Introduction
In late September 2025, I visited Singapore Zoo for a journey from afternoon to night. The trip covered three areas: Singapore Zoo, River Wonders, and Night Safari. The weather was typical tropical overcast, and a thunderstorm even poured down while I was at River Wonders. But the crowds were light throughout the day, which made it easy to observe each exhibit in peace.
This time, I came well prepared with a better lens, so I was able to capture many close-up shots of animals. Through the camera, I noticed their small expressions and movements. Each frame showed me a glimpse of their personality and daily rhythm.
Singapore Zoo — A Quiet Afternoon
When I arrived at Singapore Zoo in the afternoon, the sky was grey and the air felt warm and humid. There were not many visitors, and the animals seemed relaxed.
At the rhino area, I noticed something interesting. Several mynas were standing on the rhinos’ backs, and some were pecking near small wounds on their skin. This is a classic example of symbiosis — the mynas help clean parasites or wounds, and the rhinos simply let them stay. Three white rhinos were eating or standing around while the mynas moved between their backs and the ground.
The orangutan area also had an interesting scene. Two orangutans were interacting on the grass. One was sitting up, and the other was lying down. From their posture, it looked like the one lying down was being scolded — as if it had done something wrong. This kind of emotional interaction made me want to imagine what they were “saying” to each other.
While walking along the path, I was looking around as usual. Suddenly, I saw something flash on a large tree trunk ahead. I stopped, held my camera steady, and slowly moved around the tree. A squirrel appeared right in front of me, hanging upside down on the bark, sniffing curiously. Its round eyes met mine for a moment. The distance was so close that I held my breath. This was probably the closest I have ever been to a squirrel in my life.
Another unexpected encounter happened by the path. An Indian peafowl was hiding in the bushes, showing only its blue and green head and neck, quietly watching the visitors passing by. When I spotted it and raised my camera, it seemed to notice. It shook its head and walked away into the deeper grass.
The otter area made me smile. As soon as the three Asian small-clawed otters appeared, they kept rubbing their backs against the rocks. It was hard to tell if they were scratching an itch or just enjoying themselves. Their wet fur and lazy posture on the rocks looked both relaxed and funny.
The African lioness was resting on a rock, her eyes half-closed, looking calm and relaxed. The green plants around her framed her in the center of the scene, like a queen of the jungle taking an afternoon nap.
The long-tailed macaques were a bit different from other animals in the zoo. Although they are part of the zoo, they seem to move freely within a certain area. The one I met was sitting on a wooden post, and its expression was very dramatic — sometimes looking deep in thought, sometimes looking challenging, as if it was sizing up the human with the camera.
The nyala was quietly eating leaves near some branches. The white stripes on its light brown fur were very clear. It looked elegant and blended well with its surroundings.
River Wonders — Calm After the Storm
After leaving Singapore Zoo, I went to River Wonders. Shortly after I entered, a thunderstorm came. The rain was heavy but short. After it stopped, the air felt fresher, and there were almost no visitors around — only the sound of raindrops falling from the leaves.
The giant panda is the star animal here. I stayed in front of the exhibit for quite a while, watching it lie on the ground and chew bamboo. What impressed me most was how it eats bamboo: it first peels off the hard outer layer with its paws, then only eats the soft inner part. The whole process looked skilled and focused, as if it was enjoying a carefully prepared meal.
The Malayan tiger exhibit was designed like a small jungle. The tiger was lying among the green plants. Its orange and black stripes stood out clearly against the leaves. Even while resting, its sharp eyes gave off a strong presence.
The crocodile was the opposite kind of presence. It was half-submerged in the water, with only its eyes and nostrils showing. The still water reflected its shape. That quiet, lurking image made me slow down and watch carefully.
The tree kangaroo was an animal I saw for the first time. It had golden-brown fur and was sitting on a wooden platform, eating peacefully, surrounded by tropical plants. Unlike the kangaroos that hop on the ground, tree kangaroos have limbs better suited for climbing. It looked like a mix between a kangaroo and a sloth.
The grey kangaroo had a completely different style. It was lying on its side on the red dirt like a relaxed uncle. Even though a staff member was cleaning nearby, it did not move at all and kept its lazy posture.
The pygmy hippo was smaller than I expected. It walked slowly with its head down, its skin shining with moisture.
Birds seem to take good care of their feathers, and the white pelicans were no exception. When I saw them, they were carefully grooming themselves. One was bending its neck to clean its feathers, looking focused and graceful. Their white feathers looked soft against the dark green background.
The painted stork was standing on a branch. Its white feathers and orange-yellow beak looked bright against the dark green leaves. What caught my attention was its wrinkled forehead, which gave it a weathered, experienced look. I also learned that young painted storks have brown feathers and only turn black and white when they grow up.
The cotton-top tamarin was the animal that touched me the most during this trip. The white fluffy hair on its head was very eye-catching, but what drew me more was its expression. In my photos, it always seemed to carry a look of worry, with a heaviness between its brows that was hard to describe. The cotton-top tamarin is a critically endangered species, with very few left in the wild. I do not know if it can really sense anything about its situation, but that expression made me pause after pressing the shutter.
The black-tufted marmoset had its signature black ear tufts. Its big eyes looked straight at the camera, alert and curious.
Night Safari — Trust in the Dark
After dark, I went to Night Safari. The lighting there is kept low on purpose, so animals can be active in an environment close to nature.
On the show stage, I saw the warmest scene of the day. A brown fish owl was standing on the keeper’s gloved hand, spreading its wide wings. The black background of the stage made its feather patterns stand out. But what truly caught my attention was its eyes. Those eyes were looking at the keeper with a kind of trust and dependence that it would only show to a certain person. This was not trained obedience — it was an emotional bond built over a long time together.
Closing
On this day, I walked from afternoon to night, from overcast skies to a thunderstorm, and then into the darkness of the Night Safari. The three areas of Singapore’s zoo each had their own character. But what stayed with me most were the unexpected moments I captured: the second when the squirrel’s eyes met mine on the tree trunk, the peacock shaking its head and walking away after being spotted, the macaque changing expressions on its wooden post, and the owl looking at its keeper with trust.
A zoo is a place for watching. We watch the animals, and sometimes, they watch us too. This two-way gaze gives each encounter its own meaning.
