The Singapore Zoo and River Safari

I'm not a fan of zoos what-so-ever.  I guess I have a love/hate relationship with them.  I feel like for the most part, they're good for helping out endangered species, but other than that, they make me feel pretty sad.  Even more so after reading this article in the Huffington Post: 11 Things You Should Know Before Planning Your Next Trip To The Zoo.  Every zoo I've ever visited, the animals look sad and depressed.  Imagine how you would feel locked up in a tiny cage or small environment with people gawking at you.  I'm sure you wouldn't like it that much.

So saying all of that, I didn't plan on visiting the Singapore Zoo when I went to Singapore last July.  Every pre-planning website and book that read about Singapore, however, suggested that the zoo was a must-visit.  I still wasn't having it though.  Not until my local Singaporean friend convinced me otherwise.  And I'm glad she did.  The Singapore Zoo is the kind of zoo all zoos should aspire to be.

The enclosures for the animals are more like miniature sanctuaries for the animals - who seem to be pretty happy (well, happier than animals in other zoos!).  Each enclosure is sponsored by various local companies, which are clearly marked on signs in front of the enclosure.  If the habitat looks like shit, you know who to blame and who to complain to.  (None of the habitats looked like shit though, they were all very well maintained).

The open chimpanzee enclosure...I kind of wished I lived there myself.

The lion enclosure.  You can see the female lion on the right.

The giraffes, not housed in a funky building with African bush painted on the walls.

Beautiful white tiger. Their enclosure is quite similar to the lion's enclosure.

Even the typography of the zoo made you feel like you're walking through a jungle.  The animal enclosures weren't just off of the pathways, you find them hidden behind islands of trees and shrubs.  Most of the animals are not stuck in cages, but have free-roaming enclosures that seem more fitting of their native habitats.

Enclosures are hidden behind the brush and trees

Another way to get to the animal enclosures.

A recent off-shoot from the Zoo is the River Safari.  I highly recommend paying extra to go through the River Safari.  With an open and inviting layout, it is divided into rivers by region - for example, the Amazon, the Nile, rivers in Asia and America.  Really cool place and made learning about the various river ecosystems fun!  It's also where the pandas are housed if you want to see them.  You can enter the squirrel monkey forest and walk in their enclosure while they jump around in the trees above you.

Looking out from the entrance of the River Safari, the various river habitats are built along the sides of the river.

I got caught in the monsoon while exploring the River Safari.

Adventures in the Nile.

An adorable red panda in the panda enclosure.

Hanging out with the squirrel monkeys in the Squirrel Monkey Forest!

Here are a few more photos of some of the animals in their enclosures, looking happy and having fun!

Feeding time for the free-roaming chimps!

Free-roaming orangutans

Like the Squirrel Monkey Forest, you can enter the lemur enclosure,
which also houses bats and birds.

Patrons feeding the elephants after the Elephant Show

One last thing while I'm on the subject of zoos and sanctuaries.  I recently read an article published by National Geographic about an animal sanctuary near my parent's home in Colorado. It's about Animal Defenders International, which is an organization that saves mistreated animals used for our entertainment (for example, abused circus animals).  This organization rescues these animals and move them to sanctuaries around the world to give them a better life.  The article really touched me and inspired me to donate a portion of profits of my photography work to ADI.

If you happen to be traveling to Singapore soon, as a non-zoo lover, I highly recommend checking out the Singapore Zoo and River Safari.  Entrance fees are not cheap (nothing is cheap in Singapore), but it's definitely worth it!

Don't forget to try a Panda Pau!
A chocolate custard filled Chinese steamed bun!

Happy Trails!

Unfortunately, the only thing missing from the Singapore Zoo is a unicorn...