Tuesday, 2 January 2007
As we all know, Singapore-born polar bear Inuka turned 16 on Tuesday, 26 December.
It was truly a day of rejoicing, as it served as a reminder that Singapore had bred their first successful polar bear not only in the Zoo but also in the tropics. However, news also came that Inuka would be relocated to another zoo when his mother, Sheba dies (She is currently 29 years old and has surpassed the average age of 25).I’m sure all of us would have some kind of reluctance in seeing Inuka go like this. I mean, he is after all a ‘Singaporean’. Having already spent 16 years of his life in Singapore, I sometimes can’t help but wish that Inuka would be able to continue staying put in the Singapore Zoological Gardens. It’s truly a pitiful thing…
On the other hand, I accept the fact that Inuka cannot remain here in Singapore. One obvious reason is because of Singapore’s hot and humid climate. It would definitely be too hot to sustain a polar bear (even if you manage to air-condition the whole enclosure).
The polar bear enclosure is also terrifying! If you have ever seen it, you would definitely be too stunned for words. It looked more like a swimming pool in a beach-like setting. Whatever… but it seriously does not look like the blinding white, snowy, freezing picture that we all have in mind of the Arctic.
Anyway, since the decision is final, all I can do is to wish our dear Inuka a happy birthday and to cherish the time that he’s left with us…
Signing Off
Moses, Inuka’s fan
Environmentalist Blogged:00:47
