On 27 September 2009, the ACRES ZooCheck volunteer team conducted a ZooCheck at the Singapore Zoo.
Elephant show
We were disappointed to see that the elephant show remained unchanged, still featuring the elephants being made to perform the following unnatural tricks:
- Pretending to ‘fly’- holding their legs in the air and swirling their trunks around.
- ‘Bowing/saluting’ and waving and swirling their trunks.
- Balancing on a narrow log, holding two legs in the air.
The show also continued to depict the elephants as ‘clowns’ fooling around, for example:
- An elephant knocked a mahout’s hat off of his head and into the water, then placed it back on his head.
- In one segment an elephant was shown refusing to lie down. Another elephant hit her with her trunk and squirted water in her face before she got up.
- The elephants were also made to squirt water at the audience, and one elephant also squirted water at her mahout. She was also made to ‘kiss’ her mahout.
- One elephant pushed her mahout with her trunk.
- One elephant grabbed a mahout’s leg with her trunk, making him trip.
The elephants were also made to lie on their sides for several minutes, which appeared to be uncomfortable for them. One elephant appeared to be trying to get up, but her mahout seemed to apply pressure to her head and neck and was seen feeding her as she lay down, which appeared to be attempts to keep her lying down.
We noted that brightly-coloured strands of material had been tied to one end of the ankus of each mahout. The purpose of this was unclear. The hook of the ankus still appeared to be visible under the fabric. The mahouts all used the ankus repeatedly throughout the show, and rough tugging on one of the elephant’s ears was also seen. One elephant had her head repeatedly and forcefully pushed down at one point of the show.
Sometimes the mahouts appeared to act in a way that can be viewed as disrespectful to the elephants, for example casually leaning on them whilst they were lying down, polishing an apple on one elephant, and one mahout was seen ‘drumming’ on the elephants head.
The show continues to focus on how elephants have been used for by man logging and continues to apparently glorify this, despite the fact that there is evidence of elephants suffering terribly at the hands of man by the logging industry. For example, there are cases of logging elephants being worked to death and video evidence of this. Dominating and enslaving a wild animal for our own gains is something we as humans should be ashamed of, not proud of.
Throughout the show there was no mention of the plight of elephants at the hands of humans, or how to save Asia’s remaining wild elephants and their habitats.
We did notice that there were some new enrichment items in the elephant enclosure, which is always a positive improvement.
Ocelots
Elephant show
We were disappointed to see that the elephant show remained unchanged, still featuring the elephants being made to perform the following unnatural tricks:
- Pretending to ‘fly’- holding their legs in the air and swirling their trunks around.
- ‘Bowing/saluting’ and waving and swirling their trunks.
- Balancing on a narrow log, holding two legs in the air.
The show also continued to depict the elephants as ‘clowns’ fooling around, for example:
- An elephant knocked a mahout’s hat off of his head and into the water, then placed it back on his head.
- In one segment an elephant was shown refusing to lie down. Another elephant hit her with her trunk and squirted water in her face before she got up.
- The elephants were also made to squirt water at the audience, and one elephant also squirted water at her mahout. She was also made to ‘kiss’ her mahout.
- One elephant pushed her mahout with her trunk.
- One elephant grabbed a mahout’s leg with her trunk, making him trip.
The elephants were also made to lie on their sides for several minutes, which appeared to be uncomfortable for them. One elephant appeared to be trying to get up, but her mahout seemed to apply pressure to her head and neck and was seen feeding her as she lay down, which appeared to be attempts to keep her lying down.We noted that brightly-coloured strands of material had been tied to one end of the ankus of each mahout. The purpose of this was unclear. The hook of the ankus still appeared to be visible under the fabric. The mahouts all used the ankus repeatedly throughout the show, and rough tugging on one of the elephant’s ears was also seen. One elephant had her head repeatedly and forcefully pushed down at one point of the show.
Sometimes the mahouts appeared to act in a way that can be viewed as disrespectful to the elephants, for example casually leaning on them whilst they were lying down, polishing an apple on one elephant, and one mahout was seen ‘drumming’ on the elephants head.
The show continues to focus on how elephants have been used for by man logging and continues to apparently glorify this, despite the fact that there is evidence of elephants suffering terribly at the hands of man by the logging industry. For example, there are cases of logging elephants being worked to death and video evidence of this. Dominating and enslaving a wild animal for our own gains is something we as humans should be ashamed of, not proud of.
Throughout the show there was no mention of the plight of elephants at the hands of humans, or how to save Asia’s remaining wild elephants and their habitats.
We did notice that there were some new enrichment items in the elephant enclosure, which is always a positive improvement.
Ocelots
The ocelots remained in their small, old fashioned cage and no enrichment items were apparent. One ocelot was observed pacing repetitively from side to side, a stereotypic behaviour. Such behaviours were clear indications that the animals were living in substandard conditions that do not meet their needs.
However, we were pleased to note that some soft, natural substrate had been placed in a small area at the front of the enclosure.
Cougars (pumas)
The cougars remained housed in their small, old fashioned cage. No changes to their living conditions were apparent and no enrichment was apparent. Both cougars were extremely inactive.
Polar bears
However, we were pleased to note that some soft, natural substrate had been placed in a small area at the front of the enclosure.
Cougars (pumas)
The cougars remained housed in their small, old fashioned cage. No changes to their living conditions were apparent and no enrichment was apparent. Both cougars were extremely inactive.
Polar bears
We were pleased to see that Inuka and Sheba had been given some natural vegetation in their enclosure in the form of some large leafy branches. We were also pleased to note that they had some new enrichment items.
We were happy to note that in the token feeding show Inuka was not made to stand up and ring the bell and was not described as ‘ballet dancing’ when he splashed around in the water as has been said previously- it was instead said that he was just ‘showing off’.
However, we did observe Inuka pacing stereotypically (along the same route) for a considerable period of time, which raised ongoing concerns about his welfare, as do any such stereotypic behaviours. Sheba also continued to display her stereotypic tongue playing behaviour.
There did not appear to be any new attempts to cool the bears down visible to us. Both polar bears appeared very hot, panting and lying spread out in apparent attempts to lose heat from their bodies.
Bengal tigers
We were happy to note that in the token feeding show Inuka was not made to stand up and ring the bell and was not described as ‘ballet dancing’ when he splashed around in the water as has been said previously- it was instead said that he was just ‘showing off’.
However, we did observe Inuka pacing stereotypically (along the same route) for a considerable period of time, which raised ongoing concerns about his welfare, as do any such stereotypic behaviours. Sheba also continued to display her stereotypic tongue playing behaviour.
There did not appear to be any new attempts to cool the bears down visible to us. Both polar bears appeared very hot, panting and lying spread out in apparent attempts to lose heat from their bodies.
Bengal tigers
We noted that, as on previous ZooCheck at the zoo, two of the tigers paced stereotypically. Such stereotypic behaviour raises welfare concerns.
Meerkat
A concerned member of the public recently wrote to ACRES expressing concerns that the meerkat at the Singapore Zoo was being housed alone. We inspected the meerkat enclosure and saw the meerkat was indeed housed alone and appeared somewhat depressed and lethargic.Meerkat
We asked a member of staff why the meerkat was alone, and we were informed that the other four had been eaten by pythons, as had some mouse deer and some primates. We were informed that some new meerkats will be arriving at the zoo shortly.
Ostriches
ACRES had also received a complaint from a member of the public about the physical condition of the ostriches, specifically that they were exhibiting significant feather loss. We looked at the ostriches and saw that a male had lost a lot of the feathers off the rump, and also had a bloody wound there. We also noticed that one of his wings also appeared damaged and bloody.Here is a comment from a volunteer ZooChecker:
Keeping animals in captivity is not only about providing food, water and clean environment. It's also about providing sufficient space for the animal to explore and making the environment as close as possible to its natural habitat.
From the recent Zoo Check, I was disappointed to learn that the animals were kept in clean BUT small and inappropriate environment. The animals have nowhere to hide from public view and noise. Their enclosures were near the public viewing area. They view that they have 365 days throughout their whole life is people. They also have very limited space to move around and display their natural behaviours. Intelligent animals like elephants were also reduced to being clowns in the elephant show.
I sincerely hope that Singapore Zoo can be more forthcoming in meeting ACRES and work together to create a better living environment for the captive animals.
- Alyssa Teo
