Written answer by Ministry of National Development on notification of animal escapes by Mandai Wildlife Group enclosures

Jan 8, 2025

Question No: 6986

Question by: Mr Louis Ng Kok Kwang

To ask the Minister for National Development (a) whether the Mandai Wildlife Group is required to inform NParks when an animal escapes from its enclosure; (b) how many animals have escaped from the Mandai Wildlife Group's facilities over the past five years; and (c) how many of the escaped animals have not been captured and returned to the respective facilities.

Answer:

NParks and Mandai Wildlife Group have a working arrangement for the latter to promptly report any incident where an animal escapes from its facilities, to NParks. This allows NParks, as the authority overseeing wildlife management matters, to ensure that animal welfare and public safety are maintained in the process of capturing the escaped animal. While this arrangement has been adequate thus far, NParks is reviewing its licensing conditions for animal exhibitions to formalise the requirements for reporting of animal escapes.

In the past five years, Mandai Wildlife Group had reported the escape of two animals from their facilities to NParks – a bird and a monkey. Both escapes took place in 2024. The monkey has since been captured and returned to its enclosure. Efforts to recapture the bird are ongoing. NParks will continue working closely with Mandai Wildlife Group to ensure a prompt and coordinated response in capturing escaped animals.