Wildlife Vacations Singapore - Something Your Family Needs

If you are sitting there and wondering what you would like to do this vacation think no more. Singapore is the place you need to visit. If you have a family then you and your children would have a lot to explore in the wildlife vacations Singapore. You can have your own leisure time with the wildlife. Sit anywhere you please, touch and feed the animals in the zoo, go for a night safari and visit the most exciting wildlife places in Singapore.

One of the place Singapore is famous for is its wildlife and the way it has maintained and preserved the animals and birds. There are birds and animals that might not be found in any place but Singapore because they are well cared for there with an environment that is not at all caged. Singapore has beauty aplenty and if one has the eyes to see then one would get so lost into its nature that it would be a difficult task returning back home. Wildlife vacations Singapore is a most enthralling trip to which you can take your family and enjoy the brilliance of nature. They would invariably get entertained. But not only would they get entertained they would also get educated. They will get the practical experience of the wildlife they would have only read about in their text books. There are guides who help the tourist in finding their way around and the tourist at the same time can also explore the region on their own. The wildlife is not limited to only zoos and bird sanctuary but also includes botanical gardens and marine life.

There are many travel packages one can book before one enters Singapore but by doing so you might be paying a lot more than what you could have managed your trip by yourself. Booking the hotels and the plan is the only thing you need to consider. Make sure that you book the hotel in advance.

Booking in advance helps reduce the cost of the hotel. Also make sure you know the exact number of items that are going to be complimentary and the ones you would have to pay for. It is preferable to book a hotel that is closest to all the destinations that you wish to go and one that provides a shuttle service to and fro the places. This will make easier for you to have fun during wildlife vacations Singapore.

The hotels have guides who educate you on the history of the place and therefore you would need to book one fast. Another thing that you need to do is plan your trip before coming and make sure you make reservations for events before hand on the Internet. This would save you time and help you explore the places you want to explore. To have a perfect wildlife vacation in Singapore select the destinations that pertain to only wildlife and make sure you spend at least a day exploring the place. There is the Singapore zoo, the bird sanctuary, the night safari, the marine experience, the dolphin abode and the botanical gardens and many more.

Peter Joseph enjoys to write about travel, aviation and adventures. To know more about Wildlife Reserves Singapore, Singapore Zoo, Jurong Bird Park, wildlife vacations Singapore and Wildlife Singapore visit www.wrs.com.sg

Night Safari Singapore - Enjoy The Wild Life During Dark Hours!

Night Safari essentially adds a new dimension to the idea of a safari. A safari is undertaken to witness wild animals in their natural surroundings. It becomes more interesting because unlike a zoo where they are kept caged, in a wildlife reserve they are relatively free. They have a lot more space and factors which hint at their caged existence are more or less well camouflaged. Safaris are interesting because they are conducted in areas which are very well spread out and give an almost real feeling of being in the wild. Now if the element of actually witnessing animals at that time of the day is added, the experience becomes even more enriched. This excitement is provided by a night safari.

The Night Safari Singapore was the world’s first of its kind. Discussions about this project had begun way back in the 1980’s when night visits conducted by the Singapore Zoo had gained both momentum and popularity. The Night Safari Singapore officially opened its doors to the public on May 26, 1994. Mr. Goh Chok Tong,, head of the safari whose efforts triggered the realisation of this incredible dream. The Night Safari is conducted in a secondary forest which is close to the Singapore Zoo and the Upper Seleter Reservoir. The forest is spread over an area of 40 hectares and has in store apart from flora and fauna, over 1000 animals 29% of whom are considered endangered. The Night Safari Singapore is divided into eight geographical zones. The whole forest can be traversed on foot or by tram. The total length of the rood loops is 3.8 kilometers of which 2.8 kilometers is the walkway.

The safari uses ways to ensure the wellbeing of both the guests and the forest dwellers. The animals are highlighted by using a light that is a little higher in intensity than the full moon. However, this light is not strong enough to disturb the animals or raise an alarm amongst them. The animals are not caged! Instead they are separated from the visitors by natural barriers. Also cattle grids have been put in place to prevent cattle from crossing over. Wires have been installed which look like twigs so that the animals do not cross their boundaries.

The safari offers services like eating joints which include Ben and Jerry’s, Ulu Ulu Restaurant and Bongo Burgers. Guests can also enjoy the double fun of delectable food and a safari ride on the Cocktail Safari Express and the Gourmet Safari Express. Entertainment is also provided in the form of performances which include Tribal Dance, Fire Eating Act and Blowpipe Demonstration. However, the highlight of the night safari Singapore is the performance entitled ‘Creatures of the Night’. This act is actually performed by the animals of the zoo.

The mere fact that the Night Safari receives more than a million visitors every year is proof enough to hint at its resounding success. It takes the safari experience to another level.

Peter Joseph enjoys to write about travel, aviation and adventures. To know more about Wildlife Reserves Singapore, Singapore zoo, Night Safari Singapore and Singapore zoo night safari visit www.wrs.com.sg

ISO 14001 and OHSAS 18001 certifications

WILDLIFE RESERVES SINGAPORE PARKS RECEIVE HIGHEST INTERNATIONAL ENVIRONMENT AND EMPLOYEE HEALTH AND SAFETY CERTIFICATIONS
- Jurong Bird Park, Night Safari and Singapore Zoo are first zoological institutions in Southeast Asia to achieve both ISO 14001 and OHSAS 18001 certifications

Singapore, March 18, 2009 – All three Wildlife Reserves Singapore (“WRS”) parks – Jurong Bird Park, Night Safari and Singapore Zoo - are the first zoological institutions in Southeast Asia to be awarded the ISO 14001 and OHSAS 18001 certifications. Only two other zoos – Aalborg Zoo in Denmark and Beijing Zoo in China - had the rare distinctions of receiving both certifications. Hence, WRS’ three parks have become the third, fourth and fifth zoological institutions to have received these double honours.

The ISO 14001 is the highest international accreditation for commitment to and adoption of a system of best practices in environmental management while the OHSAS 18001 is the highest international certification awarded for implementation of stringent specifications for occupational health and safety management system.

Out of the more than 1000 zoological institutions in the world, WRS’ three parks are amongst the first few zoological institutions to receive international certification of compliance with the highest standards in environment, health and safety standards.

“At WRS, we strive to be an ecological-intelligent organisation. Our goal is to achieve world-class standards in health and safety, reduction of environmental impact, efficient resources management, community engagement, and employee and guest satisfaction. We all live in an infinitely connected world with finite resources. To save our wildlife, we cannot afford the luxury of ignoring the impact our actions have on the environment. The way forward is to adopt a sensible and sustainable lifestyle,” says Ms Fanny Lai, Group CEO, Wildlife Reserves Singapore.

Implementation of Environmental, Health and Safety Management Systems

As strong proponents of conservation, the three parks have continuously supported and promoted conservation and sustainability through public education. They have formed an internal “Green Team” to constantly look for ways to improve their environment footprint.

Some of the parks’ conservation initiatives include adopting environment management as a business strategy; reducing energy as well as water consumption and the amount of waste sent to the landfill to reduce pollution. In addition, infrastructure design and operation standards utilise materials from natural resources efficiently.

Recycle, Reuse, and Reduce

Internally, Jurong Bird Park, Night Safari and Singapore Zoo have embarked on numerous environmentally-friendly measures. Everyday, the parks harvest 150 kg of browse to feed its animals, and seeds on the ground are collected to germinate plants. Staff are encouraged to practise the 3Rs – recycle, reuse and reduce. Photocopying is kept to a minimal and sugar cane paper is used for photocopying. To save energy, air-conditioning in offices is automatically switched off during lunch time. All air-conditioners are set at 24 degrees and all computers are installed with hibernation modes. As for takeaway staff meals, instead of using plastic bags it is replaced with the use of paper lunch boxes made of corn and yam fibre.

Benefits of ISO 14001 and OHSAS 18001

The benefits of having attained both accreditations are numerous as it will not only go towards inspiring employees to be proactively involved in environmental protection but will also improve efficiency in monitoring the results of the parks’ conservation initiatives. With the certification, WRS parks will continue to keep abreast of new environmental legislation in a speedier manner.

“We believe that it is essential to have a framework established so that we are better equipped to embark on a continuous journey to improve the environment. The framework will also aid in reduction of wastage, energy and materials which help trim the parks’ operating costs,” Ms Lai adds.

The certifications by Lloyds Register Quality Assurance are the universally recognized standards for environmental, health and safety management systems. They are awarded to companies audited and proven to have implemented environmentally friendly and have good occupational health practices.

About the Certification

The ISO14001 is a universally recognized environmental standard, awarded to companies that show a commitment to being environmentally friendly. The OHSAS 18001 is an Occupation Health and Safety Assessment Series for health and safety management systems.

The certification is by Lloyds Register Quality Assurance which operates across a wide range of industry sectors with assessors of specialist environmental experience and knowledge. A surveillance audit will be done every six months and the certification will be reviewed and renewed every three years.

About Wildlife Reserves Singapore

Wildlife Reserves Singapore (WRS) is the parent company of award-winning attractions Jurong Bird Park, Night Safari and Singapore Zoo. WRS parks strive to be world-class leisure attractions, providing excellent exhibits of animals and birds presented in their natural environment for the purpose of conservation, education and recreation. In 2008, Jurong Bird Park served 900,000 visitors, the Night Safari, more than 1.1 million visitors and Singapore Zoo welcomed more than 1.6 million visitors.

WRS parks have been conferred the Best Leisure Attraction Experience Award at the Singapore Tourism Awards 18 times. The record achievement affirms WRS parks’ status as Singapore’s premier leisure venues. In the areas of conservation and research, WRS parks have undertaken multiple projects, which focus on species such as the oriental pied hornbill, pangolin and orang utan, through collaborations with various organisations and institutions. Recent conservation efforts include hosting a regional Asian pangolin conservation workshop. All WRS parks are designated wildlife rescue centres by the governing authority.