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15/08/04
08:37 Zoo Docent Duty #1:
Today am doing volunteer duty at the Singapore Zoo. |
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15/08/04
08:44 Zoo Docent Duty #2:
On the way in, dropped by the Tree Top exhibit which features animals
of the tree tops. Animals in the zoo are used to people and are thus
easier to observe. The zoo is often among the first places a Singapore
child is introduced to nature. This is a pair of White-faced Saki
monkeys; only the males have white faces. |
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15/08/04
08:52 Zoo Docent Duty #3:
I came across these odd sculptures and upon closer inspection realised
they were the Changi Tree sculptures! These were sculpted out of the
portions of the felled Changi tree and the zoo has given them a home.
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15/08/04
08:53 Zoo Docent Duty #4:
The Changi tree was felled only 25 days after it was rediscovered.
It was initially thought that this species was extinct in Singapore.
The 9 logs were sculpted to represent the 9 portions of the 150 years
that is it believed to have lived. This portion with the propeller
was oddly intriguing. |
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15/08/04 08:56
Zoo Docent Duty #5:
More of the 9 sculptures. Two seedlings of the tree were rescued
by NParks and one of these seedlings will be planted here. For more
about the Changi Tree, see Siva's
Changi Heritage website
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15/08/04
09:55 Zoo Docent Duty #6:
At the zoo, I volunteer with the Fragile Forest team that specialise
in introducing visitors to invertebrates (bugs, beetles and other
creepies). Here Daniel is explaining how caterpillars metamorph into
butterflies, using living caterpillars. We think they are cute, but
many visitors would rather not touch them :-) |
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15/08/04 09:57 Zoo Docent Duty #7:
The other person on duty today is Yen Ling. And here are all our treasures...living
stick insects well camouflaged among sticks, and moults of all kinds
of creatures from scorpions, tarantulas to horseshoe crabs. All my
favourite invertebrates. |
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15/08/04
10:01 Zoo Docent Duty #8:
And now for a tour of the Fragile Forest itself. The exhibit aims
to introduce visitors to the wide variety of habitats found in nature.
As well as the wild people that live in some of them. The Asmat of
Irian Jaya are featured in this exhibiti. |
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15/08/04
10:05 Zoo Docent Duty #9:
The first portion is a rather dark room with lots of exhibit tanks.
My favourite is the fresh water tank full of interesting water bugs,
beetles and other small aquatic creatures. There are also exhibits
of the amusing Magadascar cockroaches that can talk to each other,
glow-in-the-dark scorpions and Rose, the lovely Rose Tarantula. |
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15/08/04
10:06 Zoo Docent Duty #10:
There are also two large marine tanks. I struggle with this concept
because it pains me to see these lovely large marine creatures trapped
in a tank. |
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15/08/04
10:07 Zoo Docent Duty #11:
But these do allow an easy and early introduction to the marvels of
the sea. And it is less "bad" than keeping a marine tank at home for
the pleasure of a few. At least these marine creatures are making
a sacrifice so that many can become more aware of the ocean and its
treasures. |
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15/08/04
10:09 Zoo Docent Duty #12:
Then we enter the main enclosure (it's proper term is the biodome
:-) where all kinds of creatures roam freely in an enclosed area.
This is the tree duck that is just as comfortable on a branch as on
the water. And behind, the faithful and friendly zooworker who has
been there almost since I first started volunteering at the zoo. |
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15/08/04
10:10 Zoo Docent Duty #13:
The biodome is designed to introduce visitors to the different "levels"
in a forest. On the forest floor roams the mousedeer. As quite as
a mouse, but not so shy here. I can get close enough to take a reasonable
photo with camera phone! |
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15/08/04
10:11 Zoo Docent Duty #14:
Butterflies are abundant in the enclosure, though we are quick to
point out that the Fragile Forest is NOT just about butterflies. Today,
there are these gorgeous butterflies that I know nothing about. The
white Tree Nymphs are numerous as usual (they are bred in the zoo).
Tree Nymphs are rarer in the wild. |
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15/08/04
10:13 Zoo Docent Duty #15:
Among the tree dwellers are these Ring-tailed Lemurs that visitors
often mistake for a racoon. The other large tree-dwelling mammals
in the exhibit are Black-and-White Ruffed Lemurs, tree kangaroos and
sloths. These are never found together in the wild as they come from
entirely different continents! |
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15/08/04
10:15 Zoo Docent Duty #16:
But my all-time favourite tree-dwelling mammal is the bat! And there
are several lively and friendly Fruit Bats in the enclosure. They
obligingly literally hang out near the Canopy Platform around this
time of the morning because it's nearly feeding time. The bats at
the zoo are more active during the day because of this feeding schedule.
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15/08/04 10:18 Zoo Docent Duty #17:
On the way out of the Fragile Forest complex of exhibits, we pass
the mangrove exhibit. It gives an easy intro to this fascinating habitat,
complete with Archerfishes that spit on command! At this juncture,
I always try to introduce Singaporeans especially to their own wetlands
and mangroves that they can visit. The zoo provides me the opportunity
to bring nature and animal lovers closer to their own wild places.
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15/08/04
10:20 Zoo Docent Duty #18:
Various quotations are found in the exhibit, but this one is my favourite:
Only after the last tree has been cut down;
Only after the last river has been poisoned;
Only after the last fish has been caught;
Only then will you find that money cannot be eaten |
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15/08/04
10:47 Zoo Docent Duty #19:
Getting back to the Fragile Forest station, here is Ivy introducing
kids to the stick insect. |
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15/08/04
11:45 Zoo Docent Duty #20:
It's time for lunch! Just like these bats! We pack up the station.
On the way to lunch we spot lots and lots of St. Andrew's Cross spiders
among the vegetation. |
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15/08/04
11:51 Zoo Docent Duty #21:
On the way home, we stop to read about the gibbons at the zoo. They
are confiscated or rescued from the wild pet trade. There is more
information about the destructive effect of this trade and why we
should not support such trade. |
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15/08/04
11:52 Zoo Docent Duty #22:
There is a promotion for weddings at the zoo. This seems to be a rather
controversial issue... |
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15/08/04
11:54 Zoo Docent Duty #23 (last):
The zoo attracts lots of photographers with all kinds of fabulous
equipment. Hopefully, once they gain experience and confidence in
shooting nature in a controlled setting like the zoo, they will move
on to document our fast disappearing nature. |
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