Conserving Biodiversity - Wildlife Reserves Singapore

Community Outreach &
Involvement
Community energy has tremendous power to inspire positive actions. WRS involves the
community through empowerment and ownership as an effective way to conserve biodiversity.
Eco-Trail held on
Earth Day was
a great way to
promote sustainable
living through
community efforts.
A student from
Greenridge Primary
school constructing
a bird house with
the help of Nanyang
Polytechnic students.
• Earth Day 2010
Singapore Zoo celebrated Earth Day with tree-planting activities and
an Eco-Trail. The two-day event, held in collaboration with Northwest
Community Development Council, welcomed 240 school participants
and approximately 120 family guests. Volunteers from the Institute of
Technical Education (Bishan campus) were trained on topics such as
recycling, energy conservation and native wildlife which they shared with
the participants. Hands-on activities allowed participants to learn more
about the environment and conservation in a fun and interactive way.
Jurong Bird Park celebrated Earth Day and its 40 th anniversary with
students from Nanyang Polytechnic and Greenridge Primary School.
They worked together to build 40 bird houses to enhance the breeding
success of selected bird species. The students also learnt about different
bird species, habitats and the importance of biodiversity. Bird houses,
also known as nest boxes, are useful for monitoring breeding behaviour
and minimising aggression and competition for nesting sites. 80 to 90%
of the bird houses in the Bird Park are utilised every breeding season.
A great partnership between Nanyang Polytechnic and Greenridge Primary School saw
the completion of 40 bird houses to encourage the feathered residents of
Jurong Bird Park to breed.
• Ecokidz Quest
Ecokidz quest was held from 7 to 9 August at Singapore Zoo and 14 and
15 August at Jurong Bird Park. Volunteers from Temasek Polytechnic
and Ngee Ann Polytechnic manned various stations to raise awareness
of native wildlife through interesting educational games. A researcher’s
tent was also set up at the Zoo, with invited field researchers sharing
significant conservation and research findings.
• Frog Kits Leap To Schools
Frogs are nature’s pest controllers because they feed on mosquitoes and
other insects. They have sensitive skin and, being amphibious, they serve
as a good indicator of the health of our land and aquatic environment.
However, frogs now face threats such as climate change, pollution, fungal
disease and decreased insect populations due to increased fogging.
To promote frog conservation in Singapore, WRS staff visited the
Overseas Family School and Canadian International School to launch
‘frog kits’ which comprised the tadpoles of the native greenback frog
and four-lined tree frog, tadpole food, plastic tanks, nets, anti-chlorine
solution and information on rearing frogs for eventual release to the wild.
About 98% of the tadpoles underwent successful metamorphosis.
• Zoo Goes To Schools/Bird Park Flies To Schools
WRS spread the conservation message beyond the confines of its Park.
Dr Ooz and Dr Squawk travel to schools, shopping malls and corporate
organisations and present nature conservation in a light-hearted manner.
During the reporting year, ZGTS and BPFS reached out to 17,000 and
4,500 participants respectively.
• Year Of Forests
2011 was declared the International Year of Forests by the United
Nations. Singapore Zoo launched a Rainforest Walk guided tour along the
Treetops Trail. Visitors can now observe the feeding and enrichment of
Asian forest animals like the siamang, false gharial, greater mousedeer,
otter, tapir, babirusa and proboscis monkey.
WRS collaborated with students from Nanyang Polytechnic to produce a
series of filmlets that highlight the sustainable uses of rainforest and how
we can do our part to preserve biodiversity. The filmlets are screened at
various exhibits in WRS’ Parks and website.
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