Wildlife Times - WRS Living Classrooms

AUGUST 2011
Wildlife Times
C O N S E R VAT I O N & E D U C AT I O N
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Megafish Of The Mississippi
Jayce Chua, River Safari’s Aquatic
Management Officer, recently
traveled to Missouri, USA to study
the paddlefish which is an ancient
cartilaginous freshwater fish.
Smooth-bodied with an elongated
and flattened snout that looks like a
paddle, this species is a filter feeder
that detects food and navigates its
environment with electroreceptors
on the snout. Electroreception is the
ability to perceive electrical impulses,
observed in fishes like sharks, rays
and catfishes.
flowing waters of the Mississippi River
and can grow up to 1.5 metres and
27 kilogrammes or more. The largest
American paddlefish weighed 65
kilogrammes while a Chinese species
was recorded at 450 kilogrammes.
The paddlefish will be one of the
attractions at the upcoming River
Safari, Asia’s first river-themed
wildlife park.
The American paddlefish, also
called the Mississippi paddlefish, is
Missouri’s state aquatic animal and
one of the largest freshwater fish in
North America. It is found in slow
Netting Mississippi fish (blue channel catfish)
at Osage Catfisheries - the oldest and largest
multi-species hatchery in Midwestern USA.
The 3-day study trip not only enriched Jayce’s
experience in paddlefish husbandry, and
veterinary treatment but also provided her
the opportunity to explore various fish farm
facilities, operations and life support systems.
The paddlefish is classified
as vulnerable under the
IUCN Red List of Threatened
Species. Its population
decline is largely due to
overfishing and habitat
destruction from dam
construction, river
modification, dredging
and sedimentation.
Efforts to conserve
and monitor this
species include
tagging, regulations
on harvesting
and replenishing
rivers with the
species.
Jayce with Osage Catfisheries staff
Juvenile
paddlefish
at around 2
weeks old.
Paddlefish are long-lived but they do
not spawn every year and are only
reproductively mature after six to eight
years. Yet, they are commercially exploited
for their valuable eggs which are sold as
freshwater caviar.
Reintroduction Of Rhino Hornbills
Rhinoceros hornbills are native to
Southeast Asia. The species is easily
recognised by the large, bananashaped casque perched atop their
beaks, which is believed to be used
by the bird to amplify its mating calls.
Rhino hornbills are currently not under
imminent threat but habitat alteration
can harm their populations in the
The seed dispersal abilities of these birds
are well documented by a team in Thailand,
led by Professor Pillai Poonswad from
Mahidol University, Bangkok. The presence
of rhino hornbills is established as an
important factor in regenerating forests and a
health indicator of forests.
During breeding season, a female hornbill
seals herself in a nest cavity, leaving only a
narrow opening through which her mate will
deliver food to her and the chicks. A female
can be sealed inside the nest for almost
100 days throughout the process of egg
incubation and chick brooding.
future. Rhino hornbills are not known
to breed well in zoos and bird parks.
Since the last recorded sighting
of rhino hornbills in Singapore
was in 1898, the Singapore Avian
Conservation Project is undertaking a
pioneer breeding and reintroduction
programme, jointly funded by Wildlife
Reserves Singapore Conservation Fund
(WRSCF), to re-establish the species
in Singapore. Compatible pairs of
rhino hornbill will be placed in a large
aviary in the forest to provide a natural
environment to encourage courtship
and breeding.
PHOTO: FONG CHEE WAI
Team members Ng Soon Chye, Marc
Cremades and Lai Hui Min surveyed
potential sites around Singapore to
set up the reintroduction aviary and
for subsequent release of the birds.
Observational studies are conducted
on captive rhino hornbills in Singapore,
Malaysia and Thailand to better
understand their behaviour and
breeding patterns. Construction of
the first introductory aviary is already
underway. The birds will be closely
observed with surveillance cameras to
monitor their behaviour before release.
Does Diet Influence Primate Resting Posture?
Primates have developed different digestive functions to accommodate their
specialised diets. Species that feed mainly on high-fibre leaves, like the proboscis
monkey and colobus monkey, have a more complex digestive system compared
to frugivorous (fruit-eating) and omnivorous primates. Studying five subfamilies
of primates, Physilia Chua Ying Shi from Nanyang Technological University
investigated the influence of diet on resting postures and duration of the digestion
process.
Species of the Colobinae subfamily, like proboscis monkeys and black-and-white
colobus monkeys, spent more time resting in an upright position compared with
spider monkeys, chimpanzees and macaques which are represenatives from other
primate subfamilies.
Sitting upright may aid in the gravitational separation of leaf particles which in
turn, facilitates digestion and microbial fermentation. Larger and harder to digest
particles are separated by gravity and excreted first. Smaller and easier to digest
particles are retained for digestion.
Further studies are recommended to determine if a primate’s resting posture is
indeed an adaptation for digestion or if resting posture is determined by other
factors such as regulating body temperature or adaptations to habitat.
Pangolins In Peril
Pangolins are not only difficult to maintain in zoos due to their specialised
diet of ants and termites, they are also slow breeders, producing just one or
two offspring a year. Add to that, pangolins are poached excessively for their
scales, meat and skin, resulting in it being pushed to the brink of extinction.
PHOTO: DAVID TAN
Of the seven extant species of pangolins, three are found in Asia and only
one, the Sunda or Malayan Pangolin is found in Singapore. Pangolins are
locally protected under the Endangered Species (Import and Export) Act,
enforced by the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority (AVA). Trade in pangolins
and their parts is completely banned internationally.
Pangolins are nocturnal and forage at night, using their acute sense of smell,
for ants and termites. To run a successful breeding programme for the
conservation of pangolins, WRS has to ensure that the reproductive potential
of our pangolins is increased through a diet that is not only palatable but
also closely resembles the nutritional value of their wild diet. Through
stringent and rigorous husbandry practices and a tried and tested specially
formulated diet, Night Safari celebrated two recent pangolin births.
In August 2009, our Zoo staff
Shaiah and Aimi rescued a female
Sunda pangolin hit by a vehicle
along Mandai Lake Road. The
pangolin was treated at the
Zoo’s Wildlife Healthcare and
Research Centre, survived
and was later named
Anggun, which means
elegant in Malay. Two
years later, she gave birth
to a female young named
Jelita, which means sweet
and lovely. Jelita is
the second Sunda
pangolin born in
Night Safari.
PHOTO: DAVID TAN
Anggun, photo taken in
August 2009, shows
injury sustained
during the road
accident.
The first baby pangolin, born on 14
January, is already in their Night Safari
exhibit with her mother. Jelita, the
younger baby pictured here with
her mother Anggun, was
born on 24 April and is
expected to start on
solid food soon.
Keep Your Eyes Open
Slow down when driving near nature reserves and forested areas as many of our native animals are most active at night. All
WRS parks are designated wildlife rescue centres. If you spot any injured wildlife, contact WRS at 6269 3411. If you spot any
poachers in our reserves and forests, contact National Parks Board rangers at 1800 4717300 and AVA at 1800 2262250.
The World Is Our Classroom
WRS aims to instill in children a love
for learning, beyond the school’s
curriculum, through an exciting
programme specially designed in
collaboration with the Ministry of
Education. One such initiative is
Programme for Active Learning (PAL)
Outdoor Education, which uses nature
and wildlife to impart a range of
outdoor learning activities to primary
school students. During the 8-week
Sandwich making is a useful and fun skill
students learn during the 8-week PAL
Outdoor Education.
programme, students spend six weeks
learning about the outdoors and two
weeks applying the knowledge gained.
Through outdoor camps and
activities, students learn to be better
communicators and team players, as
well as important and useful life skills
like basic first aid, basic rope work,
pitching tents and simple navigational
skill. Visits to the Zoo and Bird Park
offer the children opportunities to
learn more about animal care and
enrichment, and instill in them a
respect and love for nature and
wildlife.
Besides the outdoor education
module, WRS education team also
runs PAL wildlife Art. To find out more
about PAL, contact Rekha at rekha.
[email protected] or 6360 8535.
Animals in zoos need some enrichment too. PAL teaches students basic rope work as part of
camp craft, and the students put their skill to good use to make safe and interactive toys for the
parrots at Jurong Bird Park. At the same time, they learn about pet responsibility.
Volunteering From The Heart
From our Docent (volunteer) recruitment drive for 2011, we have
a total of 52 new Docent trainees. Training has been taking place over
the last two months, not only to equip docents with knowledge and practical
skills, but more importantly, to fire up their enthusiasm for wildlife and nature
conservation so that their sharing will touch the hearts of visitors.
The programme includes visits to WRS parks, keeper attachments and stationbased training at their selected stations. Training will be completed by early
September, followed by a graduation ceremony at the Docent Appreciation
Dinner on 10 September 2011 with the theme “Shanghai Night”.
Visit http://education.zoo.com.sg/docent.html for more information on WRS
Docents Programme.
Renowned Nat Geo Photographer Comes To JBP!
Jurong Bird Park, in collaboration with National Geographic Channel, brings
renowned Nat Geo photographer, Mattias Klum, to the Bird Park for an
exclusive photography workshop on 17 September 2011. The hands-on
workshop will take participants on a photography trail with Mattias Klum as he
shares his experiences and photography techniques, using the Park’s colourful
and fascinating avian residents as subjects.
Log on to http://natgeotv.com/asia/birdpark from now till 7 September to find
out how you can be part of this unique experience! You can also take part in the
Bird Park’s “Picture The Colour” photography competition and win attractive
prizes. More information under “What’s Up” at www.birdpark.com.sg.
Native Critter Chatter
PHOTO: DAVID TAN
The oriental whip snake belongs to
a family of snakes named for their
very slender bodies and spearshaped heads. Oriental whip snakes
are arboreal and well camouflaged
among the trees, often mistaken
for a green vine. These snakes are
found throughout Southeast Asia and
commonly seen in our urban gardens,
wooded areas and coastal areas. They
are often sighted in the Zoo.
When threatened, this shy snake
prefers to retreat rather than launch
an attack. Their diet consists of insects,
frogs, small birds and reptiles like
lizards, which are killed by venom
released through fangs located
towards the back of the upper jaw.
The venom, however, is weak and
not fatal to humans. There are other
species of highly venomous snakes
commonly spotted in Singapore, like
the black spitting cobra and banded
coral snake. For your safety, when
you encounter a snake in the wild,
back away slowly and do not touch
it. Snakes only attack when they are
threatened or surprised. If you are
bitten by a snake, remain calm and
minimise movement. Immobilise the
bitten area to prevent venom from
spreading, position it below your
heart level and seek medical aid at the
hospital immediately. It is important
to take note of the appearance of the
snake like its colour and length, so
that the species may be identified and
the appropriate antivenin (antidote
to snake venom) administered if
necessary.