SINGAPORE — Eleven-year-old Julia Heng was among several children who turned up at the Singapore zoo early on Friday (Oct 9) with handmade drawings and cards to meet their “friends” from the zoo’s new animal buddy programme.

She was one of 25,000 people who took part in trials of the My Animal Buddy programme by Wildlife Reserves Singapore (WRS), which manages the zoo, over the past year. 

Under the scheme, children may befriend an “animal buddy”, and receive exclusive access to videos, activities and interactive sessions.

After several prototypes, the programme is now open to the public at large, WRS announced on Friday.  

For Julia, who has been a member of the programme since April, the behind-the-scenes videos are her favourite because she gets to observe how the zookeepers train the animals. 

“I like the live chats, too,” said Julia, referring to discussions with experts including zookeepers and veterinarians. 

Her favourite animal is Pedro, a Californian sea lion that is part of the zoo’s Splash Safari show.

There are two other animals in the programme: Bornean orangutan Khansa and rabbit Rudy.

Launching the programme on Friday, WRS said that it gives children the opportunity to explore its wildlife parks through digital content and experiential activities. 

Children who sign up will have access to behind-the-scenes live footage of their animal buddies and interactive online shows. They will also receive personalised messages and updates on the animals. 

They can also interact online with animal care experts such as zookeepers, wildlife nutritionists and veterinarians to learn more about nearly 1,000 animal species.

The pilot scheme involved 25,000 participants canvassed from the zoo’s visitors, WRS’ Friends of Wildlife members and beneficiaries of voluntary welfare organisations.

Frequent visitors of the zoo, Julia’s parents Raymond Heng, 47, and Cindy Heng, 43, said that the scheme offers a window into the animals’ behaviour when no one is around.

“The information is educational and the children can learn from it,” added Mr Heng, who works in information technology and also has two sons, aged six and nine.

Ms Belina Lee, chief strategy and innovation officer at WRS’ parent company Mandai Park Holdings, said that the programme allows children to benefit from more regular animal interactions.

It is also a way to bring the offerings of its wildlife parks to every child, she said. “This element of inclusivity extends to those who are unable to be physically in our parks,” said Ms Lee.

WRS said that plans are afoot to introduce more animals into the programme as well as a hybrid “digital and physical” play kit with educational activities, stories and games.

The programme is free and the public may sign up on the WRS website.