Wildlife Reserves Singapore (WRS) is the parent company of the Jurong Bird Park, Night Safari, River Safari and the Singapore Zoo. Through its parks, well-equipped medical facilities and dedicated team of animal management and healthcare specialists, WRS strives to provide the highest standards of care for her living collection. This includes elements of medical management such as disease diagnosis, medical and surgical treatment and prophylaxis. Evidence-based management is central to our health and husbandry practices, and decision-making processes.

Besides managing the four wildlife parks, WRS is also the designated rescue and rehabilitation centre for local wildlife in Singapore, and by doing so, contributes to the management and protection of native biodiversity in the city state. Wildlife Reserves Singapore is a member of several native species working groups and collaborates with key stakeholders and other likeminded organizations (e.g., government agencies and various conservation NGOs) in the rescue, rehab and release of native species.

The increasing human density in Singapore results in increased human-wildlife interactions, and WRS receives injured animals, as well as animals rescued from conflict situations. It does so through two of its veterinary hospitals (i.e., the Wildlife Healthcare and Research Centre [WHRC] in Mandai and the Avian Hospital in Jurong Bird Park). Both hospitals are equipped with the full range of diagnostic and therapeutic equipment, including a full surgical suite, digital radiographs, endoscopes, etc. There is a separate treatment area in each hospital for wildlife patients, so that there is no mixing of wildlife and animals belonging to the WRS collection. Each hospital is also staffed by at least one veterinarian and one veterinary nurse every day of the year.

In 2017, the WHRC received 941 wild animals from around Singapore (i.e., 361 mammals, 20 birds, 560 reptiles), while the Jurong Bird Park Avian Hospital received 756 birds. WRS is also involved in regional conservation efforts through funding support, as well as capacity building initiatives. This presentation will illustrate on the institution’s role in wildlife conservation in Singapore with specific case examples and touch on efforts in the Southeast Asian region.