Conservation Never Looked So Cute: Singapore's Wildlife Parks Celebrate a Baby Boom
Hope is the newest baby two-toed sloth of Singapore Zoo’s Fragile Forest. Here she is with the elusive Bunny, who loves to snooze and play hide-and-seek.
Image from: @bunnythesloth IG account, maintained by Mandai Wildlife Group
Singapore's Mandai Wildlife Reserve parks are celebrating a year of unprecedented success in their conservation efforts, with close to 998 newborns welcomed into their animal families across 143 species in 2024. This baby boom spans a diverse range of species, from critically endangered primates to vibrantly coloured birds, highlighting the parks' crucial role in protecting biodiversity. Notably, 34 of these species are listed as threatened under the IUCN Red List, including critically endangered species like the woylie, and vulnerable species such as the giant anteater and West Indian manatee. These parks include the Singapore Zoo, Night Safari, River Wonders, Jurong Bird Park, and the all-new Rainforest Wild ASIA Park.
Breeding Programmes: A Key to Success
The bumper year for births underscores the effectiveness of the parks' breeding programmes, designed to ensure the survival of threatened species. These programmes involve careful management of animal populations, creating optimal environments for breeding, and providing expert veterinary care. The parks use techniques like assisted reproductive technology and behavioural studies to optimise breeding success. Of the 143 species successfully bred by Mandai Wildlife Group last year, 23 are part of internationally managed breeding programmes like the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria’s (EAZA) Ex-situ Programme (EEP). These programmes aim to maintain genetically healthy and sustainable populations of species under human care while supporting conservation efforts in the wild. Mandai Wildlife Group actively participates in over 190 programmes such as the EEP, with some of its animal care team members leading species management efforts as programme coordinators.
Primate Conservation: A Priority
Among the notable newborns are several primates, including the critically endangered Sumatran orangutan. Every birth of these majestic apes is a significant victory for conservation, as their wild populations face increasing threats from habitat loss and poaching. The parks are also celebrating the arrival of newborns from other endangered primate species, further solidifying their commitment to primate conservation. Other primate births include Francois' Langur at the Singapore Zoo.
A Diverse Range of New Arrivals
The baby boom extends beyond primates, with numerous birds, reptiles, and other mammals adding to the parks' vibrant ecosystem. These births contribute to the genetic diversity of the animal populations, making them more resilient to environmental changes and diseases.
There has been a successful hatching of the Malayan Hornbill at Jurong Bird Park, and the birth of the red ruffed lemur. River Wonders also welcomed a Manatee calf. The Singapore Zoo has also celebrated the arrival of five slender-tailed meerkat pups, a Linne’s two-toed sloth named Hope, and three oriental small-clawed otters. Another highlight was the arrival of Putri, a proboscis monkey whose name means ‘princess’ in the Malay and Indonesian languages. The second offspring to parents Malaka and Jeff, Putri can often be seen playing with her brother Bayu at the proboscis monkey habitat. The primate family also grew with the arrival of two Goeldi’s monkeys – the first infants in nine years – along with four ring-tailed lemurs and two emperor tamarins. In the realm of reptiles and amphibians, the endangered golden mantella and black-legged poison frog were among the key breeding successes, with the tally of golden mantella hatchlings reaching 31 – the highest in three years.
From the Singapore Zoo's clinging proboscis monkey, Putri, to Bird Paradise's fledgling Gentoo penguin and Night Safari's newborn Malayan sambar fawn, the parks showcase a diverse array of recent arrivals.
Photo credit: Mandai Wildlife Group
Another key breeding effort focused on the Chrisangi leaf insect, a species native to Singapore, to establish an assurance colony as a safeguard against extinction and support conservation efforts. At the Night Safari, three Malayan sambar deer, five barasinghas, and a male hog deer have been welcomed. The arrival of three Turkmenian markhor kids also marked a milestone as the first offspring for the species in five years. Keepers also welcomed a male woylie at the Tasmanian Devil Trail. This is the fifth joey of this critically endangered species born at Night Safari since 2021. At River Wonders, two special additions to the EEP – a giant anteater pup and a West Indian manatee calf – have captured the hearts of guests. Solana, the fifth pup born to Zapata and Iapura, has transitioned to a solid diet of ant eggs and boiled eggs.
In other joyous news, River Wonders successfully bred the endangered Lake Titicaca frog in the same year it was first exhibited. The blue discus, a tropical fish native to South America, continues to thrive with 80 new members joining the school. At the Bird Paradise, golden parakeet, yellow-mantled chattering lory, blue-winged leafbird, madagascar teal, meller’s duck, Nyasa lovebird, green honeycreeper, and gentoo penguin have been welcomed.
A Beacon of Hope
The success of Singapore's wildlife parks in breeding endangered species provides a beacon of hope in the face of global biodiversity loss. Through their meticulous breeding programmes, research initiatives, and public education efforts, they are playing a vital role in safeguarding the planet's natural heritage. Dr Cheng Wen-Haur, Deputy CEO and Chief Life Sciences Officer, Mandai Wildlife Group, said, “Every birth in our parks reflects the dedication of our animal care and veterinary teams, as well as the success of international breeding collaborations. With each new arrival, we reinforce our commitment to maintaining sustainable populations in our parks and contributing to long-term conservation efforts."
Visitors to the parks can witness first-hand the adorable results of these conservation efforts and learn more about the importance of protecting endangered species.
If you’re unable to visit the parks, or want to see more adorable baby animals, tune in to wildlife Mondays on Global Trekker to watch a variety of baby animals, learn about the conservation of wildlife and discover the challenges and triumphs of protecting these precious creatures. Check your local listings on the Where to Watch page for details.
Watch out for weekly fresh articles on Personality & Art, Science & Technology, Business, Destination & Food, or Nature & Environment.
Broaden your mind, open your heart, and inspire your soul with Global Trekker.Follow us:
