memory lane

This page is specially built in fond memories of the animals that once contributed to the very magic of Night Safari with their presence. For the newbie VRs, you may not be aware that some of the following animals once inhabited Night Safari but are no longer where they used to be because of the various reasons stated below. Hence, this page hopes to provide a summarised insight into the past and recent animal news and events in Night Safari. For the animals that were once found along the tram route, they might only be familiar to VRs who are tram guides or to VRs who take tram rides often. However, most senior VRs would have some recollection of certain trail animals that have now been retired like TY Beanies.

Change

From

Kinkajou - These seldom seen little animals were finally retired since there was not much difference in displaying them. They had a prime location outside the entrance of Night Safari where there was no nearby competition from other animals for the attention of the guests. But the kinkajous did not make full use of the opportunity given to them so out they went. Heard that the group used to consist of a family and young. Later it became a male and female pair who would often be seen mating in public! What an amorous couple, LOL !

To

Hoffman's Two-toed Sloth - With the departure of the kinkajous, of all living things, Night Safari replaced them with 3 equally hard-to-see animals - a mother 2-toed sloth with her young (? months old) and a juvenile male (early 2003). The full-time Rangers are trying to condition them to come out by hanging fruit, carrots and maize on the branches in front, looking so much like a kampong farmer's backyard ! But in time to come, the Rangers will place the food in more discreet locations so as not to make the habitat look so unnatural.

Latest news dated May 2005- The Kinkajous made a short come back to this entrance habitat in 2004 but by Mar 2005, both the Sloths and Kinkajous had to make way for the new Animal Photography stage, as part of the series of phases in transforming the NS entrance. Refurbishments are expected to be completed by Nov 2005.

From

Jungle Cat - Many people say that look just like the stray cats on the streets, just slightly larger. Nothing is spectacular about the sand-colored Jungle Cats simply because they lack the beautiful spotted or striped fur coats of their other wild cat cousins. But this lack of beauty saved the Jungle Cat from poachers as they are not attractive targets. However, they do make a nuisance of themselves by raiding poultry farms, so farmers often set traps and poison for them.

There were 2 groups of Jungle Cats along the Leopard Trail - a bachelor group and a mother with full grown cubs. They were rotated on alternate nights and the highlight each night would be token feeding time when strips of meet were thrown in by the full-time Rangers to liven them up. They would even climb the small tree in the middle of their habitat to reach the meat strips stuck on the thin branches!

To

Hog Badger - These little rascals are finally out on display along the Leopard Trail since 18 August 2002 but they are still undergoing conditioning. On the first night, 2 of the hog badgers (see right) wandered out of their habitat by swimming under the hot wires. One of them was eventually caught later that night while the other, believed to be a female (the one pictured in the far right, LOL ! ), remained at large till today. She is suspected to be hiding somewhere near to the Golden Cats' habitat where there is an abundance of worms for her to feed on. The full-time rangers hope to recapture her soon with a trap and fortunately for everyone, she is not a dangerous animal, phew ! If anyone has seen her or has any info on her whereabouts, please inform the full-time Rangers (as if she is a criminal ! ).

From

Anoa - A 'victim' of change and some say low work performance level, the Anoa was one indeed one of the hardest animal to spot (other than the Giant Anteater) both along the tram route and walking trail over the past few years. On the occasions that it could be seen, it brought about a mixture of reactions from guests. Some claimed that it is a goat until they read the sign board or were informed by the tram guides that it is actually the smallest buffalo in the world. Hence it is also called the Dwarf Buffalo. So rare is this solitary animal that it currently lives only on the Indonesian island of Sulawesi.

To

For the time being, Since 2002, the Anoa's prime location is being occupied by the seemingly uninteresting fellow islanders - the Babirusas. We have more than enough of these wild pigs. Although the Babirusas are just as rare as the Anoa, we have no lack of them as evident by their overwhelming presence along another part of the tram route (Indo-Malayan region near the Malayan Tigers) and Forest Giants Trail. Perhaps just like typical pigs, Babirusas simply breed too well. Wish the tigers would gobble up a few !

Migration

Cape Buffalo - They had lived in the open savannahs for many years and Night Safari's captive breeding program of these great beasts was so successful that 2 pairs were sent back to South Africa to repopulate the disease-depleted local population. But then due to Night Safari's constant need to provide guests with greater animal variety, they had plans to send the remaining Cape Buffaloes to other zoos while their habitat here was painstakingly prepared for some larger and more exciting animals that also hail from Africa, the Nile Hippopotamus! So look out for these new mega-herbivores who have just moved in (early June 2002) along the African region of the tram route and walking trail !

Latest news dated Dec 2002 - The Cape Buffaloes have returned to their former habitat along the tram route since Dec 2002. Most of the adult buffaloes from the former herd have been sent to South Africa. A younger herd of Cape Buffaloes are now on display in that habitat just across the road from the 1st Bongos' habitat, the one near the new wooden bridge.

Moved Home

The Malay Civets have just moved (Sep 2003) into the pythons' former habitat. Their new co-tenants are the Small-toothed / Three-striped Palm Civets who have been away from the limelight for a long time. The ex-pythons' habitat seems perfect for the Small-toothed Palm Civets, with sufficient inter-connecting branches for them to climb and play with. We are not too sure how the Malay Civets find the terrestrial section of the habitat. After being used to having a whole space for themselves, it might not be easy to adapt and to learn to share a territory. Hopefully the 2 species of civets can sort it out between themselves :-)

The Long-tailed Porcupines are now the new residents that are occupying the Malay Civets' ex-territory. These animals have not been seen for as long time as the Small-toothed Civets. The Long-tailed Porcupine used to live together with the previous Eagle Owl at the former Owl habitat (some time in 1999). Back then, there was only 1 such porcupine on display and it was hardly seen. There was also no sign to indicate its presence and the VRs of those early days seldom pointed out the porcupine to guests. Now that there are a few of them in this new habitat, they are much easier to spot and view. Do drop by and visit them if you can and see how different these porcupines are, when compared with the regular spiky ones that we are so familiar with!

Binturong - Like humans, the Binturongs were also greatly affected by the recent economic recession. In 2001, they had no choice but to pack up and leave their larger and posh home along the Fishing Cat Trail and make do with a smaller and shared habitat with the Otters along the Leopard Trail. Since moving in, the Binturongs have to confine themselves to the trees as the Otters had made it clear with their chisel-sharp teeth and greater numbers that the Binturongs are not allowed near their exclusive Otters' Creek. Talk about tough times!

Meanwhile, the Binturong's ex-home was allocated to the very highly endangered Red Pandas. Due to their thick fur, they are provided with their very own air-conditioned room! 2 Red Pandas currently share the habitat and they take turns to come out for about 2 hours each night before retreating back into the comforts of their cosy suite! If the Binturongs had a say, they would claim that they definitely cost less for Night Safari to maintain if they had stayed put at their old home!

Martyrs

Last but not least, this section is dedicated to those very loyal animals that fulfilled their duties at Night Safari till the very end of their short lives. With no complaints, they worked hard every night in their bid to give the guests a truly unique experience in the wilderness. The following animals may be small, easily forgotten and their absence hardly noticed, but they will forever live in the hearts of the many individuals who love and remember them.

Egyptian Fruit Bat - These little terrors of the Mangrove Walk were affectionately known as the 'flying hamsters' simply because if you looked closely at them, they had the exact face, body and even size of hamsters (not counting the wings of course!). The little rascals got a kick out of inducing screams in the Mangrove Walk as they swooped closely above the heads and past the ears of 'intruding' guests. On colder rainy nights, they would hang and huddle closely together in a group of 6-8 bats on a single branch (at eye level) for warmth.

Then gradually, the bats reduced their 'games' as their friends and family members fell prey to a mysterious predator that stalked them day and night. They put their faith in the humans to save them from this unknown peril but alas, their hopes and prayers were all in vain. Despite their heightened alertness, the helpless little bats eventually succumbed to fatigue and lost of faith (late 2000). Till today, the murderer (suspected to be a wild python) is still at large and the case remains unsolved.

Golden Agouti - This South American rodent was slightly bigger than a rabbit and from afar, it resembled a miniature Capybara. The Agouti shared the same habitat with the lonely Giant Anteater who lost his spouse many years back. The Agoutis were good-natured co-tenants who would were contented with just sitting idly around in the open. But the Giant Anteater sometimes used its long snout to 'smack' the sitting Agoutis out of its way as the tram passed by, as if saying, "Hey I'm the star here and not you, so get lost!" LOL ! 

Then one day, the sky darkened for the Agoutis as wild hawks appeared from nowhere and scooped up the little rodents off the ground like candies. Day by day, the rodents lived helplessly in constant fear until the very last Agouti disappeared some time in the middle of 2001, sniff !

Retired Animals on at the Entrance

Retired Animals on the Fishing Cat Trail

Retired Animals on the Leopard Trail

Retired Animals on the Tiger Walkway