You suppose Singapore is a concrete jungle city, sprouted with skyscrapers and high-rise buildings. When dusk falls, streets are well-lit, clean and safe. The city is never too dark to explore. So, what’s so “dark” about this sunny island? Wait till you embark on the journey into the deep tropical forest in Mandai you’ll know.

Look, something is crossing our path in the dark. What’s the big deal? Stray cats are seen everywhere on the island. But hey? Cat? How could it be that big?! I heard someone saying “it’s a fishing cat, silly.”

Further down the trail, it seems like cats are getting bigger. What?! They’ve leopard spots?! Dumb lines.

You hear the hyena laughing and the stealthy leopard stalking you. Sensing someone looking over your shoulder, you turn around and notice a pair of glowing eyes. An icy chill run down your spine in the warm night. The beast is only a few metres away, stretching its muscles and getting ready to pounce on you!

Freak not, you are safe in the World’s first nocturnal zoo - The Night Safari, an open-air night zoo set in a humid tropical forest. You can explore the safari park on foot via three walking trails namely Fishing Cat, Forest Giants and Leopard Trail or by tram.

The park has 2 road loops - East Loop and West Loop. The length of the walkway is 2.8km. That was where I did my walking exercise for 3hrs with the nocturnal creatures! (You know I hardly exercise :P)

The Fishing Cat Trail map.

It’s common to see little squirrels scampering around bushes and trees. However, as we entered the Leopard Trail, I was taken back when three giant flying squirrels appeared right above me, resting on the tree tops. While aiming at those huge squirrels with a seemingly confrontational gesture, I got quite worried that they might go berserk and leap onto me!

Singapore Night Safari is an open-air zoo. As much as you can see here, those needle-sharp quills are no joke OK! They were pointing at us! Prior to reading about porcupines, I thought it was dangerous to stand close to them (we were like 2m apart?). On contrary to popular belief, a porcupine cannot thrust its quills at attackers, unless by contact with it. Has anyone ever seen a porcupine releasing its quills right before your eyes?

For those who are interested to visit Night Safari Singapore, the opening hours are from 7.30pm to 12mn daily. Last admission is at 11pm but I’d suggest you keep your S$22 (Adult admission fee) for just an hour’s visit. The rate is S$11 per child (3 - 12 yrs old). The park is accessible by wheelchair, but there are many slopes, so it’s not easy to push the wheelchair around.

If you intend to visit Singapore Zoo, Jurong Bird Park and Night Safari within 1 month, get the 3-in-1 Park Hoppers Special at S$45 adult price (save S$13), child price at S$22.50. There is also 2-in-1 Park Hoppers Special for any of the 2 parks.

Hey! I went to Jurong Bird Park soon after! Stay tuned for that post.

I love all these free-ranging monkeys, especially the chubby fellow here, the White-faced Saki. It’s a male species.

It’s feeding time for the female white-faced saki monkey. This type of New World monkey feeds on fruits, seeds, nuts and insects.

The Fragile Forest is one of my favourites at the Singapore Zoo. It’s pretty exciting and you get hair raising encounter with creepy crawlies and critters crossing your path; just like this fluffy-ear coolio that can be crawling on the branch right above you!

This black-and-white ruffed lemur gave me a fright when it suddenly cried out loudly and jumped onto the railing of the stairs that I was standing while taking a picture of it. I dare not stand close to this “spirit of the night” anymore.

A fruit bat hanging upside down, oh well, all bats hang upside down. Have you ever wondered why bats hang upside down?

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That day, I lost my way in the rainforest. To the shock of my life, I saw a leopard. There was nothing I could do. The first instinct was to hide myself behind some bushes. But alas! The beast spotted me, glaring deep into my eyes.

My jelly legs couldn’t move at all as the leopard advanced towards me.

Thank goodness, the leopard turned away as I flashed him with my Ixus!!! I was safe… so here I am, still alive and kicking, and blogging my time away!

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For safety reasons, parents know that they have to be watchful of their children while exploring the zoo. Somehow, it seems like some adults need “special attention” too, in case they behave like this woman who jumped into the enclosure and “initially appeared to be elated as she swam towards a bear” during the bears’ feeding time last month at Berlin Zoo.

The woman was bitten several times on her arms and legs but luckily for her, this 32-year-old woman managed to escape death.

Last Nov, a 20-year-old man climbed into the pen of a panda in China and tried to hug the panda cos he thought it was very cute. But the frightened panda bit his arms and legs and he had to be rescued by the keepers.

Caution: Bears may look cuddly and friendly, but they are not TEDDY BEARS. =_=

Do you know that one of the two polar bears at the Singapore Zoo is Singaporean? In fact, the 18-year-old named Inuka is the first polar bear born in the tropics. His mother’s name is Sheba. Both bears were embroiled in controversy because they are kept in a hot equatorial climate.

Acres (Animal Concerns Research & Education Society) has done studies showing that both the polar bears are living in a stressful environment, displaying behavioural and physical signs of distress. The unsuitable

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Let’s continue from Singapore Zoo (Part 1/5) and explore deeper into the Great Rift Valley of Ethiopia.

Tools on display in an African housing.

Watch out for the Hamadryas Baboons of the Great Rift Valley of Ethiopia.

It’s said to have more than 70 baboons kept in this”Great Rift Valley”.

And I just learnt that these hairless pads of skin are called ischial callosities. They provide sitting comfort for the baboons. Lucky fellow… !

What we see here are all taken behind the glass that separates us from the baboons, yet providing us a closer view of those Old World monkeys from Ethiopia.

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It has been more than a decade since I last visited the Singapore Zoo, which was then known as the Singapore Zoological Gardens. Also commonly known locally as the Mandai Zoo, it is one of the best zoos in the world by Forbes, presenting an “open concept” zoo where animals are enclosed in natural settings rather than keeping them behind bars.

Admission rates for an adult is S$18 and a child (3 - 12 yrs old) is S$9. Daily opening hours are from 8.30am to 6.00pm. After visiting the Zoo, you can continue the fun at the Night Safari which is located just next to the Zoo. The Night Safari is the world’s first wildlife park for night visit.

A walk through the Zoo now!

Ah Meng was a female orangutan which belonged to an endangered species; she was smuggled from Indonesia but was later given a home at the Singapore Zoo. A tourism icon and the first non-human recipient of “Special Tourism Ambassador” award in Singapore, Ah Meng passed away due to old age last year. Can you spot the late Steve Irwin, the crocodile hunter, with her in one of the pictures?

A cafe named after Ah Meng, serving local food.

White tigers are very rare. They suffer from a genetic condition that leaves them with snow white fur, black stripes and blue eyes.

On Nov 2008, a Malaysian cleaner was mauled to death by three white tigers after he jumped into their  enclosure. He was seen behaving erratically and passed comments like “Goodbye, you won’t see me again”, before he fell into the moat. Many onlookers witnessed the horrific attack. However, officials assured the public that the exhibit is very safe.

Two white tigers started to behave intimately in front of many visitors.

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