singapore zoo, boy attack by tiger and Paya Indah wetlands

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New Straits Times » Features

Animal Kingdom: Animal ties in 'Wild Island'

 

Aug 19: Wild Island, a documentary on the Singapore Zoological Gardens,

unearths interesting facts, such as the zoo being Singapore's 'biggest

restaurant'.

HAFIDAH SAMAT writes.

 

MITRA is the highest-paid " actor " in Singapore. But despite having a role in

the comedy Babe: Pig In The City, this " Singaporean " , has never been

featured in the republic's TV series Phua Chu Kang or Under One Roof.

 

And it's not because of Mitra's idiosyncracies and ludicrous dem-ands on the

set. It's just that Mitra is a lovable and adorable orang utan!

 

" Am I lucky or what as I'm able to hang out with big movie stars? " says

David Moggie, the producer of Animal Planet's Wild Island during a phone

interview from Singapore, with a slight chuckle.

 

Mitra is the latest attraction on Wild Island, the 13-part documentary that

goes behind-the-scenes of the Singapore Zoological Gardens. The half-hour

show, screened over Astro's Channel 51 on Tuesdays at 9.30pm, explores and

captures the wide variety of relationships between animals and their

keepers. Apart from that, the show also delves into the day-to-day

management of the zoo.

 

" There is so much that goes into the show. When the co-producer Chris Batson

and I discussed it, our idea was to have a programme that has an Asian feel

to it - the location, characters and the subject matter had to relate to the

region, " explains Moggie.

 

" What emerged was rather unique. And what really moved us once we immersed

ourselves into the project was the enthusiasm and conviction showed by the

zookeepers, " he continues, adding that Wild Island caters to audiences

worldwide with its universal appeal.

 

Each episode of Wild Island - which premiered on July 2 - provides a unique

insight into the on-goings at the zoo.

 

" In one of the episodes entitled Food For Thought, the approach we took was

based on the whole concept of an 'open zoo' and how the Singapore Zoo is

run, " says Moggie, as he reveals that the episode also highlights the zoo as

the republic's " biggest " restaurant!

 

" The whole experience was an eye-opener for us. We wanted to know what it

takes to feed a zoo with so many different species each with unique dietary

requirements of their own?

 

He continues: " This is one interesting thing about the zoo. You see how

keepers use enrichment behaviour devices - either food or gadgets. "

 

The internationally-acclaimed Sin-gapore Zoological Gardens is more than

just a zoo - it is not only a big compound where visitors come in to observe

animals.

 

According to Moggie, " There's more to it. It is a veritable Noah's Ark. " The

truth is that, I wasn't a big animal lover before - or rather not

particularly drawn to animals. Now, with the perspectives of zoo keepers,

I'm beginning to develop some kind of appreciation for animals.

 

" The affection the keepers portray is simply amazing. And the indirect

interaction with the animals, sort of touches me and I hope it creates an

impression on audiences, " he says.

 

Wild Island also discusses whether it is ethical to subject the animals at

the Singapore Zoo - known for its animal shows - to training.

 

" Interestingly, " says Moggie, " when we spoke to both animal trainers and

showtime presenters, what comes across, first and foremost, is the welfare

of animals. Subsequently, conservation messages, for instance, the plight of

endangered species, come into the picture. "

 

The camera also captures the " gate crashers " - wild animals in the

surrounding jungle that sneak in and out, conveniently making the Singapore

Zoo their " temporary " home.

 

" In Out and About, we highlight these 'visitors' and how they 'interact'

with the permanent residents of the zoo. It was exciting and we had great

fun - you know, chasing after the animals and vice versa! " says Moggie,

laughing as he reminisces on the " trials-and-tribulations " of the production

team during filming.

 

" A visit to the zoo is nothing short of a that-you-see-is-what-you-get

sce-nario. But, bear in mind that, a zoo is not always as safe as it

appears, " says Moggie, matter-of-factly.

 

He continues: " What we don't see is the constant danger the keepers face

from the animals they look after. When there is a breakdown in the

relationship, the results are disastrous and really scary! "

 

 

New Straits Times » Frontpage

Nine-hour jaw surgery for boy attacked by tiger

 

KOTA BARU, Aug 25: THE 13-year-old Orang Asli boy who was badly injured in

an attack by a tiger on Saturday went through nine hours of surgery at Kota

Baru Hospital to fix his jaw.

 

Metal plates were fixed to his broken upper jaw.

 

The hospital's dental officer, Dr Azman Alias, said the surgery began at

9.30pm on Saturday.

 

" Baauk An Hang is in stable condition after the operation. " He said the

laceration on Baauk's cheek was so deep that the boy was having trouble

breathing.

 

" We had to perform a two-centimetre incision on his throat to allow him to

breathe properly, " he said.

 

Dr Azman said the boy's treatment would continue. Baauk was on a hunting

trip with his 30-year-old brother Ayie in Kuala Betis, Gua Musang, at

12.30pm when the tiger attacked them.

 

They put up a struggle and Ayie managed to rescue Baauk.

 

The boy's grandfather Alang Eda, 60, said the two had left about 11.30am.

He said Baauk, a student of Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Tengku Indera Petra,

had returned to Kampung Diah, Kuala Betis, for the weekend.

 

" It is normal for them to go hunting, " he said.

 

 

 

New Straits Times » Letters

Stop this land clearing at Paya Indah Wetlands

 

Aug 27: OVER the weekend my friends and I decided to visit the much-talked

about Paya Indah Wetlands. Frankly it is amazing. The Government's foresight

and initiative must be commended.

 

Upon visiting the park we could see the rationale for having the zoo

relocated there, though we gathered from the information available at its

exploration centre that the zoo planned is an open concept wildlife park

with a fantastic tin dredge museum.

 

While there is so much going for Paya Indah, we were troubled to see land

clearing beside one of its beautiful lakes which for sure will impact Paya

Indah negatively. My friends and I decided to visit the large tract of

cleared land to find out more since access to it is through Paya Indah's

access road. There was no signboard to indicate the identity of the

developer or the nature of its development.

 

We were made to understand by some people living within the vicinity that

the clearing is meant for mixed housing development. So once again we have

a beautiful green lung being encroached even before the park is fully

developed.

 

I am sure that every person who has visited Paya Indah would also want the

authorities to take immediate measures to safeguard Paya Indah and halt

these greedy incursions.

 

Lastly, we also deeply hope that the newspapers will help highlight this

issue and assist in preserving Paya Indah Wetlands.

K.T.

Kuala Lumpur

 

 

 

 

 

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