Singapore Zoo

This morning saw us wander over to Dhoby Ghaut station (pronounced dobie got over the PA system, but dobie goat by Joshie - he's quite the fan). From here, we took the MRT to Ang Mo Kio station (where we not only jumped onto the bus to the Zoo, but also noticed a fairly well-stocked Dunkin' Donuts). The trip was largely uneventful, passing many blocks of apartments - punctuated with lush wooded areas and then expansive and natural-looking reservoirs.

We arrived at the Zoo's entrance with what must have been a goodly portion of Singapore's Primary School students. Not exactly Amazonian, they were unlikely to obstruct the majority of our animal watching /photography.

Not exactly a rowdy bunch of teenagers.

Otters - apparently 'follow the leader' is a thing for them.

Things started out fairly tamely, with Otters, Siamang monkeys, and some False Gavials (crocodile cousins) lurking in the water below. We then came across these guys. Babirusa - otherwise known as deer-pigs, these swine are known for the tusks that grow up and through their own snouts. 

And you thought biting your tongue was painful...

Hamish - looking like he'd be right at home
on a Hitchcock movie poster.

White Tiger - not impressed with Hamish's
acting prowess.

The Pygmy Hippos were a little too engrossed in their meal to pay us much heed, but managed to look quite fetching regardless.

In quite a few sections of the Zoo, many of the primates appeared to have fairly free rein - with vines crossing overhead footpaths. This juvenile Orangutan was munching away on some grass-like stuff (while hanging upside down), watching workmen construct a stage below.  

The Asian Elephants appeared obsessed with a hole drilled into a rock - stuffing their trunks down it repeatedly, and scooping up whatever was inside. At one point one elephant backed into the other currently gorging on the mystery substance in an attempt to cut in line.

No clue what's in there, but that
elephant sure does look happy.

We made it in time for the Sea Lion show (ominously titled Splash Safari Show), with a number of visiting schools collating. There was some splashing of the front row, and more importantly - ice-cold slushies to consume (it was very steamy - just for a change).

Once the Sea Lion finished up his show (with a final splash of the front row), we made our way to Primate Kingdom. We'd somehow managed to sync up with Keepers feeding the monkeys as we passed each exhibit. Unsurprisingly, the monkeys' attitudes went from 'meh' to manic in no time at all.

This guy looks like he had a little
too much fun the night before.

The orange fake-tan facial is fooling no one buddy.

Peacock couldn't get enough of the camera.

We were a little perplexed by the presence of African Penguins (not the continent I'd normally associate with these guys). I'm guessing the waters off the southern part of the continent are cold enough that they don't get heatstroke. Can't say they'd be loving this equatorial climate (although they did have a cool room to retreat to).

The Sun Bear (otherwise known as the honey bear) was busily scraping off/slurping the pink portion of a slice of watermelon as we passed by. I wonder if they use the name Sun Bear to avoid it sounding like you are using a term of endearment.

What did you call me Sweet 'art?

Wedged somewhere in the middle of the park was Reptopia, which I heartily recommend - and not just for that sweet, sweet A/C.

Komodo Dragon

I've no idea what prompted it to do so -
but there's a frog perched on top of this snake.

The next exhibition was titled Fragile Forest, and was an enclosed section of the Zoo. I was unable to get a photo of one, but there were a bunch of Lesser Mousedeer scooting through the undergrowth. Think of a nervous, 10cm high mouse-deer hybrid and you wouldn't be far wrong. All other animals encountered within the exhibit appeared far more at ease with human company.

Red Lory

I struggled with finding an appropriate photo of the Ring-tailed Lemur - not so much due to its shyness (it sure wasn't), but more for its tendency to 'display' itself while sitting up amongst the branches.

Malayan Flying Fox

Toco Toucan

The humidity stepped it up another notch as we left the Fragile Forest exhibit, and lightning cracked in the distance. We picked up our pace as we moved past the lions, giraffes, leopards and zebras.

The Martin kiddies took the opportunity to lounge on some faux camping gear in the Frozen Tundra exhibit. The place even had a couple of Racoon Dogs (of Hokkaido Zoo fame), as well as the venerated Inuka (the first Polar Bear ever born in the tropics).

Inuka (with a slight mildew problem by the looks)

The storm finally broke, with torrential rain beating down as we made our way to the bus stop. Gutters overflowed, our bus drenching people at bus-stops as we passed by - a fairly standard afternoon by all reports.

We couldn't go past Dunkin' Donuts upon our return to Ang Mo Kio, and were fairly easily 'convinced' to get a 6th doughnut to round out the set. By the time we got off the MRT (a couple of transfers later), the rain had moved on.