About the off-exhibit area of the zoo

[baboon]

During the visit to the zoo last month, I found only one individual on display for many species, for example, leopard cat, golden cat, clouded leopard, Malay tiger, jaguar, Prevost's squirrel, Sri Lanka giant squirrel, kinkajou, binturong. Then where are the other individuals? Is there off-exhibit area in the zoo? Do the animals off-exhibit enjoy similar enclosure and treatment as the on-exhibit animals?
Meanwhile, the water in the tank of the manatee was so dirty that I could only see the the nostril of the manatee when it surfaced to breath. Another disappointment was the lack of a water pool for Malay tapirs. And I also failed to visit the Fragile Forest bacause it was closed to public during that time, and I missed the Malay civet, serval, bat-eared fox, dhole, sloth bear, anoa, red-river hog, tarsier and barasingha during the visit to Night Safari....What a pity!

 

[Zooish]

Hi baboon, I'm not a representative of the Singapore Zoo, just a regular visitor, but let me try to answer some of your questions.

As with most zoos, there are always off-exhibit dens attached to each exhibit at Singapore Zoo and Night Safari. Off-exhibit dens are almost always smaller and less "pretty" than exhibits, but they offer privacy and a quiet space for the animals.

Most wild cats are not too social so they are often displayed individually, as in the case of the Tiger, Clouded Leopard and Golden Cat.

For the Binturong, Squirrel, Kinkajou, Leopard Cat and Jaguar, they are displayed at least in pairs. Perhaps on your visit the animals were hiding within the enclosures.

For the Manatee tank, although its never crystal clear, I've never encountered anything close to what you've described in all my visits. Are you referring to the leaves floating on the water surface rather than the clarity of the water? If so the leaves are browse for the manatees that are intentionally scattered around. In any case, the manatees will be moving to the new River Safari park come 2012.

Every Malayan Tapir enclosure (and off-exhibit den) at the Singapore Zoo and Night Safari has a pool. On your visit the pool must have been drained for routine cleaning.

Fragile Forest was closed for maintenance works on the Biodome structure, but has since reopened.

I agree, its a pity you missed so many species. Animals at Night Safari can be very difficult to spot. Although it seems like you missed an entire walking trail (serval, bat-eared fox, anoa, red river hog and sloth bear are located along the same trail).

 

[baboon]

Thank you very much, Zooish! I had indeed missed a total walkway during Night Safari, because I had spent too much time in other parts of the zoo...... The tank of the manatee was really as dirty as I mentioned before, I guess there may be something wrong with the water-cleaning system during that day, and I was so frustrated as the new-born calf could not be seen clearly.
Although I have missed many species, the experience in the three zoos of Singapore is still excellent, as there are so many unusual species, such as babirusa, douc, proboscis monkey, three species of mouse deer, fishing cat, golden cat, Sri Lanka leopard, Malay tiger, Indian lion, small-toothed palm civet, Sunda pangolin and so on. There are all great places!