Singapore Zoo to end elephant ride

Singapore Zoo will not have elephant rides and other activities where elephants are taken out of their exhibits starting from early January, its operator Wildlife Reserves Singapore said on Monday.

Instead, it will be introducing the protected contact elephant management system for the two elephants at Night Safari and eight at the Singapore Zoo. The two attractions will be among the first zoological institutions in Asia to implement the protected contact management system for all elephants in its collection, it said.

Nevertheless, visitors to Singapore Zoo will still be able to enjoy the Elephants at Work and Play show, and take part in elephant feeding sessions which happens after each show, said Wildlife Reserves Singapore, which operates the local zoos and bird park.

It will take three to five years for the new system to be implemented. It will require all staff training and interaction with elephants to be conducted through a physical safety barrier. The system will be based on positive reinforcement where animals are motivated by rewards such as food.

"The decision to adopt the protected contact management system was made after an internal review by our elephant managers and healthcare experts, who found that this system of management offers a safer work environment for the elephant keepers," said Dr Cheng Wen-Haur, chief life sciences officer at Wildlife Reserves Singapore.

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