SINGAPORE: Wildlife lovers can soon see one of the world’s rarest monkeys, the Francois langur, for the first time in Singapore, at the Rainforest Wild Asia, which opens in March 2025.
The monkey, which is native to China and Vietnam, is classified as endangered in the Red List of Threatened Species compiled by the International Union for Conservation of Nature, which is a conservation group.
There are only about 2,000 of these monkeys remaining in the wild, according to a 2024 BBC report.
Mandai Wildlife Group said on Thursday (Nov 7) that Rainforest Wild Asia will be the new home to the Francois langur in Singapore and the endangered Philippine spotted deer, which are among 29 animal species at the park.
The Karsts at Rainforest Wild Asia offer different vantage points from which visitors can spot the Francois langurs. - MANDAI WILDLIFE GROUP
The fifth wildlife park under the group will also have 7,000 South-East Asian trees and shrubs planted to supplement the existing protected patches of rainforest.
The size of the park – 13ha or about 20 football fields – will allow tigers, sun bears, tapirs and gregarious langurs to roam through habitats like rainforests and caves.
The group chief executive of Mandai Wildlife Group, Mike Barclay, said the 10 different zones in the park will offer visitors different levels of adventure as they explore the immersive rainforest setting.
They could stroll along wheelchair-friendly walkways, explore forest trails closer to the ground or go higher up near the canopy where they can climb, jump and abseil in safety harnesses.
“This immersive design gives our guests the chance to witness how different animals thrive in distinct rainforest settings. Most importantly, we hope to create strong feelings of connection to nature and a renewed determination to cherish and protect our planet,” he added.
Over at The Karsts, visitors can watch the Francois langurs swinging and leaping at the canopy that has jagged limestone formations.
Visitors can also see Malayan tigers at the Rock Cascade, and the Javan langur and the red-shanked douc langur at The Canopy.
The park will also feature chambers called The Cavern, which are inspired by the Unesco World Heritage site Mulu Cave in Sarawak, Malaysia.
Created with the Sarawak Forestry Department, the chambers feature recreations of the ancient rock formations, which were digitally scanned by a design team at the Mulu Cave.
Visitors can choose between a subterranean walkway or a path to see racer snakes and giant black scorpions.
Besides Rainforest Wild Asia, an eco-resort called Mandai Rainforest Resort is set to open in the first half of 2025.
Mandai Wildlife Group said the next phase will see the opening in the coming years of Rainforest Wild Africa, which is inspired by the landscapes of the Afro-Tropical region and Madagascar. - The Straits Times/ANN
