Singapore Zoo to have wildlife healthcare and research centre

[Guest guest]

http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/168248/1/.htm

l

 

Zoo to have wildlife healthcare and research centre

By May Wong, Channel NewsAsia

 

The Singapore Zoo is expected to operate a wildlife healthcare and research

centre by early next year.

 

The centre aims to be the first world-class diagnostic and treatment

facility.

 

This will help the institution enhance its research in the breeding of zoo

animals.

 

These are all in line with the Singapore Zoo's conservation efforts to breed

endangered animals.

 

Since the beginning of this year, the zoo has successfully bred over 60

animals, 30 percent of which are endangered species.

 

The latest endangered new-born animal at the zoo is the Pygmy Hippo.

 

Less than two weeks old, zoo keepers will have to wait a couple more months

before they can identify its gender.

 

Such new additions are significant to the Singapore Zoo because it shows the

environment is conducive for the animals to reproduce.

 

Singapore Zoo's executive director, Fanny Lai, said: " One of the important

things is we want to inspire people to be closer to nature. So nothing

better than to display the animals in their natural habitat.

 

" But in order to display the endangered animals, it's important that we

exchange our species with other institutions so that we don't capture them

from the wild.

 

" And when we exchange with other zoological institutions, we also expand

their gene pool, so there wouldn't be in-breeding.

 

" The ultimate thing is we bring the animals to the people for recreation,

education and conservation. "

 

The zoo is also home to other endangered species like the Falabella, which

are miniature horses.

 

A two-month-old baby is the first miniature horse born at the Singapore Zoo.

 

 

At the primates section, the Douc Langurs are highly endangered leaf-eating

monkeys from Vietnam and Laos.

 

And a little one, which is about two months old, is one of the latest

additions to this group of 15.

 

Currently, the Singapore Zoo has more than 3,000 animals on display.