, 2012

I AM saddened by the death of 35-year-old Sheba, our much-beloved polar bear ("Zookeeper recalls Sheba's last days"; last Saturday).

The polar bear exhibit has been my favourite whenever I visit the zoo, and I usually spend a longer time there than at the other enclosures.

Viewing the polar bears at close range brought me much joy.

Where once there were three, there is now only one.

Sheba's son, Inuka, may be going to its new home at the River Safari, but a lone polar bear can present a forlorn sight.

I hope there are plans to find Inuka a mate to once again start the family cycle.

Bennie Cheok

Singapore's Wildlife Celebrate National Day

Animals from Singapore Zoo and Jurong Bird Park are showing off their patriotic side this 9 August, to commemorate Singapore’s 48th birthday. Join them as they celebrate national day.

This is my country, this is my flag, this is my future... These animals are so bless to be in Singapore.

Contractor caught in 'monkey business' over illegal trap

A government contractor is under investigation for allegedly setting up a monkey trap illegally in the Bukit Timah Nature Reserve.

The National Parks Board (NParks) confirmed recently that it is investigating Mr Jack Pang after he was caught setting up a cage in the reserve.

Although he was hired by the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority (AVA) to capture macaques, he allegedly did not have permission to trap them in the reserve.

In fact, under the Parks and Trees Act, no one is allowed to capture animals from nature reserves and national parks without approval from the commissioner of parks and recreation.

Wildlife bridge ready by year-end 2013

A $17 million bridge for monkeys and other wildlife is on track to be completed by the end of the year, the National Parks Board (NParks) and the Land Transport Authority confirmed on Wednesday.

Structural works for the Eco-Link@BKE are almost done, and the site is now being prepared for the planting of trees.

The 62m-long overhead bridge will reconnect Singapore's largest primary and secondary forests, the Bukit Timah Nature Reserve and the Central Catchment Area. Both forests have been separated by the Bukit Timah Expressway (BKE) since 1986, leaving animals like rare banded leaf monkeys cut off from their fellow monkeys on the other side.

"The bridge is a boon for biodiversity," said conservationist Alan Ow Yong.

When ready, it will allow animals such as flying squirrels, palm civets and pangolins an easy way to cross the BKE.

"Animals will be able to move freely between the two reserves to find other food sources as well as mates. They will also help to propagate plant species as seeds are dispersed by more animals," Mr Ow explained yesterday.

Trees planted on the bridge will also provide food for animals, NParks said. The public will not be allowed onto the bridge in the first few years, to reduce the disturbance to the wildlife.

The eco-link is situated about 600m north of Rifle Range Road, between the Pan-Island Expressway and Dairy Farm exits.

All for the love of Wild Life.

Sums up Singapore tourism scene

http://delithing.blogspot.sg/2013/07/singapore-zoo-visit.html

For those of you contemplating whether to visit the Singapore Zoo when you are on a holiday trip to Singapore, the answer is a resounding YES! Singapore is pretty small with not many things to fill up your itinerary. The usual top 5 places in Singapore that tourist would visit are as follow:

1) Esplanade (Dubbed the Singapore durian) + One Fullerton
2) Clarke Quay
3) Sentosa + Resort World (Universal Studio)
4) Orchard Road
5) Marina Bay Sands

If one were to strictly follow the usual itinerary by filling up on the 5 places mentioned above, Singapore has nothing much to offer and you would be done with the city state in a 3D2N stay here. Hence I strongly recommends the Singapore Zoo which is well known as the best Zoo in ASEAN and perhaps would even win a place (If not already) in the best zoo in the world. With the recent River Safari being opened to the public with 2 giant pandas loaned to Singapore by China as the main attraction and the much beloved Inuka (Read Ee-noo-ka) who was born in Singapore being relocated to a new climatized facility, the Singapore Zoo has became a MUST SEE if you are visiting the country.

*** Please do come visit the Singapore Zoo, because when the visit stops so does the funds to run an expensive Zoo!

Zoo replied to TRE

http://www.tremeritus.com/2013/07/13/singapore-zoo-replies-to-open-letter-from-tre-reader/

Singapore Zoo replies to open letter from TRE reader
July 13th, 2013 | Author: Contributions

[The Singapore Zoo has replied to a TRE reader's open letter - 'Open letter to the Singapore Zoo']

Thank you for writing in again to share your thoughts and experiences. We note from past emails that you had previously enjoyed the Animal Friends Show, and were quite concerned with your feedback following your last visit.

We investigated the points you raised to make sure we can improve visitor experience; and do allow us to address some of your concerns.

Animal Friends Show

We are in the midst of re-choreographing the opening segment, and are targeting to re-introduce the dance this August.

Jayjay the cockatoo is currently being rested. Our animals’ welfare is of prime importance to us, so we do rotate their appearance schedules to accommodate breaks in their normal routine. For all our birds, we do this during their moulting season. Once Jayjay has completed moulting, he will be back in the show.

Sometimes, when the birds are moulting, we also take the opportunity to retrain certain behaviours, which is what we’re doing with the parrot slam dunk.

The bubble machine will be back to excite our guests later this month, after undergoing maintenance work.

We understand how much guests enjoy the dog interaction session at the end of each show. However, safety of our guests and animals is our top priority and we identified a need to improve the stage area to better manage these close encounters. The interaction sessions will resume in August 2013.

Membership fees

Thank you for your long-term support. Over the years, we adjust membership fees in accordance to admission rates. Singapore Zoo is managed by Wildlife Reserves Singapore, which is a self-funded organisation. As such we do have to ensure our financial sustainability. The revenue we receive through admissions and membership fees is ploughed back into the care of the animals and their exhibits, as well as conservation efforts and manpower costs.

Singapore Zoo 40th anniversary

The 40% promotion in July is part of our year-long celebration of Singapore Zoo’s 40th birthday, and is offered as a gesture of thanks to the local community.

There is also an on-going promotion, until 31 Dec 2013, for Singaporeans and Permanent Residents who turn 40 this year to enjoy 40% off admission ticket prices for themselves and four other friends when they visit during their birthday month.

In past months, we have also offered additional activities and offers to celebrate this milestone birthday, and will continue to do so until the end of the year.

We hope the above offers some clarity, and look forward to your continued support.

Regards

Wildlife Reserves Singapore
80 Mandai Lake Road
Singapore 729826

Zoo's standard drop?

http://www.tremeritus.com/2013/07/08/standards-drop-at-the-zoo/

Open letter to the Singapore Zoo
July 8th, 2013 | Author: Contributions

Dear Sir,

I feel embarrassed to write in again. I have been writing regarding changes happening to the Animal Friends Show (AFS). I am almost speechless. This may be the last email from me.

The AFS started as the best show we enjoyed at the zoo. It was interactive, engaging, filled with cheery dance moves, light hearted music, and loved by my daughter. Even a parrot can slam dung! And Jayjay (cockatoo) can wave!

Today, we feel dismay. How did such a great show reduce to such a pitiful state, with little cheers from the audience? The show looks disjointed and ends with an empty stage.

Please allow me to recap the winning moves that are now missing:
-       Introductory dance and moves by the trainers
-       Kids given the chance to join in
-       Jayjay who waves
-       Parrot slam dung
-       Hula hoop segment that once was removed but glad that it has been

Re-introduced:
-       Bubbles that light up the atmosphere at the end
-       Kids given the chance to get close to the dogs

As a patron since 2008, I just cannot understand what’s going on. What happened to the show?

Why kids are now denied the opportunity to get close to the animals?
Is the zoo going to allow kids to touch the lions and tigers instead?

Thinking back, the closing segment does look a bit messy with kids and parents swamping the dogs. Toes get stepped on. But I think everyone enjoy the mingling. It gets crowded but it shows AFS wins hearts and smiles.

Perhaps taking a leaf from the Rainforest Fights Back, where people line up properly to take photos with the snakes, something similar can be arranged. You can maintain orderliness without creating barriers.

We are also disappointed that the annual membership fees have increased again. Did the increase go to better welfare for the staff and animals? I saw trainers at the AFS with torn and dirty looking clothes. It does not look well for the zoo. Do you know that 1/3 Singapore household average income below $3000? Do you know a toilet cleaner earns $600 a month?

Yes we welcome the 40% discount, but you should really consider running the promotion from Jan – Dec instead. As the discount is applicable to Singaporeans and PRs only, which is a fixed number, why would there be a need to squeeze everyone into July?

The sudden spike in visitorship is artificial and becomes uncomfortable for us and tourists. Did you know that you have also chosen to close the Treetop Walk for upgrading? Now everyone is squeezing through a narrow passage.

Imagine tourists who come to Singapore just after the haze. The skies are clear again, but rubbing shoulders in the noon sun is not something to wish for. Long queues for food are also annoying.

Are you certain the zoo needs expansion or do you need better planning?

Regards
Chin Wei

A bigger, more interactive zoo for the younger generation

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Need to ensure zoo's future

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

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

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

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

Happy 40th Birthday Singapore Zoo

2 female visitors at Singapore zoo hit by falling branch falling strong winds, slightly injured with abrasions, hurt ankle

Several roads were blocked by uprooted trees, causing massive traffic jams during and after the heavy downpour. The exit to Jurong Town Hall road on the PIE, Bukit Batok Road, Toh Guan Road and Old Jurong Road were some roads that were affected.

Items such as bamboo poles and plastic chairs were sent flying by strong winds. And at least three cars were damaged by falling trees and branches.

Two of the cars - a Toyota Vios and a Toyota Camry - had been parked at a building's open-air carpark on Toh Guan East Road, just beside the Pan Island Expressway.

Ms Crystal Wong, the owner of the Vios, was shocked by the sight of a tree on top of her car as she walked towards it after work at about 5pm. Her car had to be towed away.

"I don't usually park here," said the 31-year-old project manager, who works in a neighbouring building, bemoaning her bad luck. "The lots at my office building were all occupied because I was slightly late today."

The Camry, which served as Lay Auto's company car, had its roof damaged by the uprooted tree. Staff had earlier moved five other cars from the carpark to the showroom when branches were swaying wildly in the rain.

The third car was damaged while parked at Bukit Batok West Avenue 2.

The weather also caused part of the ceiling in the Church of St Mary of the Angels on Bukit Batok East Ave 2 to come crashing down.

Retiree Ang Lam Toh, who was at a coffee shop in Bukit Batok West Avenue 4 at 3pm yesterday, said he saw ice pellets - as large as 50-cent coins - falling from the sky, accompanied by heavy rain and gusts of wind so strong that plastic chairs which had been stacked atop one another at the coffee shop fell over.

"The wind was strong and the rain was also very heavy, there were ice pieces everywhere - some even landed in the coffee shop," said the 53-year-old.

Although the Singapore Civil Defence Force said there were no reports of people who had been injured by trees, two visitors to the Singapore Zoo suffered pain in the ankle and abrasions when a falling tree branch hit them, a spokesman for Wildlife Reserves Singapore said.

Lost and Found: Rusty, the Red Panda Returns to National Zoo

The bushy-tailed panda has safely returned after escaping Sunday evening

The male red panda had been missing from the National Zoo in Washington D.C. since 6:00 p.m. Sunday evening. Authorities have yet to announce how the furry fugitive managed to escape.

"The keepers last saw him when they fed him on Sunday night," said Devin Murphy, a spokesperson for the zoo. "They noticed he wasn't in his cage at 7:30 a.m. when they went to check on him."

She said that zoo officials combed the grounds for the panda, who is less than a year old.

"He could be sick & hiding, or someone could have taken him," the Zoo posted on Twitter on Monday morning before finding their wayward charge. "Please help us keep an eye out for Rusty."

Red pandas are typically the size of a house cat and have big, bushy tails.

They spend most of their time in trees, even sleeping in the branches. They are most active at night, as well as in the early morning and early evening hours.

"They're raccoon-like and share certain raccoon characteristics but they're not as adept or opportunistic as raccoons," said Marc Brody, a conservationist and National Geographic grantee who founded Panda Mountain, a panda conservation center.

"And they would be hard pressed to make it on their own," he said. "If it was late in the season, there would be a lot more fruiting plants around the National Zoo. I'm sure he can live for a couple of days but to forage indefinitely, it's early in the season to feed on fruits and berries."

Brody warned that Rusty could have been in trouble if temperatures climbed. Red pandas typically live in a cooler climate and might not adapt well to the humidity of Washington.

"Red pandas generally tend to sleep in trees during the heat of the day," said Murphy. "They're not aggressive, but we are advising people to respect that he is a wild animal."

Rusty arrived in Washington D.C. in April, from a zoo in Lincoln, Nebraska. He has been on exhibit for about three weeks and is up to date on all of his shots.

He is not the only red panda to go on the lam. Yin, who lived at the Virginia Zoo from 2007 until her death in 2011, escaped twice in a month shortly after arriving in Norfolk, Va.

"She was quite the escape artist," said Winfield Danielson, the marketing and PR manager for the Virginia Zoo. "We design the habitats in accordance with the standards of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums to keep the animals secure in their habitats but sometimes things happen. One time a branch fell from a tree and allowed Yin to climb over."

Supermoon meets Supertree

Hi There!

Great Facebook offer for Singapore Zoo

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

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

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

Exotic mini-zoo seized from Singapore HDB Flat

More than 30 wild animals, including pythons, tortoises, a slow loris and a marmoset have been seized from a flat in Singapore in the city's largest such haul of banned wildlife in more than a decade, a government agency said Tuesday.

The owner, who kept the animals in a public housing apartment, could be jailed for two years and fined up to SG$500,000 ($297,000), the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority (AVA) said in a statement.

The 32 animals included a Sunda slow loris, a nocturnal tree-dwelling primate; a common marmoset, a small monkey with a long tail; and three ball pythons, which are popular in the pet trade because of their docile nature.

There were also three black-tailed prairie dogs, several types of tortoise, five ornate horned frogs, an iguana, a gecko and a degu, a small rodent endemic to central Chile.

"The seizure, which includes highly endangered and threatened species like the slow loris, marmoset, Indian star tortoise and ball python, is AVA's largest inland seizure of wildlife since 2002," the agency said in a statement.

"A man is currently assisting AVA in the investigations."

Residents in public housing, where most Singaporeans live, are only allowed to keep approved pets such as non-endangered birds, aquarium fish and one small dog per household.

The animals, which were rescued earlier this month, are now in the care of a company running the Singapore Zoo, said the AVA, which raided the flat after a tipoff.

It warned the public that keeping illegal wildlife could pose health hazards and threaten the densely populated tropical island's biodiversity if the animals enter the local environment.

The animals that were seized have been sent to the Wildlife Reserves Singapore for proper care and custody.

1 Sunda slow loris

1 Common marmoset

2 Indian star tortoise

3 Leopard tortoise

2 Red-footed tortoise

2 Yellow-footed  tortoise

2 Alligator snapping  turtle

3 Ball python

5 Ornate horned frog

2 Green iguana

1 Inland bearded dragon

2 Sailfin dragon

1 Lined flat-tail gecko

3 Black-tailed prairie dog

2 Degu

White Lions: Bangkok Men Charged with Illegal Wildlife Trading

During a house raid of Montri Boonprom-on’s residence near Bangkok, police found something they never would have expected: a menagerie of more than 200 wild animals – some with teeth. Among the creatures found by police, there were 14 rare albino lions and a legally protected species of leopard in a box.

Police made the surprising discovery after a routine call. "We received a complaint about the smell from the neighbours and after investigating, we discovered the animals hidden there," Police Colonel Ek Ekasart said.

Two Thai men, including Montri, were charged in the case with illegal wildlife trading in the case and could be sentenced to prison for up to four years and receive a fine of 40,000 baht ($1,300). Police believe the men brought the lions into Thailand with permits to sell them to zoos, but instead intended to sell them privately. One of the two men was charged with the same crime four years ago.

Alongside the big cats found stalking Montri’s home were birds, meerkats, tortoises, peafowls and monkeys. Once the process is complete, the animals will either be released into the wild or handed over to zoos. The white lions can be seen in police captivity here.

Montri, 41, is no stranger to wildlife, owning an exotic pet shop in Bangkok’s legendary Chatuchak Weekend Market, one of the world’s largest weekend markets. While the majority of the goods on sale at the market are legitimate, this story highlights Thailand’s close links with the illegal wildlife trade.

Indeed, Asia has an appetite for uncommon animals, both as pets and for use of their body parts in various traditional medicines – perhaps the best known being traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), which makes use of anything from dried starfish and bear paws to dried scorpions and donkey umbilical cords. A list of other such goodies – also including dried flying lizards and rat fetuses – and their uses, can be seen here.

Thailand is trying to live down its reputation for assisting in this business – especially when it involves legally protected species – as seen in Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra’s announcement of legislation intended to bring the nation’s longstanding ivory trade to end this March.