World's First Nocturnal Zoo

Mandai
North, Singapore

The Night Safari is the world's first nocturnal zoo and is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Singapore.

The concept of a nocturnal park in Singapore was mooted in the 1980s by the former executive chairman of the Singapore Zoo, Dr Ong Swee Law.

Constructed at a cost of S$63 million, the Night Safari was officially opened on 26 May 1994 and occupies 40 hectares (0.4 km²) of secondary rainforest adjacent to the Singapore Zoo and Upper Seletar Reservoir.

The light-hearted and entertaining Creatures Of The Night Show 

to educate on conservation and recycling messages...

The Night Safari currently houses a total of 1,040 animals of 120 species, of which 29% are threatened species. The zoo is managed by Wildlife Reserves Singapore, and about 1.1 million visitors visit the safari per year. The Night Safari received its 11 millionth visitor on 29 May 2007.

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The full album is available at:
Places - Zoos

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Up Singapore's Tallest Hill

Bukit Timah Hill

Central, Singapore

February 2012

Though much of Singapore's original vegetation had been cleared for logging and cultivation, the forest at Bukit Timah Nature Reserve has remained relatively undisturbed. Likewise, patches of primary rainforest can be seen around the MacRitchie area and Nee Soon Swamp at the Central Catchment Nature Reserve.

These nature reserves are bounded 4 reservoirs - MacRitchie Reservoir, Lower Peirce Reservoir, Upper Peirce Reservoir and Upper Seletar Reservoir. The nature reserves act as water catchment for the reservoirs, in addition, the nature reserves also ensure the quality of water in the reservoirs.

Other than being storehouses of water, today, Bukit Timah Nature Reserve and Central Catchment Nature Reserve are homes to more than 840 flowering plants and over 500 species of animals (including butterflies). With such an astonishing variety of plants, animals and insect life, the nature reserves are indeed treasure houses of Singapore's biodiversity.

Covering an area of approximately 3,043 hectares, both the Bukit Timah Nature Reserve and Central Catchment Nature Reserve are managed by the Central Nature Reserve Branch of the National Parks Board.

• Araneae (spiders)

• Hymenoptera (ants, bees, wasps)

• Lepidoptera (butterflies) : Caterpillar

• Odonata-Epiprocta (dragonflies): Common Parasol (Neurothemis Fluctuans)

• Orthoptera-Caelifera (grasshoppers)

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More photos are available on :

Merlion Wayfarer Goes Green's Picasa Web Albums

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Pasir Ris Beach

Pasir Ris was originally a low-lying, undeveloped area with kampongs and villages like Kampong Pasir Ris, Kampong Bahru and the various Chinese kampongs along Elias Road. The area was well-known for its many plantation estates including the Singapore United Plantations, Loh Lam Estate, Hun Yeang and Thai Min Estates. The beach was a popular resort for water skiing in the 1950s. There was also the Pasir Ris Hotel, venue of many memorable parties and picnic gatherings in the 1950s, 1960s and early 1970s.

March 2010

Several species of Crabs can be found along the seashore...

Including a variety of Fiddlers...

There was even a washed up Horshoe Crab...

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Celebrating Nila Utama's First Birthday

Night Safari

Mandai, North, Singapore

20 November 2011

Nila Utama, the first elephant to be born at the Singapore Zoo and Night Safari in nine years,  celebrates his first birthday at an exclusive tea party today.

The little elephant, lovingly referred to as "Nila" by his keepers and who is named after the Palembang prince who founded the kingdom of Singapura, received a giant birthday cake made from carrots, wheat and ice, among other ingredients, while his guests enjoyed delicious elephant-shaped mini cakes and other tea-time treats during the celebration.

Learning about conservation through the handler with her owl...

An elephant-shaped cake and mask...

Delicious yummies to while tea-time away...

A very special goodie bag for party guests...

Invited guests  (Merlion Wayfarer included!) went on a gourmet safari tram ride at the Night Safari, which stops at the Asian elephants exhibit where the party was be held. It was fascinating seeing all the Night Safari animals clearly in bright daylight.

Mr. Kumar Pillai, general manager of the Night Safari, said the birth of Nila Utama was a significant milestone as it underscored the importance of education and conservation of Asian elephants in the wild.

"This mini event is not only a birthday celebration for Nila - 

it also highlights the success of captive breeding programmes like ours and 

the plight of these beautiful animals in the wild."

Sources

• "Singapore Zoo elephant to celebrate 1st birthday" by Paul LIM (20 November 2011). AsiaOne. Retrieved from http://www.asiaone.com/News/AsiaOne+News/Singapore/Story/A1Story20111120-311625.html (21 November 2011).

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