Singapore Zoo marks World Wildlife Day with 2018 conservation campaign Together For Wildlife

Mr Tan Chuan-Jin, Speaker of Parliament and Deputy Chairman of Mandai
Park Holdings (holding company of WRS), who graced the event as guest of
honour, commented: “Our planet is under immense pressure today as a
result of human impact, and wildlife is more at risk than ever before.
Through raising awareness for the importance of conserving wildlife and
biodiversity amongst our younger generations, and educating them on the
ways they can take action, we’re putting our best foot forward for a
chance to really turn things around for wildlife in the future.”

Mr Mike Barclay, Group CEO of Mandai Park Holdings, said: “The world is facing what scientists term the sixth mass extinction event, with the prospect of many species going extinct due to mankind’s impact on their habitats. The problems are complex, and we believe that only a coordinated effort by diverse stakeholders can mitigate the crisis. For years, WRS has been working with biologists, academics, and government agencies on a myriad of conservation projects. Through Together for Wildlife and the various events and in-park activities that we will be running in 2018, we are encouraging schools, communities and businesses to also get involved and learn how they can take action too.”

In Singapore, WRS’ community and education programmes continue to grow, and have already engaged around 340,000 school children since 2016, in programmes including interactive behind-the-scenes tours, experiential programmes which allow children to transform into a keeper for a day, and wild overnight camps under the stars. Among them were 500 preschool students from Kinderland who learnt about how plastic pollution is harming otters and other wildlife. Inspired and empowered to take conservation action, these children and their teachers went on to organise their own mini-carnivals and fund-raising events, and subsequently contributed S$10,000 for the adoption of four Asian small-clawed otter pups in Singapore Zoo.

Little wildlife heroes need help from big ones too!

Throughout March, an online public awareness campaign by Wildlife Reserves Singapore, #TogetherforWildlife, will encourage everyone to join together in turning things around for wildlife by posting a picture of themselves upside down on Instagram. For every upside down post recorded with #TogetherforWildlife in March, Wildlife Reserves Singapore will pledge S$1 towards wildlife conservation*.

 Focusing its conservation efforts on Singapore and the ASEAN region, WRS has provided support to over 50 wildlife conservation projects across Southeast Asia—through a combination of on-site leadership and best practices, research and funding—and has a further 27 regional conservation projects confirmed for 2018.

Southeast Asia has become a hotspot for biodiversity and habitat loss, alongside widespread illegal wildlife trade, putting a large number of species under threat. To tackle the major extinction crisis this region faces, WRS hosts the Asian Species Action Partnership (ASAP), an alliance of conservation organisations, with the aim of focusing emergency conservation attention to critically endangered land and freshwater vertebrates in Southeast Asia. According to the IUCN^# Red List of Threatened Species, 175 ASAP species are presently on the brink of extinction.

 Through its four parks in Singapore—Jurong Bird Park, Night Safari, River Safari, and Singapore Zoo—WRS also cares for a living collection amongst the richest in zoological institutions around the world, in which one in five of the species represented are threatened[i]. In collaboration with Singapore partners, WRS plays a key role in supporting and implementing conservation strategies for native species as well as managing rescued animals through a rehabilitation process. In 2017, WRS received a total of 1,977 wildlife rescues, the majority of which were reintroduced to the wild through local partnerships.

“Small choices we make individually can collectively have a major impact, from
recycling and reducing demand on certain unsustainable resources—the farming or mining of which is destroying many species’ natural habitats—to
boycotting products made from endangered animals. With the right public
education and empowerment, we can work together to turn things around for our planet and its wildlife,” added Barclay.  

WRS contributes more than S$2 million annually towards wildlife conservation efforts, and among the sources of the funding are corporate sponsorship and adoption, a 50-cent contribution from each park admission ticket sold, collections from animal token feeding and experiential tours in the parks, and sales from non-woven and corn bags from retail and F&B outlets.

A community programme has also been lined up in 2018, in support of the Together for Wildlife campaign. It will include education and outreach activities both within and outside of the parks, to share wildlife conservation messages with the community and encourage their involvement. In addition, as part of its collaboration efforts with zoos around the world, in 2018 WRS will join hands with San Diego Zoo Global to create special edition content for the San Diego Zoo Kids Channel—bringing the healing power of animals to millions of hospitalised children around the world.

Members of the public can visit www.TogetherForWildlife.sg for more information and to learn more about the campaign and steps they can take to come #TogetherForWildlife at home. A series of in-park activities will run
through March 2018 in support of the Together for Wildlife conservation campaign.

TOGETHER FOR WILDLIFE BOOTH

Date: 3, 4, 10, 11, 17, 18 March 2018

Location: Orangutan free-ranging exhibit area, Singapore Zoo

Get to know rainforest animals better and find out what’s happening to their home! Complete fun activities for exciting prizes and start your very own wildlife-friendly garden with coffee grounds.

 

BUILDING THE PHOTO ARK WITH JOEL SARTORE – A SINGAPORE ZOO SHOWCASE

Date: Until 31 March 2018

Location: Opposite Babirusa exhibit, Singapore Zoo

Admire our stunning animal portraits by National Geographic photographer of threatened species, native species and species supported by Wildlife Reserves Singapore Conservation Fund.

 

COFFEE WITH A CAUSE

Date: 2 March 2018 onwards

Location: Wild Deli, Singapore Zoo

Owa coffee is grown in a wildlife-friendly manner to preserve the rainforest habitats of endangered Javan gibbons and provides a source of income for the farmers.  

Save wildlife and benefit the community by purchasing Owa coffee available at The Wild Deli. Enjoy a cup or purchase the coffee beans – 30¢ from every purchase go towards conservation efforts.

 

WHO’S GOT YOUR VOTE?

Date: Ongoing

Location: Outside the main gift shop, Singapore Zoo

We fund projects in Singapore and the rest of Southeast Asia to protect threatened wildlife. Vote for your favourite project to show support – Javan Gibbon, King Cobra or Southern River Terrapin.

 

GO GREEN AND SAVE!

Date: 2 – 31 March 2018

Location: Main gift shop, Singapore Zoo

Pick up earth-friendly souvenirs at a special eco corner of Singapore Zoo’s main gift shop. Plus, enjoy 20% off refillable water bottles!

 

GREEN GUESTS

Every visitor at our wildlife parks makes a difference too! 50¢ of each paid admission ticket goes towards conservation efforts in the region and all proceeds from our animal token feedings also go towards wildlife conservation.