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Pride of Lion City
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Fri, Apr 03, 2009
tabla!
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>IT'S been eight years since Singapore heard the roar of an Asian lion. Now, thanks to an exchange programme with India, three of them are ready to prowl the lion enclosure at the Night Safari.
Swati, Khapat and Amba - three adult lions aged 10, six, and four years respectively - arrived at the shores of the Lion City last week from the Sakarbaugh Zoo in Gujarat. Currently in quarantine, they will be available for public viewing within a month's time at the Night Safari's Indian sub-continent exhibit.
One of the females, Swati, suffered abrasions during the transportation process. The wounds have since healed and she is settling into her new environment with her companions.
While the Night Safari's animal keepers and handlers are still getting to know their new arrivals, the lions have already started displaying their personality traits. It seems that the two lionesses are quite social and, despite never having met each other earlier, are getting along like old buddies.
Khapat started off a little aloof. But he has started getting over his shyness and has begun to interact with the ladies. Clearly, officials are hoping that there will be a lot more interaction between him and the lionesses and are keeping their fingers crossed for new cubs later in the year.
As the Night Safari's assistant director (zoology) Vijay Kumar Pillai says: "These latest additions are quite significant for us as there are not many captive lions around the world."
With Asian lion populations in major European and Japanese zoos on the decline, Mr Pillai believes that any offspring from this latest pride could be used for further breeding in other zoos, leading to a "leap in the genetic pool for the Asian lion".
The Night Safari is also very big on raising awareness about the "Asian lion story". As Mr Pillai highlights, the Asian lion remains a critically endangered species. Currently there are only 300 lions in the Gir forests of Gujarat, the numbers having surged a tad from 250 thanks to the efforts of the Indian government.
The dwindling population of these majestic beasts is a result of the oft-repeated sources of extinction: Hunting, poaching and deforestation.
As part of the conservation focus on the Asian lion, the arrival of these cats in Singapore is thanks to the Animal Exchange programme that is carried out regularly at the Singapore Zoo, Night Safari and Jurong BirdPark. In exchange for Khapat, Swati and Amba - the swop is permanent - the Night Safari gave a pair of cheetahs to the Sakarbaugh Zoo.
Exchange programmes such as these have exposed animal lovers in Singapore to new species and the public has always responded well to such endeavours by being avid repeat visitors, looking out for the newest animal being showcased. Mr Pillai, 56, recalls that his love affair with animals started when he first visited the zoo as a "volunteer to ride a horse". Thirty years later, with various roles at the Singapore Zoo and Night Safari under his belt, that passion for animals still burns deep.
So go on, take a break from all the economic turbulence and go say hello to our latest friends from India.
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