Strengthening Conservation Ties between Singapore and the Philippines; Safeguarding Southeast Asia's Biodiversity

Southeast Asia is one of the world's most biodiverse regions, but its natural wealth is under mounting pressure, with about 85 percent of mammals and 66 percent of birds in the region now at risk of extinction.

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The Philippines, recognised as one of only 17 megadiverse countries globally, is part of this fragile ecosystem. Many species here are unique to its islands, making the country a conservation priority both regionally and globally.

Recognising this urgency, the Philippines is a major focus for Singapore-based Mandai Wildlife Group and its conservation arm, Mandai Nature. Much of their work is driven by the One Plan Approach — linking work in the wild with science-based care in managed settings to support species survival.

Close collaborations between the Singapore and Philippine governments, local non-government organisations (NGOs), indigenous groups and communities demonstrate how crossborder cooperation advances conservation and delivers impact.

Bridging zoo-based and field conservation

Modern zoos today are vital ex-situ conservation centres, maintaining healthy populations of threatened species beyond their natural habitats while raising awareness and engaging communities in wildlife protection. Mandai Wildlife Group manages five zoological parks — Singapore Zoo, Night Safari, River Wonders, Rainforest Wild Asia, Bird Paradise — visited by over four million local and international visitors annually. The parks are home to 1,000 species nearly a quarter threatened with extinction. Of these, three percent are native to the Philippines.

Bird Paradise is the only zoo globally to house three of the five bleeding-heart pigeon species endemic to the Philippines: the Negros, Mindanao, and Luzon bleeding-heart pigeons. Rainforest Wild Asia and Singapore Zoo care for species like the Visayan deer and Philippine crocodile - both of which recently bred successfully in human care.