Mandai Nature

From the early stirrings of dawn to the quiet buzz of the night, a different world of wildlife begins to emerge at the Mandai Wildlife Reserve in Singapore, revealing the hidden biodiversity that thrives here. In collaboration with our colleagues at Mandai Wildlife Group, we recently completed our bi-annual wildlife surveys to document the diverse range of invertebrates, herpetofauna, and birds found throughout the precinct. 🦋🐍 𝐖𝐡𝐲 𝐝𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐬𝐞 𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐯𝐞𝐲𝐬 𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫? They help us track the health of wildlife populations, monitor the overall health of the ecosystem, and refine our conservation strategies. By understanding the needs of these species and their environments, we can make informed decisions and take proactive measures to protect them. 🌍 Swipe for to learn more about some of the sightings during our latest surveys: #biodiversity #research #conservation

At #COP16, the world came together to confront the growing threats to biodiversity, acknowledging both the challenges faced and the progress made toward protecting our planet’s ecosystems: • 𝗥𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗴𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝗜𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗼𝘂𝘀 𝗽𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗹𝗼𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀: The formal strengthening of their roles in nature protection enhances the integration of their rights and traditional knowledge into the global biodiversity agenda, marking a significant step forward in acknowledging their vital contributions to conservation efforts. • 𝗖𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗮𝗹𝗶 𝗙𝘂𝗻𝗱: This initiative helps to ensure that industries such as pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, and agriculture — those benefiting commercially from the use of biological or Digital Sequence Information (DSI) — fairly share the resulting benefits with developing countries, Indigenous Peoples, and local communities. • 𝗙𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗚𝗹𝗼𝗯𝗮𝗹 𝗕𝗶𝗼𝗱𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗙𝗿𝗮𝗺𝗲𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸: While $163 million has been pledged to the Global Biodiversity Framework Fund, much more is needed to tackle the urgent scale of biodiversity loss worldwide. Bold, collaborative action is critical to meeting this challenge. Let's commend the strides made at #COP16 but continue to drive decisive action to protect wildlife and preserve our ecosystems.🌱 📸: UN Photo/Santiago Puentes Viana #COP16 #GlobalBiodiversityFramework #reflections #communities #biodiversityfinancing

The 5th IUCN Species Survival Commission (SSC) Leaders' Meeting wrapped up in Abu Dhabi earlier this week, where conservation experts and leaders united under a strong declaration: "Saving Species Sustains Life." The declaration highlights the critical importance of species conservation and biodiversity protection for our survival. Mandai Nature is committed to doing our part. We are proud host the first IUCN SSC Centre for Species Survival, in Singapore for the Southeast Asia region. The Centre was established to meet the urgent need for advancing conservation efforts for highly threatened species in the region. We envision the Centre as a resource hub that facilitates the ‘Assess, Plan, Act’ conservation framework, while fostering networking opportunities and strong partnerships to catalyse effective conservation action on the ground. Watch the video to hear from our CEO Dr. Sonja Luz on the role of IUCN SSC Centre for Species Survival Southeast Asia, and the important work that needs to be done to safeguard species. #speciesconservation #AssessPlanAct #speciessurvival #biodiversity

🙌 We are delighted to share that Dr. Sonja Luz, our CEO, has been recognised as one of the 50 individuals in the 2024 Blooloop 50 Zoo & Aquarium Influencer List! This acknowledgement reflects not only her unwavering dedication but also the collective efforts of the team, our conservation partners, and the global zoo and aquarium community — all united in the mission to protect wildlife. We celebrate the extraordinary contributions of everyone who is passionate about advancing our field. As her nominator eloquently stated: 𝘋𝘳 𝘚𝘰𝘯𝘫𝘢 𝘓𝘶𝘻 𝘩𝘢𝘴 𝘢 𝘶𝘯𝘪𝘲𝘶𝘦 𝘷𝘪𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘦𝘦 𝘻𝘰𝘰𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘱𝘢𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘧𝘧 𝘢𝘥𝘢𝘱𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘦𝘳𝘷𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘪𝘮𝘱𝘢𝘤𝘵 𝘨𝘪𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘴 𝘢𝘴 𝘸𝘦 𝘮𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘣𝘦𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘪𝘱𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘪𝘯𝘯𝘰𝘷𝘢𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘴, 𝘴𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘪𝘦𝘭𝘥𝘴 𝘸𝘦 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘴𝘰 𝘱𝘢𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵. Thank you, Dr. Sonja and the leaders of the zoo and aquarium community, for inspiring us every day, and to everyone who supports us in this vital work! Check out the Blooloop 50 zoo and aquarium influencer 2024 list: https://lnkd.in/gK9MAqZV

🐍🦎Imagine a world without reptiles! What would our planet look like without these amazing creatures? Let’s explore: • 𝗣𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗢𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗹𝗼𝗮𝗱: Reptiles, especially snakes, help control populations of pests like rodents and insects. Without them, we could see a surge in these populations, leading to overgrazed gardens and crop damage. • 𝗕𝗶𝗼𝗱𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗗𝗲𝗰𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲: Reptiles contribute significantly to our ecosystems. Their absence would mean fewer species overall, leading to less diversity in both plants and animals. • 𝗙𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝗪𝗲𝗯 𝗗𝗶𝘀𝗿𝘂𝗽𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: Reptiles play crucial roles in food chains. They’re both predators and prey, helping maintain the balance of nature. Without them, we could see dramatic shifts that affect many other species. This #ReptileAwarenessDay, let’s celebrate these incredible creatures and the essential roles they play in our ecosystems. Together, we can advocate for their conservation and ensure they thrive for generations to come! Learn more about the dedicated efforts of our partners who are working to conserve some of Southeast Asia's most threatened reptiles: 🐢 Palawan forest turtle: https://bit.ly/4f1vaRE 🐢 Southern river terrapin: https://bit.ly/3JflHtf 🦎 Komodo dragon: https://bit.ly/4dL24ET

Mandai Nature is proud to support a vital primate conservation education programme led by a student team from Universitas Andalas. This initiative engages local schools and communities, raising awareness about biodiversity conservation, particularly for the unique and endangered primates of Mentawai. Dr Andie Ang, our Head of Primate Conservation and Singapore Programmes, recently returned from an inspiring field trip to the Mentawai islands in Indonesia. During her visit, Dr. Ang connected with local communities. One memorable moment was when she and the Universitas Andalas team encouraged local children to take ownership of their environment. Inspired by the discussion, they eagerly rallied together to clean up litter around their village. The children even created a communal bin so that there is now a designated place for litter in the village! This heartwarming display of community spirit highlights the transformative power of education and engagement. Witnessing these efforts reinforces our commitment to nurturing future generations in their mission to protect and preserve our planet. 🙌 🌍 #ConservationinAction #conservation #education #community #fieldtrip #inspiration

It’s #LostSpecies month! Re:wild and IUCN SSC’s Reverse the Red are celebrating the largest-ever global effort to find and protect flora and fauna species that have not been documented by scientists for at least a decade. Since 2017, Re:wild and their partners have helped rediscover 13 species lost to science such as the De Winton's golden mole, Jackson’s climbing salamander and Velvet's pitcher plant. Despite this, there are thousands that remain a mystery. To get involved, tune in to Reverse the Red’s webinars happening throughout the month to learn about how data-driven strategies and citizen science are transforming the #SearchforLostSpecies: https://lnkd.in/eKKUsbS9 We're proud to be a part of Reverse the Red's global network through the IUCN SSC Centre for Species Survival Southeast Asia, hosted by Mandai Nature. Video: Re:wild #LostSpecies #SearchforLostSpecies #citizenscience #conservation #research

As the conservation arm of Mandai Wildlife Group, Mandai Nature embraces the comprehensive approach that combines protecting animals in the wild with caring for them in zoos. Together, these efforts are vital for ensuring the survival of wildlife. In a recent news article, our CEO, Dr. Sonja Luz, emphasises the significance of the One Plan Approach to species conservation. This collaborative strategy unites all stakeholders in recognising the need for intervention and outlines the necessary actions from all parties involved. By focusing on efforts such as habitat protection, ongoing monitoring, and research, as well as collaborating with governments, zoos, conservation organisations, and local communities, we can effectively work to reverse population declines and safeguard our planet's precious wildlife. Read the article here (articles are in Mandarin): 👉 Repatriating the Rote snake-necked turtle: https://lnkd.in/gAzqkZBz 👉 Integrating regional conservation efforts in a One Plan Approach: https://lnkd.in/gvw52nvU #OnePlanApproach #conservation

Why did the pangolin cross the road? A new study has revealed a rise in Sunda pangolin sightings in Singapore's urban areas. Unfortunately, this trend is accompanied by an alarming increase in rescues and roadkill incidents. Members of the Singapore Pangolin Working Group (SPWG) compiled 482 records from the working groups' member organisations, news reports, and social media to create the first-ever database of pangolin sightings, rescues, and roadkill data over the past 25 years. Researchers hope that this data will help scientists and policymakers tackle key threats faced by the critically endangered Sunda pangolins in Singapore, such as reducing road mortalities and protecting habitats. The data will be vital for guiding effective conservation planning and actions. Co-chaired by Mandai Nature and Mandai Wildlife Group, the SPWG brings together members from various NGOs, agencies, and educational institutions, all dedicated to advancing conservation efforts for the Sunda pangolin in Singapore. Nature Society Singapore ACRES (Animal Concerns Research & Education Society) National Parks Board Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum, National University of Singapore IUCN SSC Pangolin Specialist Group Wildlife Conservation Society IUCN SSC Asian Species Action Partnership National University of Singapore Nanyang Technological University Singapore Read more about the study in the news article here: https://lnkd.in/gGhb_JRJ #SundaPangolin #conservation #Singapore

We’re proud to support “Lao Youth on a Mission for Nature Conservation”.   It's the first short-term training course on biodiversity conservation and environmental protection for Lao youth, organised by our conservation partner Association Anoulak.   The two-week pilot programme was conducted with EconoxLaos. More than two dozen youths engaged with industry field experts and conservationists in a series of career workshops and hands-on activities. Topics ranged from wildlife monitoring to illegal wildlife trade and even soft skills like problem-solving and project design.   Empowering today's aspiring conservationists with the right tools will help them shape a biodiverse and sustainable future.🌏   Photos: Association Anoulak and EconoxLaos   #capacitybuilding #training #youth #empowerment #conservationist #conservationleaders Camille N. Z. Coudrat