Singapore Airlines Cargo partners Wildlife Reserves Singapore

Wildlife Reserves Singapore (WRS) and Singapore Airlines Cargo recently formed a partnership to jointly promote wildlife conservation. SIA Cargo is WRS’ partner in the freightage of wildlife to zoos globally to boost the gene pool of endangered animals.

The first shipment on SIA Cargo was Singapore Zoo’s two local-born chimpanzees destined for Mystic Monkeys and Feathers Zoo in Johannesburg, South Africa. The chimpanzees were freighted on SQ478 on Thursday.

“Singapore Zoo is delighted that we have a partner in SIA Cargo, who shares our zeal for wildlife conservation. With SIA Cargo’s outstanding track record of serving more than 73 cities in 38 countries, this partnership promises to accomplish further headway in boosting the population of endangered species through our animal exchange programme with global zoo networks,” said Mr Biswajit Guha, Assistant Director for Zoology, Singapore Zoo.

Mr Tan Tiow Kor, the Airline’s Senior Vice President, said “Besides boosting the population of animals on the endangered list, wildlife conservation supports the company’s policy to promote a greener world. The exchange of animals with other reputed zoos in the world will add to the varied attractions at the Singapore Zoo and further enhance it as a premier and exciting destination for Singaporeans and tourists alike.”

The two Singapore-bred chimpanzees, born in August 1999 and May 2000, are testament to the Zoo’s outstanding husbandry practices. Last year alone, the Zoo successfully bred 93 animals, including endangered animals such as the Douc langur and pygmy hippopotamus. Animals which have been relocated to boost the gene pool of the species globally included Sang Raja the Singapore-born Asian elephant to Cologne Zoo on September 28, 2004, a Caribbean manatee on January 12, 2006, as well as Ah Meng’s son Hsing Hsing, who was sent to Perth Zoo on September 22, 1983.

With freightage, travel duration for animals is almost halved and SIA Cargo’s fleet of 14 Boeing 747-400 freighters ensures safe and timely transfer of the animals. In addition to the travel duration, the partnership would allow WRS to allocate their resources more efficiently.

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