Baby boom at Mandai
Mandai Wildlife Group (formerly known as Wildlife Reserves Singapore) certainly had a prolific year in 2022.
There were nearly 800 births and hatchlings last year across the four wildlife parks, marking a fertile year for the group.
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New baby animals were born at the Singapore Zoo, Night Safari, Jurong Bird Park, and River Wonders (formerly known as River Safari).
And needless to say, they are all super cute.
In a huge boost for conservations efforts, 38 species out of the 126 species newly born are listed as threatened.
That’s according to the International Union for the Conservation of Nature’s (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species.
These include the Linne’s Two-toed Sloth and the Burmese Star Tortoise, which happens to be critically endangered.
There was also the successful hatching of the endangered Citron-crested cockatoos a month apart from each other at the Jurong Bird Park, while the Singapore Zoo’s oldest pygmy hippo couple had their 14th child.
That bundle of joy who now calls the Singapore Zoo home is Thabo, an adorable baby hippo.
Born to Minah and Bubu, a Pygmy Hippo couple aged 33 and 32 respectively, Thabo’s name means “he who brings joy” in the African language. This little cutie recently got its introduction to a larger and deeper pool at the hippo’s Singapore Zoo exhibit.
Over at Jurong Bird Park, there were many new hatchlings. Some of which include 13 Negros Bleeding-hearts, a Great Green Macaw, a Red-fronted Macaw, and two Vietnam Pheasants.
While at the Night Safari Singapore, the Southern Three-banded Armadillo couple of Rocha and Rolar became proud parents once again.
The offspring, a shy female baby, has started eating an adult diet comprising of veggies, ant eggs, and mealworms. She will make her debut later this year, so don’t expect to see her at the walking trails just yet.
And lastly, at River Wonders, the park saw its fifth Giant Anteater birth, an impressive feat considering how difficult anteaters are to breed.
Here are some of the cute baby animals that were born in 2022:
Burmese Star Tortoise
Image credit: Mandai Wildlife Group
Citron-crested Cocktatoo
Image credit: Mandai Wildlife Group
Giant Anteater
Image credit: Mandai Wildlife Group
Golfodulcean Poison Dart Frog
Image credit: Mandai Wildlife Group
Linne’s Two-toed Sloth
Image credit: Mandai Wildlife Group
Negros Bleeding-heart
Image credit: Mandai Wildlife Group
Oriental Small-clawed Otter
Image credit: Mandai Wildlife Group
Pygmy Hippo
Image credit: Mandai Wildlife Group
Ring-tailed Lemur
Image credit: Mandai Wildlife Group
Southern Three-banded Armadillo
Image credit: Mandai Wildlife Group
Williams’ Dwarf Gecko
Image credit: Mandai Wildlife Group
Frequently Asked Questions
How to go to the Singapore Zoo?
When it comes to reaching the Singapore Zoo by MRT, there are a few public transport options.
There are a few MRT stations you can stop at. You can either alight at Khatib (NS14), Choa Chu Kang (NS4), Ang Mo Kio (NS16), or Springleaf (TE4).
From there, you’ll have to take different buses. From Khatib, you can take the Mandai shuttle, while from Choa Chu Kang, you can take bus 927. From Ang Mo Kio you can take bus 138, and you can take the same bus from Springleaf.
Once you reach the Singapore Zoo, it’s easy to visit the Night Safari and River Wonders as the parks are all situated adjacent to each other. Bird Paradise, a new 17-hectare park, will replace Jurong Bird Park in the second quarter of 2023.
Here’s an itinerary based on the Singapore zoo map if you’re a first-time visitor.
What are the Singapore Zoo’s opening hours?
The Singapore Zoo is open daily from 8.30am to 6pm (last entry is at 5pm) while Rainforest Kidzworld is also open daily from 8.30am to 6pm (last entry is at 5pm).
If you want to find out more about the Singapore Zoo’s ticket prices, check out our complete guide.
