Singapore Zoo

The Singapore Zoo (Taman Haiwan Singapura; சிங்கப்பூர் விலங்குக் காட்சிச்சாலை), formerly known as the Singapore Zoological Gardens and commonly known locally as the Mandai Zoo, occupies 28 ha on the margins of Upper Seletar Reservoir within Singapore's heavily forested central catchment area. The zoo was built at a cost of S$9m granted by the government of Singapore and opened on 27 June 1973. It is operated by Wildlife Reserves Singapore, who also manage the neighbouring Night Safari and the Jurong BirdPark. There are about 315 species of animal in the zoo, of which some 16% are considered threatened species. The zoo attracts about 1.6 million visitors each year.

From the beginning, Singapore Zoo followed the modern trend of displaying animals in naturalistic, 'open' exhibits with hidden barriers, moats, and glass between the animals and visitors. It houses the largest captive colony of orangutans in the world. In 1977, primatologist Dr Francine Neago lived inside a cage with eighteen orangutans for six months to study their behavior and communication.

History
The conception of the Singapore Zoo dates from 1969. At the time, the Public Utilities Board (PUB) decided to use some of its land holdings around reservoirs for parks and open recreational facilities. The then Executive Chairman of PUB, Dr Ong Swee Law, set aside 88 hectares of land for the construction of a zoological garden.

In 1996, consultants and staff were hired, and in 1971, the construction of the basic 50 enclosures started. Animals were collected from dealers and donated by sponsors. The Director of the Colombo Zoo in Sri Lanka, Lyn de Alwis, was hired as a special consultant to work out problems inherent in tropical zoos.

On 27 June 1973, the Singapore Zoo opened its gates for the first time with a collection of 270 animals from over 72 species, and a staff of 130. By 1990, 1,600 animals from more than 160 species lived in social groups, housed in 65 landscaped exhibits with boundaries conceived to look as natural as possible.

Exhibits
Animals are kept in spacious, landscaped enclosures separated from the visitors by either dry or wet moats. The moats are concealed with vegetation or dropped below the line of vision. Dangerous animals that can climb well are housed in landscaped glass-fronted enclosures.

The zoo has not expanded beyond the original 28 hectares. However, 40 hectares of secondary forest were later developed into the Night Safari. The remaining undeveloped land has been kept as wooded land. This and the waters of Upper Seletar Reservoir contribute to the Zoo, giving it a sense of natural, unrestricted space.

The zoo also offers various modes of rides available within the premises: trams, animals, boat, pony and horse carriage rides. Strollers, wagons, electric scooters and wheelchairs can also be rented.


 * Orangutans
 * Sumatran orangutan
 * Bornean orangutan


 * Frozen Tundra
 * Polar bear
 * Wolverine
 * Raccoon dog


 * Tiger Trek
 * White tiger


 * Wild Africa
 * African lion
 * Cheetah
 * Gemsbok
 * Rothschild giraffe
 * White rhinoceros
 * Ostrich
 * Gnu
 * Eland
 * Nyala
 * Grant's zebra
 * African hunting dog
 * Banded mongoose
 * Meerkat
 * Warthog
 * African buffalo
 * Naked mole rat


 * Cat Country
 * Caracal
 * Leopard
 * Mountain lion


 * Elephants of Asia
 * Asian elephant


 * Primate Kingdom
 * Chimpanzee
 * Mandrill
 * Douc langur
 * Colobus monkey
 * Crested macaque
 * Patas monkey
 * Capuchin monkey
 * Proboscis monkey
 * Spider monkey
 * Arapaima


 * Baboons
 * Hamadryas baboon


 * Bears
 * Sun bear


 * Mousedeers
 * Greater mouse-deer
 * Lesser mouse-deer
 * Indian spotted chevrotain


 * Reptile Garden
 * Indian star tortoise
 * Cuvier's dwarf caiman
 * False gharial
 * Black spitting cobra
 * Komodo dragon
 * Reticulated python
 * Burmese python
 * Sail-finned water dragon
 * Red-footed tortoise
 * Aldabra giant tortoise
 * Green anaconda
 * Boa constrictor
 * Western diamondback rattlesnake
 * King cobra
 * Alligator snapping turtle
 * Rhinoceros iguana
 * Green iguana
 * Gila monster
 * Oriental whipsnake
 * Indian gharial
 * Royal python


 * Fragile Forest
 * Ring-tailed lemur
 * Large flying fox
 * Tarantula
 * Scorpion
 * Madagascar hissing cockroach
 * Rhinoceros beetles
 * Giant river toad
 * Crowned pigeons
 * Iguana
 * Two-toed sloth
 * Butterfly


 * Sungei Buaya
 * Estuarine crocodile
 * Giant snakehead
 * Terrapin


 * Australian Outback
 * Eastern grey kangaroo
 * Emu
 * Koala
 * Cassowary
 * Wallaby
 * Tree-kangaroo
 * Frill-necked lizard
 * Bearded dragon
 * Carpet python


 * Splash Zone
 * African penguin
 * Amazonian manatee
 * California sea lion


 * Other animals
 * Cotton-top tamarin
 * Greater flamingo
 * Leopard cat
 * Malayan tapir
 * Babirusa
 * Gibbon
 * Hooded crane
 * Nubian ibex
 * Oriental small-clawed otter
 * Pygmy hippopotamus
 * Koi
 * Alligator gar
 * Silver arowana
 * Stingray
 * Giant Asian pond turtle
 * Painted terrapin

Education and conservation
The Wildlife Healthcare & Research Centre was opened in March 2006 as part of the zoo's efforts in wildlife conservation. The centre further underscores Singapore Zoo and Night Safari’s commitment to conservation research, providing the infrastructure for the parks and overseas zoological partners to better execute their research programmes. The Singapore Zoo is the first zoo in the world to breed a polar bear in the tropics. Inuka was conceived on 26 December 1990.

The zoo also embarked on various rescue and conservation efforts to protect wildlife. Steve Irwin, the animal activist and conservationalist known as "The Crocodile Hunter", admired the Singapore Zoo greatly, adopting it as the 'sister zoo' to the Australia Zoo. He was at the Singapore Zoo in 2006 to officiate the opening of the Australian outback exhibit.

Shows
"Breakfast with an Orangutan" lets visitors to meet and interact closely with the orangutans in the zoo, which has included Ah Meng (died on 8 February 2008) who was an icon of the Singapore tourism industry. Animal shows, as well as token feedings coupled with live commentaries by keepers, are also the daily staple in the Singapore zoo.

The "Rainforest Fights Back" show is housed in the Shaw Amphitheatre, the main amphitheatre within the zoo. Actors and performers act alongside the animals: in-show, a villainous poacher attempts to mow down a section of tropical rainforest for land development, and is foiled by the native people and the animals of the rainforest (orangutans, lemurs, pea-fowls, otters, and cockatiels).

The "Elephants at Work and Play" show demonstrates how elephants are used as beasts of burden in south-east Asian countries. The animal caretakers are referred to as mahouts, and the show simulates how a mahout would instruct an elephant to transport logs or kneel down so that they can be mounted.

The "Splash Safari" show showcases the zoo's aquatic mammals and birds. Seals and sealions perform tricks and pelicans demonstrate how they catch fish in their beaks, while dolphin swim in the pond below.

The "Animal Friends" show, housed in the Kidzworld amphitheater in the zoo's children's section, features mostly domesticated animals such as dogs and parrots performing tricks.



Organising events
There are three event venues available in the zoo, Forest Lodge, Pavilion-By-the-Lake and Garden Pavilion. There are also three cocktail venues, Elephants of Asia, Tiger Trek and Treetops Trail. The Singapore Zoo also facilitates birthday parties and weddings.

Incidents
On 13 November 2008, two of three white Bengal white tigers mauled a suicidal zoo cleaner to death after the man jumped into a moat surrounding their enclosure and taunted the animals so they would kill him.



Awards

 * Michelin 3-star rating
 * Singapore Tourism Awards
 * Best Leisure Attraction Experience (20th Awards)
 * Best Managed Tourism Attraction (1st Awards)
 * Best Leisure Attraction (6th Awards)
 * Leisure Attraction of the Year (7th, 8th, 13th, 16th and 17th Awards)
 * Top 10 Best Family Experience (Jungle Breakfast at Singapore Zoo) (2006)
 * ASEAN Tourism Association Awards for Excellence
 * Best New Attraction in ASEAN for Hamadryas Baboons Exhibit (2002)
 * Voted one of the best loved pro-family businesses (2006)