Singapore Zoo assures visitors that white tiger exhibit is
safe
SINGAPORE: A day after a cleaner was mauled to death at
the Singapore Zoo’s white tiger enclosure, officials assured the
public that the exhibit is "very safe".
It held a news conference on Friday to clear any doubts even as
it opened its latest S$12 million attraction.
Business was as usual at the Singapore. Visitors streamed in to
view the latest attraction called the Rainforest Kidzworld which
opened in time for the school holidays.
Gracing the launch was executive director and CEO of Temasek
Holdings, Ms Ho Ching.
She said: "The zoo has deepened its own knowledge and expertise
through the years. I have full respect for the team at the WildLife
Reserves for their hard work, passion and constant care. It is
amazing how their dedication and imagination have created a natural
and safe wildlife habitat only half an hour away from the city
lights."
The chairman of Wildlife Reserves, which owns the zoo, took the
opportunity to speak on the incident.
Claire Chiang, non—executive chairman, Wildlife Reserves, said:
"Let me take a few minutes to address the unfortunate incident at
the white tiger exhibit yesterday. Our sympathies and condolences
go to Mr Nordin Bin Montong’s family. I would like to reassure all
visitors that the white tiger exhibit is very safe and is as safe
as any part of the zoo.
The safety measures we have implemented exceed the standards
recommended by the association of zoos and aquariums (AZA). AZA is
the internationally recognised organisation that accredits only
institutions that have achieved rigorous standards for animal care,
education, wildlife conservation and science."
Visitors too, didn’t seem too concerned about safety.
Aaron Tan, a visitor, said: "The enclosure is actually quite
safe as long as you don’t go close into the enclosure itself. So I
can still bring my kid here."
At a news conference later, zoo officials addressed other
concerns raised, including the five—minute response time it took
the sharpshooters to reach the scene.
Biswajit Guha, assistant director, Singapore Zoo, said: "The
five—minute situation is essentially sufficient to go to a hotspot
in the case of an animal escape. This was an extraordinary
situation whereby someone had actually jumped in.
“Even if it had been a fall and the person was trying very hard
to avoid the tigers and had gone to the deep end, we are quite
confident he would have been able to move in, in time."
He added that firing tranquilisers would not have saved the
cleaner as it could have further provoked the animals.
He added: "Tranquilisers don’t work instantaneously. So it will
take about five minutes before having an impact on the animal. And
to have such a sharp impact coming into contact with an animal, it
could provoke the animal more and there might be a more drastic
reaction."
Meanwhile, the Singapore Zoo said it will not be stationing
armed officers at the enclosures which are deemed dangerous. But it
will definitely be increasing its patrols conducted by the zoo’s
keepers and operational staff.
Staff who witnessed the incident or need counselling will also
be taken care of.
The zoo hopes to re—open the white tiger attraction within the
next few days. — CNA/vm
