It's been one hell of a productive year for Jurong Bird Park, Night Safari, River Wonders and Singapore Zoo. Together, these four wildlife parks welcomed about 900 newborns across 160 species in 2021 – double the number from the previous year.
And in more good news, these births and hatchings contributed to 44 threatened species as listed under the International Union for the Conservation of Nature's (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species.
Here's a look at some of the adorable additions to Singapore's wildlife parks.
We are all aware of the birth of Singapore's first Giant Panda cub. The adorable baby boy, Le Le, was born on August 14 last year at River Wonders – the result of years of hard work and dedication from the animal care teams and a breakthrough in Mandai Wildlife Group's breeding efforts. Last we heard, Le Le has been staying active and practising his motor skills at his jungle gym.
The Sunda Slow Loris is listed as endangered on IUCN's Red List of Threatened species. So, it was an extra special Christmas at Night Safari with the birth of one of these adorable primates. Sunda Slow Loris are threatened with extinction due to the growing demand in the illegal pet trade and supposed healing properties in traditional medicine. Thankfully, this particular mom and baby set is currently safe and enjoying bonding time in an off-exhibit area.
After 16 years, the pack of African Painted Dogs at Singapore Zoo welcomed four babies. Today, they happily gambol around the boulders in their exhibit. African Painted dogs were once widespread across Africa's savannahs but is now globally endangered with extinction due to habitat loss.
Singapore Zoo also welcomed two Grevy's zebra foals last year – the half-siblings Izara and Tari.
Over at Jurong Bird Park, the first critically endangered Negros Bleeding-heart dove chick hatched just three months are the species' arrival at the part. The flock represents the first conservation breeding programme outside the species' native country of the Philippines. More chicks have hatched at the park's dedicated conservation breeding area – a win for the team working to conserve this highly threatened species.
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