River Wonders River Safari details revealed
- Thread starter Zooish
- Start date
zoopalooza
New Member
I think there will be 2 walking trails, according to the river safari map. I think the map's somewhere in the Singapore Zoo gallery.
the projected map is here http://www.zoochat.com/264/artists-impression-river-safari-layout-151481/
I don't think they will though. River Safari is intended to be a short 2 to 3 hour visit. The boat ride will be at most 10 minutes long.
On another note, Wildlife Reserves Singapore has posted a new video on Youtube showing the arrival of a pair of juvenile Mekong Giant Catfish. The fish were sourced from a breeder in Thailand and the shipment of the fish was managed by a commercial ornamental fish importer/exporter. The 2 fish are still quite small, with a lot of growing to do.
Check out the Giant Flying Squirrel video as well:
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Some details of the panda exhibit revealed in a newspaper article. Seems like the pandas will get to experience the 30 degree celsius, 80% humidity climate of Singapore, as recommended by a China panda expert. 
Extracts from the article:
The pandas' open home in the $180 million River Safari, nestled between the Singapore Zoo and Night Safari, will not be open to the public until early 2012.
The plan is to build them an air-conditioned indoor den and outdoor playpen, as well as a non-air-conditioned outdoor area where the pandas can bask in the full warmth and humidity of the Singapore climate.
The idea for a natural space was proposed after a two-man team from WRS visited the Ya'an panda sanctuary in Chengdu, Sichuan province, in mid-April to study the bears.
Mr Ang Cheng Chye, curator of zoology with the River Safari, said one of the panda experts suggested giving the animals a chance to experience the local temperature.
He added that the pandas' breeding cycles are triggered by changes in temperature, which the zoo staff will observe and learn about when the pandas take up residence here.
Link to full article:
No need to peer at pandas from across a moat
Extracts from the article:
The pandas' open home in the $180 million River Safari, nestled between the Singapore Zoo and Night Safari, will not be open to the public until early 2012.
The plan is to build them an air-conditioned indoor den and outdoor playpen, as well as a non-air-conditioned outdoor area where the pandas can bask in the full warmth and humidity of the Singapore climate.
The idea for a natural space was proposed after a two-man team from WRS visited the Ya'an panda sanctuary in Chengdu, Sichuan province, in mid-April to study the bears.
Mr Ang Cheng Chye, curator of zoology with the River Safari, said one of the panda experts suggested giving the animals a chance to experience the local temperature.
He added that the pandas' breeding cycles are triggered by changes in temperature, which the zoo staff will observe and learn about when the pandas take up residence here.
Link to full article:
No need to peer at pandas from across a moat
Zooplantman
Well-Known Member
Polar bear exhibit announced:
Channel NewsAsia - New homes for Singapore polar bears - channelnewsasia.com
Channel NewsAsia - New homes for Singapore polar bears - channelnewsasia.com
Here's another link, with bigger artist's drawings of the new Frozen Tundra exhibit. Seems like most of it will still be outdoors, but features like an ice cave and frozen rocks are supposed to cool the bears down. It will be comparable in size to Polar Bear Shores in Sea World Queensland.
AN ICY NEW HOME FOR INUKA AND SHEBA IN THE WORKS Voices from the Wild!
I hate to think of the size and standard of the off exhibit area.
it is a bit odd that they are being removed from show, especially considering the article calls them "Singapore's beloved polar bears". I would hazard a guess that rather than being moved to a different enclosure during that time the existing enclosure will simply be blocked off from the visitors but I can't imagine why.Shirokuma said:
I also wonder about the wisdom of investing such a large amount of money into building a new polar bear exhibit (not that they don't need a new one of course) when the bears are quite old. What happens when they pass on to the great Arctic tundra in the sky? They presumably won't bring in a new pair, so what to do with an enclosure designed specifically for polar bears?
The new exhibit will literally be built over the existing one. Based on the sketch plans, the new dens/exercise yard are located at the same spot as the existing one. My guess is that the Zoo is expanding the den space first. Once that's done, the bears will be confined in the dens while the main exhibit is torn down. So zooman is right that the bears will be kept in a small space for a long period.
The exhibit has to be closed now probably because there will be a lot of ugly construction stuff around - like hoarding, sound-proofing and dust nets - covering the enclosure while the den expansion is going on right next to it.
@chlidonias: I think the Zoo management has already dropped its earlier position of not importing any more bears. The new enclosure is definitely planned with more than 2 bears in mind.
The exhibit has to be closed now probably because there will be a lot of ugly construction stuff around - like hoarding, sound-proofing and dust nets - covering the enclosure while the den expansion is going on right next to it.
@chlidonias: I think the Zoo management has already dropped its earlier position of not importing any more bears. The new enclosure is definitely planned with more than 2 bears in mind.
thanks Zooish, that's very interesting, especially the last bit...
I cannot help but continue to have serious reservations - as you probably will agree - re. polar bear in a hot and humid climate.
Incidentally, climate change and massive cooling installations - saving energy? Just a thought ...
Incidentally, climate change and massive cooling installations - saving energy? Just a thought ...
@chlidonias: I must add that the last bit is my own assessment
@kifaru: Good points and valid reservations. The same argument can be made about the countless tropical species being kept in temperate zoos. To me, seeing elephants walking in snow is just weird!
@kifaru: Good points and valid reservations. The same argument can be made about the countless tropical species being kept in temperate zoos. To me, seeing elephants walking in snow is just weird!
@chlidonias: I must add that the last bit is my own assessment
@kifaru: Good points and valid reservations. The same argument can be made about the countless tropical species being kept in temperate zoos. To me, seeing elephants walking in snow is just weird!
Hi Zooish,
I would specify that Nearctic zone. You are right there too.
River Safari website is up: River Safari
Seems like the Southeast Asian zone (with Malayan Tigers, Mousedeer, Python) has been dropped from the plan or delayed till the second phase.
Seems like the Southeast Asian zone (with Malayan Tigers, Mousedeer, Python) has been dropped from the plan or delayed till the second phase.
