Why is Mandai shifting focus after wildlife admissions fell to about 1,100?

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Mandai is Shifting Focus to Specialised Care and Rehabilitation Due to Decreased Wildlife Admissions

Mandai Wildlife Reserve is enhancing its focus on specialised care and rehabilitation for native wild animals following a significant drop in wildlife admissions to its previous rescue facility. This shift allows the veterinary team to concentrate on species requiring intensive and specific treatment, leveraging the capabilities of a newly opened hospital designed as a comprehensive rehabilitation hub. The reduction in overall admissions, from over 2,700 cases pre-2015 to approximately 1,100 between 2022 and 2025, is largely attributed to the proliferation of other rescue centres and increased public awareness which has led to fewer unnecessary animal transfers.
New Hospital Designed for Comprehensive Rehabilitation

The newly established hospital at Mandai Wildlife Centre is purpose-built to treat, rehabilitate, and facilitate the release of Singapore's native wild animals. It functions as a full rehabilitation hub, equipped with facilities such as a 10-metre flight and exercise yard, a movable surgery table, advanced diagnostic imaging tools, and an intensive care ward. This infrastructure is dedicated to caring for injured, orphaned, and endangered species, with the ultimate aim of returning them to their natural habitats.
Reduced Admissions Allow for Specialised Care Focus

The decline in annual wildlife admissions at Mandai's previous facility, from more than 2,700 cases before 2015 to around 1,100 between 2022 and 2025, has enabled the veterinary team to reallocate resources. Head veterinarian Dr. Charlene Yeong noted that this decrease permits the team to concentrate on species that necessitate specialised care, such as young animals requiring round-the-clock feeding and monitoring. This allows for a more in-depth approach to complex cases, including those involving critically endangered species like the Sunda pangolin.
Increased Public Awareness and New Rescue Centres Contribute to Admission Decline

The reduction in the number of animals being transferred to Mandai is a consequence of several evolving factors within Singapore's wildlife management landscape. The emergence of more rescue centres across the island has distributed the intake of wildlife, alleviating pressure on a single facility. Concurrently, heightened public awareness regarding wildlife rescue protocols has led to a decrease in unnecessary transfers, with individuals better understanding when and how to seek appropriate assistance for animals in distress.
Rehabilitation Success and Research Integration

The new hospital's operational model emphasises successful rehabilitation and release, with approximately 62 per cent of treated animals being returned to the wild in collaboration with the National Parks Board. Beyond direct patient care, the facility also serves as a crucial research hub. It actively collects biological samples and tracking data to address existing gaps in the understanding of native wildlife medicine, contributing valuable insights for conservation efforts and improving treatment protocols for various species, including common patients like reticulated pythons and those affected by traffic accidents.

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Why is Mandai shifting focus after wildlife admissions fell to about 1,100?

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