Lifespan
25 – 50 years in the wild
The Sloth Bear exhibit in the East Lodge Trail will be closed from 23 Sep – 24 Oct 2024 for upgrading.
Sang Wira's exhibit on the tram route will be closed from 16 Sep 2024 to end-Jan 2025 for upgrading.
Travelling on the Mandai Khatib Shuttle will cost $2.50 each way from 1 Oct 2024.
25 – 50 years in the wild
Fruits, berries, insects, earthworms & snails
Forests, scrublands,& plantations
New Zealand
The kiwi is a small flightless nocturnal bird. It got its name from the male’s shrill call which goes kee-wee-kee-wee. In response, the female produces a guttural call.
These vocalisations help kiwi pairs to mark their territory and keep in touch with each other while they forage in the forest.
Kiwis have a slender bill. Females which are larger also have a longer bill. Kiwis are the only birds in the world that have nostrils located near the tip of their bill.
Using their keen sense of smell, they probe leaf litter to sniff out earthworms, beetles, snails and fruits. They often snuffle when they forage.
The female kiwi produces the largest egg for its body size — the giant egg can weigh up to 25% of her body weight.
The egg creates such a bulge in the kiwi’s body that the bird has to walk with her legs apart! Incubation is done by the male and the period is long, lasting up to 90 days!
Since 1990, the population of the kiwi plummeted by 90%. Kiwis have very poor eyesight and can easily fall prey to introduced predators such as stoats, cats, and dogs. Over 90% of kiwi chicks do not survive to reach the breeding age.
Breeding programmes, measures to deter predation and the establishment of sanctuaries for kiwis, are helping to stabilize the wild population of this unique flightless bird in New Zealand.
Vulnerable
At high risk of extinction in the wild
We do our part in helping to sustain the population of the brown kiwi in human care by participating in a global programme - Species Survival Plan (SSP).
This plan involves coordinated efforts by participating zoos to ensure the species’ future survival. Transfer of individuals between zoos for breeding is based on genetic compatibility.
Vulnerable
At high risk of extinction in the wild
The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species is widely recognized as the most comprehensive, objective global approach for evaluating the conservation status of plant and animal species.
Unknown risk of extinction
At relatively low risk of extinction
Likely to become vulnerable in the near future
At high risk of extinction in the wild
At very high risk of extinction in the wild
At extremely high risk of extinction in the wild
Survives only in captivity
No surviving individuals in the wild or in captivity