.jpg)
White Tiger
The white Bengal tigers – this one originally from a zoo in Indonesia – are a popular attraction at the Singapore Zoo.
Singapore Zoo ranks consistently (after San Diego Zoo) as one of the best in the world.
I’ve talked before about some of the concerns around keeping animals in captivity (see: A Tale of Two Tarongas), but when it comes to transparently ethical practices, the Wild Reserves Singapore group -four animal parks of which the Singapore Zoo is one – is a world leader. They take their stated vision: “To be a world-leading zoological institution that inspires people to value and conserve biodiversity” seriously.
I have visited the zoo twice; the first time was back in the days of film, and when I was not yet used to the tropics. Aside from the fact that I was introduced to a python instead of an orangutan at the Jungle Breakfast with Wildlife, I don’t remember much about it. For my second visit, years later, I made sure the orangutans would be in attendance before I booked our breakfast tickets (see: Hands, Teeth, and Almost Abstract).
The complex attracts about 1.9 million visitors annually, and is one of the few zoos in the world to be able to boast it is ‘cage-free’. Many of the naturalistic exhibits are surrounded by moats that are disguised with vegetation or are dropped below the line of sight. Areas that house dangerous animals, or that enclose water or require temperature control, feature glass walls. I loved these for the unique way they refracted the light and created reflections, adding an artistic dimension to viewing the animals.
There are currently about 300 species of animals across 28 hectares of lush rainforest. This is possible without a feeling of crowding because of the layering, with lemurs wandering freely, and orangutans and gibbons swinging high above the ground while the visitors watch from below. This concept is epitomised in the Fragile Forest, a 20,000 cubic metre bio-dome that mimics a tropical rainforest teeming with life at every level. Following the walkways, you can get close to denizens of the tropical forest floor, the rainforest under-storey, and up into the canopy.
As I walked around the zoo with the dual goals of enjoying the animals in their pseudo-natural environments and of making pictures that I thought interesting or artistic, I couldn’t help but marvel at how uniquely different each species – and indeed, each individual – is.
Join me for a walk in the (almost) wild.
.jpg)
White Tiger
All white tigers in captivity are the descendants of Mohan, a wild-caught Bengal tiger from Rewa, India. The white stripes and blue eyes are product of a recessive gene which only occurs in the wild about once in 10,000 births. None have been seen in the wild for some years, and it is thought that the white colour makes them more visible – and therefore less effective hunters.
.jpg)
Splash!
Watching the power of this animal as he leaps for the incoming food is just breath-taking.
Omar
You can see the deadly canines in the powerful jaw. At 16, Omar was already old for a tiger, and he died 16 months after this was taken.
Keeper Kishen
As much as possible, we followed the keepers and animal talks.
Bird in the Garden
An open zoo attracts all kinds of visitors. This little bird is small – but that beak is serious!
Great White Pelican
By contrast, the great white pelican is a huge bird – second largest in the pelican family – …
Pelican Bill
… and that unique bill is a real fish-trap.
African Penguins
The penguins are a delight to watch. As they waddle out single file on opposite feet, I’m reminded of my daughter’s tap dance classes.
Front and Back
No wonder they came up with the idea for the movie Happy Feet!
Penguin Split
The reflections in the water and glass add texture to the rock and feathers.
The Claws of an Asian Sun Bear (Helarctos Malayanus)
Being primarily nocturnal creatures, sun bears look sweet and somnolent – but locals say they are the most dangerous animals in their forests, and that even tigers keep their distance. Looking at their sharp, sickle-shaped claws – which are more than ten centimetres (four inches) long – it is easy to see why.
Tree Tops
Whenever we move from one area of the zoo to another, we need only look up to see more magnificent apes. That baby must have quite the grip to be able to hang on to mum’s chest as they swing through the trees!
White Rhino Hide
The second largest land mammal in the world (after the elephant), the rhino has a reputation for having a tough skin. While the skin can be up to 5 centimetres (2 inches) thick, it is surprisingly sensitive, being susceptible to sunburn and insect bites.
Southern White Rhinoceros – Ceratotherium Simum Simum
This is one reason they love mud baths: in addition to cooling them in their native southern-African savannah habitat, dried mud acts as a sunscreen and insect repellent.
Ears and Whiskers
African red river hogs (Potamochoerus porcus), or bush pigs, have striking orange-brown fur and prominent facial whiskers.
Siblings
Spots
Animal patterns are functional – often as part of their camouflage. Cheetahs’ spots cover almost their entire body, and like the ring pattern on their tails, are as unique as fingerprints. The distinctive black tear stripes under their eyes act like the sights on a rifle and reflect the sun: both helpful when running at full speed during daytime hunting.
Giraffes in Dappled Shade
“… and what with the slippery-slidy shadows of the trees falling on them, the Giraffe grew blotchy, and the Zebra grew stripy …”
– Rudyard Kipling, Just-So Stories
Stripes
After years of research, scientists have established that zebra stripes protect the animals from biting flies. They probably also help in thermoregulation and camouflage.
Red Leaves and Light
Naked Mole Rats – Heterocephalus Glaber
It always amazes me how the incredibly diverse the animal kingdom really is! I’m pretty sure I’ve never seen these small, hairless, long-lived, cancer-resistant, burrowing rodents before.
Malayan Flying Fox
At the other end of the environmental-habitat spectrum, high in the tops of the Fragile Forest, we find greater flying foxes feeding on watermelon and carrot.
Malayan Flying Fox
These large frugivorous bats have a fox-like faces and long sharp claws.
Butterflies on Watermelon
Sometimes the butterflies beat the bats to the fruit.
Ring-Tailed Lemurs
Many of the lemurs have free-range of the zoo, but being very social creatures, they are mostly seen in clumps.
Big Eyes
Endemic to the island of Madagascar, ring-tailed lemurs are said to have a cat-like appearance, but with those eye-rings, they remind me more of racoons.
Furry Fingers
Lemur fingers are slender and padded on the underside, with a leathery texture to help with climbing.
Almost Abstract: Crocodile Scales and Bamboo Reflections
Saltwater crocodiles are the largest known living reptile. Looking at this one – almost invisible under the water – it is easy to see how they can ambush their prey.
As much as I’d prefer to see these animals in the wild, it is wonderful to have the opportunity to wander around this much-awarded zoo where such a wide range of creatures is available to us.
Until next time,
Happy Travels!
