The koalas destined for Singapore Zoo are supposedly coming from Lone Pine, as part of a Koala Diplomacy plan; the koalas are being presented by the Australian Government as a gift to Singapore to mark my country's 50th year of independence this year. What is not publicly known yet is whether this will be a short term loan (1 year) or permanent display. One important consideration is that Singapore does not have its own eucalyptus supply and the cost of importing leaves, presumably from Australia, will be very high. Link to Sydney Morning Herald article below: The rise and influence of koala diplomacy
That will be a very popular addition Zooish, I suspect they will be able to source some Eucalyptus more locally than Australia, and grow some too probably. They will need to keep them out of the rain somehow though, so it shall be interesting to see how they are displayed.
I'm sure the koalas will be popular zooboy28. There are eucalyptus plantations in Malaysia and Indonesia, but these are grown for wood and probably will not meet the strict bio-safety standards required of koala feed. And I guess Singapore's climate is too hot and humid for most eucalyptus species. Maybe Qantas will sponsor the cost of transporting the leaves! The koalas will have to be kept indoors with air-conditioning, much like the pandas.
Do you have any idea if their exhibit be fully indoors or will it have outdoor access as San Diego identified as vital to keeping them healthy? Also any chance Singapore might reciprocate with some pangolin diplomacy?
The koala exhibit is indoors and air-conditioned (necessary in Singapore's climate). But it has skylights to allow natural light in.
Some news about Australia's "gift" of koalas to Singapore. It will start as a 6-month loan while the Zoo works out a sustainable and cost effective eucalyptus source. Once that's in place, the koalas will stay for good. For the loan duration, Qantas I believe is sponsoring the shipping of eucalyptus leaves from Australia twice a week. Singapore Zoo to welcome four koalas from Australia - Channel NewsAsia
The 4 female koalas on loan to the Singapore Zoo for the next 6 months arrived on Monday from Brisbane's Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary. The koalas will go on display in late May after the quarantine period. Koalas arrive at Singapore Zoo - Channel NewsAsia
The koalas on 6-month loan from Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary have gone on public display. There's a short video of the koala exhibit in the news article link below: http://www.todayonline.com/singapore/meet-singapore-zoos-koala-guests
Do you think they are calling it a "loan", when in fact the koalas will be there indefinitely, in order to maximise visitor numbers during this six month period?
Hmm.. I don't think so. The four females are planned to return to Lone Pine in January 2016. For now what's holding back Singapore Zoo from making the display permanent is the koala's browse. For the 6-month loan, Lone Pine and Qantas are supplying the browse, possibly at no cost or at a really cheap rate. It will take an estimated 3 years before the Zoo can maintain its own supply of eucalyptus, and the option of importing browse from the nearest source (Thailand) is probably still too costly.
I think I might have misinterpreted your earlier post, are you saying that after the loan they will go back to Australia and then return later (in three years once the plantation is established)? I am surprised Australia would allow Koalas back into the country, but if they were to be allowed back from somewhere, Singapore seems like a likely place.
After the 4 females return to Australia, a new group will supposedly be sent over when the Zoo is ready.
