If my memory serves me right, Jurong has housed Mute, Black, Black-necked, Whooper, Trumpeter and Coscoroba Swans at various points of its history. But waterfowl are particularly susceptible to avian flu, and many in Jurong's collection have been euthanized in more recent years. I believe all the Mandarin Ducks at Wings of Asia had to be culled for instance.
Ah yes, I was told of the action that had to be taken in Wings of Asia by a former part-timer. Understandable though, but saddening from time to time. Used to visit just for the waterfowl collection from 2014 - late 2016.
Hi everyone, yet another clarification : The issue with Jurong's waterfowl collection is more related to the fact that the open exhibits are highly susceptible to depredation - we have reticulated pythons here, not your typical urban fox., as well as large Malayan monitor lizards and changeable hawk-eagles. So the conscious decision was made to limit the influx of waterfowl until closer to the new park opening, as all habitats are under mesh and fully predator proof. Singapore has never had any bird flu episodes, and no culling of waterfowl has been done since 2010 (my arrival here) due to this. The new park will have a medium-sized waterfowl collection. A few species slated for it are actually currently housed at the Singapore Zoo (again, under netted areas) such as Baer's Pochard and White-winged Duck.
Am relieved to know that what A (ex-part timer) told me, isn't true. Do appreciate that white-winged ducks are still a part of the collection. Certainly significant considering their historic range, they may have been a part of Singapore's indigenous avifauna, when the island still harboured mature river systems in her ancient past.
News article of recent hatchings at Jurong. Notable ones are the white and blue-eyed cockatoos, red-fronted macaws, Western long-tailed hornbill and black-faced spoonbills. Jurong Bird Park's conservation breeding efforts soar with more than 100 new hatchlings
What can you tell me about the parrot and hornbill collections? How will they compare to the current ones?
today visit bird park again, very surprise to see Spix's again, they were staying almost same place they like to be.
Hornbills have always been a group of birds Jurong has been keen to work on, with good results and that will continue to be the case. There are plans to add a few more species (currently there are 18 in the collection). For the parrots, the collection will remains with similar numbers, but with a stronger emphasis on indo-pacific (i.e. asian / australasian) species.
As unlikely as it is, are there plans to acquire the helmeted hornbill? Given WRS's involvement in their conservation. And I recall Jurong kept the species many many years ago. Would you also be able to share what will become of the birds of paradise collection? I understand that the red and 12-wired BoPs are down to single birds. The recent hatching of a lesser BoP is great news.
The birds of paradise species will hopefully continue to be featured in the new park. The 12-wired is a challenge as the captive population is simply too small . There are no plans to have helmeted hornbills at this point, but you are right, we are very much involved in the conservation planning for the species. The other hornbill species will serve as ambassadors for them.
Yes, there will be a neotropical aviary with hopefully some of those species. Golden-headed Quetzal, Cock-of-the-Rock and other cotingas are in the plans.
