My post will be on how Singapore is involved in the conservation of pandas! Funny how we keep on posting on other countries but forget about our own country hehe.
So anyways, we currently have 2 giant pandas, Kai Kai and Jia Jia, in the Singapore Zoo, River Safari. They were adopted by CapitaLand Land limited over a 10-year loan from China and they arrived in Singapore on the 6th September 2012. They can be found at the Giant Panda Forest located at the YangTze river with other species of endangered animals such as the red panda and the golden pheasant.
This is a video of them! ;D
(askdfkslhfslkfs they are so cute!)
The Giant Panda forest is the first of its kind in Asia. It offers a controlled cool climate and humidity of 18 to 22 degrees and 50%-60% respectively in order for the the pandas to live comfortably. The Wildlife Reserves Singapore:
- aims to educate visitors about the plight of these gentle giants
- working with the Ya'a base of China Conservation and Reseach Centre for the Giant panda to breed this endangered animal
- team will embark on behavioural observational studies to determine the activity cycles of male and female pandas in captivity
- take on hormonal studies and dietary-related research
Although this collaboration is quite recent, it is significant as it shows that Singapore is doing her part to save the pandas. As mentioned many many many times before, panda conservation is a global effort. I hope that Singapore and China can have a smooth partnership with each other :)
source: http://pandas.riversafari.com.sg/
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ReplyDeleteHow is Singapore going to get Kai Kai and Jia Jia to reproduce?
ReplyDeleteHmm...there hasn't been any official news on that so I can't directly answer that sorry :( But in my opinion, they will first conduct the tests on their activity cycles and hormones (as mentioned above) to know when the female is fertile (they are only fertile for a few hours in a year). As much as I hate to say it, I believe they will be using artificial insemination to breed a baby panda, just like in China.
ReplyDeleteIf the Zoo and WRS are planning to have Kai Kai and Jia Jia to mate and have a cub, I am sure it wouldn't be in the near future. This is because we do not have the trained specialists and equipments needed for the execution of artificial insemination.
-ZZ
Do you think that this move made is for our own benefits or the panda's benefits? Why?
ReplyDelete-Lin Wei
I believe that it is both. By loaning the giant pandas, it helps to increase our country's revenue as more tourists will come to Singapore to see the magnificent pandas (: It also ensures a continued good relationship with China as we work together to ensure the survival of the pandas.
DeleteAs for the giant pandas', it is beneficial to them in the long term as we will learn how to ensure their survival in the most effective and efficient way through research. In the short term, it is not so beneficial as Kai Kai and Jia Jia will definitely be going through some behavioural changes due to the new (enclosed) environment.
-ZZ
Do you think that with a constrained environment the pandas will feel stressed? Why? What are the effects?
Delete-Lin Wei
Over the years, the world has been educating the public about the different kind of endangered animals including the pandas. However does educating the people really help the giant pandas in any way?
ReplyDelete- Alicia
Yes of course it does! :) Think about it, if there were no education programmes and researchers were just to do their work in their lab without sharing their results, people would have no idea that pandas are endangered!
DeleteAlthough it is true that some people do not act after they go through these programmes, but majority will help conserve the pandas within their means (such as taking the panda pledge or not buying any product made of panda fur).
-ZZ
I see! As I have also thought that after having all these knowledges, most people will not care to do anything to help in a way or another in the conservation of pandas.
Delete- Alicia
Yes that is true to a certain extend. We just have to make sure that we do whatever we can within our means to helps spread the word about the giant pandas. It really is up to the individuals themselves to decide whether they should help or not. If the giant pandas were to go extinct, at least we would not regret and feel guilty as we had already tried out best :)
Delete-ZZ