Hello From The Wild Side

Why
We are in the midst of a Microsoft Teams meeting, and our companions at the other end of the video call are loud, boisterous… and very, very distracted. They aren’t paying attention to what we are saying, and are instead caught up in their own constant chatter. They also happen to be a bit wet having just come out of the shower. Not that any of that matters to us, as these leggy African beauties are a sight to behold. All 65 of them.

It isn’t every day that we get to hang out with a flock of flamingos. Or have the chance to grill a keeper for some fun flamingo facts.

That is now possible, thanks to Wildlife Reserve Singapore’s (WRS) Hello From The Wild Side programme, a host of online offerings that include virtual encounters with its feathered residents. This initiative was launched amid the closure of the group’s four zoological parks during the country’s circuit breaker. While all the parks have since reopened (except Night Safari which will reopen on July 30), the popularity of its virtual initiative has led WRS to expand its menu of online offerings.

What
Hello From The Wild Side now includes the option to purchase personalised video greetings featuring select animal personalities, and a private behind-the-scenes session with Singapore Zoo’s Asian elephants.

As part of its refresh, guests can have virtual group meetings with the double yellow-headed amazon, scarlet macaw and toco toucan (Jurong Bird Park); as well as great horned owl, Asian small-clawed otters, and white raccoon (Night Safari). That is on top of the original cast: capybara and great white pelican (River Safari), African penguins (Singapore Zoo), as well as oriental pied hornbill and white cockatoo (Jurong Bird Park).

How
Our virtual meeting on a Friday afternoon was with the Bird Park team, featuring a quartet of avian beauties: the double yellow-headed amazon, scarlet macaw and a pair of toco toucans, with a surprise appearance from the supermodels of the wild.

Taking us into the colourful and cacophonous colony of feathered fowls is the chirpy and wildly animated Lynn from the animal presentation team.

We hear our first guest before we see him – Quincy, a loud and talkative double yellow-headed Amazon parrot, a native to the forests of South America. Parrots like Quincy, we are told, are adept at mimicking skills. He can utter the words “welcome to parrot paradise”, mimic a cat’s meow, and even do a rousing rendition of Singapura, Sunny Island. We also learn that parrots like Quincy require a lot of time and attention, can create quite a ruckus, and live up to 80 years old.

Our next close-up encounter is with another South American native: Ippy, a long-tailed scarlet macaw, which tongue wiggled and somersaulted his way into our heart. As one of WRS’ Go Green for Wildlife ambassadors, Ippy even schooled us in the importance of recycling with a charming demo involving three types of bins and litter – and a pint-sized stool.

Our next guests are no stranger to the limelight, having graced cartoons and cereal boxes. Meet the big-beaked Mr and Mrs Axle, a pair of wildly popular toco toucans, which are the largest in the toucan family. The husband-and-wife duo quickly get busy munching on their treats comprising a mix of assorted fruits, eggs, and chicken – “for a well-balanced diet”, we are told. Despite their oversized bills, we found out that they are incredibly agile, via a performance involving one nicely fielded morsel of grape.

These interactive sessions would be a hit with parents with young kids, friend groups, or remote teams for teambuilding activities.

As opposed to an in-person trip, these virtual sessions offer the opportunity to interact with the keeper and learn more about these critters. It also affords an up-close look at the animals, albeit via a screen. It was almost surreal seeing the toco toucans in such close proximity in real-time, and we were entranced by their cartoonish-looking bills.

While these sessions are non-exclusive, they are limited to only three user profiles at any time. Alternatively, participants can opt for a personal session by booking out all three slots for that timing and invite up to five friends to join in the call. Part of the funds raised through these interactive sessions is channelled towards supporting ongoing efforts by WRS to care for and protect wildlife and habitats across South-east Asia.

Verdict
All in all, the 20-minute session was equal parts entertaining and educational, and we walked away with newfound knowledge on feathered fowls – some fun to know, some hard to swallow.

Like when we learnt how many parrot owners end up giving up their pets at the Jurong Bird Park due to the birds’ high maintenance. Or how the number of toucans in the wild is shrinking due to poaching and deforestation, driving home the importance of supporting local conservation efforts.

Turns out, staging a show with animals in real-time can make for pretty good comedy, thanks to their penchant for going off-script. To wit, Lynn’s repeated attempts at getting Quincy to say hello is met with stony silence, while earnest appeals for him to mimic a rooster’s crow sees the fowl letting loose a series of shrill whistles instead.

We were, perhaps, most delighted by a surprise appearance from the flamingo family as our session drew to a close. During an interactive Q&A session with the host, we received a crash course on flamingos: These pink beauties are not au naturel, but get their colour from their diet which contains beta carotene. They love to shower. Sometimes, they stand on one leg even when they are sleeping. And, yes, flamingos fly. But, like airplanes, they require a long runway to run a few paces to gain speed before taking flight.

Rate: S$100 (US$72.50) for a 20-minute session with all animal groups for virtual meetings, except oriental pied hornbill and white cockatoo (S$50 for a 10-minute session)
Contact:
Website: www.wrs.com.sg/en/hello-from-the-wild-side