SINGAPORE — Animal lovers will now be able to “adopt” an animal at the Singapore Zoo with Wildlife Reserves Singapore (WRS) extending their sponsorship scheme, that has been in place for companies, to individuals. 

For a start, 10 animal species will be up for adoption. They are:

• Sumatran orangutan Ah Meng Jr. 

• African penguins Ben and Bella

• Red ruffed lemur Bosco

• Two-toed sloth Bunny 

• Aldabra giant tortoise Coco

• Malayan sun bear Matahari

• California sea lion Pedro

• Pygmy hippopotamus Psota

• Eastern grey kangaroo Rambo

• Rex rabbit Ronnie

Adopters may make a one-off donation of S$200, S$800 and S$1,500, said WRS at a media launch of the programme on Thursday (Aug 13).  

In return, their names will be displayed on the WRS website for a year, and they will receive an adoption e-certificate and a factsheet on their adopted animal. 

Discount vouchers, admission tickets and invites to WRS’ events and previews will be given to adopters as well.

For individuals who donate S$1,500, their names will also be acknowledged on the adopter’s wall within the Singapore Zoo for a year, and they will receive a voucher for an animal plush and an annual membership pass.

The funds collected from this programme will go towards WRS’ resource pool, which contributes to the care, upkeep and medical needs of the animals. 

It will also be used to support research and education programmes across WRS’ parks and conservation projects to protect threatened species in Singapore and the region.

WRS’ senior director of partnership development, Ms Isabel Cheng, said: “We had visitors who see the animals, have a connection with them and feel that they want to do something and contribute towards the animals and the conservation work that we do in the parks and in the region.

“During the circuit breaker, the park was closed. Despite the fact we had no visitors, work was still ongoing so there were a lot of costs.”

She added that the programme will help generate additional revenue from those who have not been able to visit the zoo but still want to do their part to support the wildlife.

WRS has plans to expand the list to include animals in the Jurong Bird Park, River Safari and Night Safari.

The programme was shared with WRS members and subscribers in June and has received nearly 200 individual sponsorships to date. 

African penguins Ben and Bella have the most adopters — 41 — as of Wednesday. 

Meanwhile, Ms Weng Huang Ling, 37, and her husband Mr Samuel Yap, 40, a technical manager, decided to adopt Rambo, the eastern grey kangaroo. 

Their five-year-old daughter Anna Jubilee Yap has been asking for a pet but her parents felt that the responsibility of owning a pet was too much for them, so adopting an animal at the zoo was a better option.

“I find it meaningful for my daughter. She was really excited... This lets her have a feel of having a pet even if it’s just for a year,” said Ms Weng, a housewife.