Dr Cheng Wen-Haur is deputy CEO and chief life sciences officer at Mandai Wildlife Group, formerly known as Wildlife Reserves Singapore, encompassing the Singapore Zoo, the Night Safari, the Jurong Bird Park and the River Wonders in Singapore.
He has had a lifelong passion for animals and, after completing his veterinary training in Australia, he began working with Singapore Zoo in 1993. In 1994, he then took on the role of head of operations at the world’s first Night Safari, before being promoted to the position of executive director of Singapore Zoo and Night Safari in 2000.
In 2004, Dr Cheng was appointed as director of community engagement at Perth Zoo, before moving to a privately-owned and operated zoo in Guangzhou, China in 2009. In 2013, he returned to Wildlife Reserves Singapore, firstly stepping into the role of chief life sciences officer before taking on his current position in 2015.
He is now responsible for overseeing the general park operations of the company’s four wildlife parks, which includes working on education and conservation strategies, as well as the care and welfare of around 15,000 animals.
“I think deep down, people like animals and there is this need to connect to animals,” said Dr Cheng in a 2020 interview with blooloop. “As the human race has become highly industrialised and urbanised, many of us are suffering from a loss of connection to the wild. What we offer is the chance to reconnect with nature and interact with animals.
“Southeast Asia is a biodiversity hot spot of global significance. But high human population density and rapid economic growth have resulted in a high degree of threats and severe loss of wildlife in the region. We have a key role to play in helping to save the many species that are under threat at our doorstep.”