Living in a highly urbanised city like Singapore, it’s hard to imagine that there are many wildlife species that live in pockets of green spaces here as they are rarely spotted.

The population for some has dwindled over time due to urbanisation and many of them shy away from people.

Among these animals that exist here, a good number of them are native to Singapore.

That means they occur or arrive in Singapore and make this place their home naturally.

One classic example is the otters, which many of us are now familiar with as they made a comeback in recent years.

Getting to know native species at the wildlife parks in Singapore

Over the circuit breaker period, you might have noticed more nature and wildlife crossing paths with humans.

This National Day, Wildlife Reserves Singapore (WRS) is taking this opportunity to celebrate the native species which call Singapore their home too.

This is part of the “Wild About You” campaign as the wildlife parks under WRS (Singapore Zoo, River Safari, Jurong Bird Park and Night Safari) welcome Singaporeans to rediscover the parks through different events planned for different times of the year.

You can satisfy your curiosity for wildlife while creating fond memories with your favourite animals at any time of the year. There is also a curated explorer’s must-do checklist that will come in handy when you visit the parks.

In August, to celebrate Singapore’s 55th birthday, WRS is encouraging urbanites in Singapore to know more about our native species.

Native or Nah? How much of a native wildlife nerd are you?

For a start, here’s a quick test of your knowledge of the Singapore wildlife before you meet them in real life.

Round 2. If you really want to prove that you are a native wildlife nerd, answer this.

Exclusive National Day activities at all wildlife parks in August

Regardless of how you’ve performed in the quiz, we hope you’ve learnt something new about the native species in Singapore.

Given the small population and their shy nature, it can be difficult to see them in the wild. But you can meet them in real life with ease at Singapore Zoo, River Safari, Jurong Bird Park and Night Safari at a safe distance.

As part of the “Wild About Singapore” campaign, WRS has crafted some uniquely National Day programmes and promotions.

At the Singapore Zoo, there is the WILDerful Singaporeans Explorer Trail where you can explore the zoo with a bingo card and receive an animal pin upon completion.

These pins are up for grabs until Aug. 30, while stocks last.

Are you a fan of otters? Because there is also an enrichment activity called the “Otters Playtime” in which these smart, fun-loving fellows will show you how they figure out a puzzle feeder to unlock their tasty treats on Aug. 8, 9 and 10.

For bird lovers, you can look forward to the keepers of our very own Singapore bald eagle, the Brahminy Kite, who will be sharing more about these majestic creatures on Aug. 8, 9 and 10.

Over the National Day weekend, you can also catch some National Day-themed animal shows where the animals will “unveil their birthday wishes” for Singapore in the wildlife parks.

National Day promotions

Besides these exciting programmes, there are definitely more reasons to head over to the wildlife parks this August.

WRS is running a national day exclusive promotion that includes a 55 per cent discount on the second admission ticket with every purchase of a full-price adult ticket at Singapore Zoo, River Safari, Jurong Bird Park and Night Safari.

For those who are looking for animal-themed gifts, there is also a retail promotion ongoing of up to 55 per cent off selected merchandise at the parks.

If you feel like one trip is never enough, you can also become a Friend of Wildlife to enjoy annual access to all four wildlife parks throughout the year. There is a S$55 off for Friends of Wildlife Family Membership now.

Visiting all four wildlife parks can be a great alternative for family outings or a break from work since travel is not resuming anytime soon.

Psst...These promotions are running till Aug. 31.

And for those who are making a trip to the wildlife parks soon, have a WILDerful experience.

This article is brought to you by Wildlife Reserves Singapore which recently welcomed a little joey that has won over the writer’s heart and it is waiting for you to visit.

Top photo via WRS website and social media