Passing of a Singaporean Icon - Ah Meng

Singapore Icon - Ah Meng - Taken from a family that had kept her as an illegal pet, the ape, who died of old age, soon became a tourism icon for the affluent city-state.
@ahgong (10064)
Singapore
February 22, 2008 2:04pm CST
I was really really busy the past few weeks and have not been able to catch up much here. Even reading the papers was a luxury. I have met the great grand mother ape many many years ago... when I was just a little boy. When ever the Singapore Zoo is mentioned, Ah meng is a must-see to who ever is visiting the zoo. I was clearing my past week papers that I have kept. And I came across the article about Ah Meng's passing. It is indeed sad to see the passing on of a Singaporean icon!
2 people like this
3 responses
yanna1027
@yanna1027 (248)
• United States
6 Jun 08
I am really impressed how Singaporeans value Ah Meng and her presence at the Singapore Zoo. I was visiting Singapore when Ah Meng passed away and her passing headlined the newspapers. She was all over the local tv news too. There was even a scheduled viewing or something for her fans. She was indeed an icon.
1 person likes this
ahgong
@ahgong (10064)
• Singapore
22 Aug 08
Oh yeah, I do remember taking a picture with ah meng when I was a kid. She is so gentle. And friendly too. I guess it is the way the zoo sells her as their ambassador that makes her such an easy icon to identify with. I wonder who they are going to appoint as the net ambassador to the zoo.
lordwarwizard
@lordwarwizard (35747)
• Singapore
24 Feb 08
Yup it's pretty sad. I mean she is like so old. She may be a monkey but still in a way, she is our elder.
1 person likes this
ahgong
@ahgong (10064)
• Singapore
26 Feb 08
Yeah... have you seen the way she behaves? Her movements and gestures are so human like. She can indicate her preference. She can also display her dislikes as well. I am impressed at the way she is able to handle so many people who came to visit her. I guess it became a way of life after she was promoted as the Tourism icon of Singapore. I wonder who is going to be the next icon to replace her.
youless
@youless (114117)
• Guangzhou, China
23 Feb 08
I haven't been to the zoo for a long time. The last time I went there was with my husband and son. I had my favorite animals in the zoo in the past, but when I visited them again. I felt very sad because they didn't live well.
1 person likes this
ahgong
@ahgong (10064)
• Singapore
26 Feb 08
Hmm... really? Singapore Zoo is touted to have the best treatment of the animals among all the zoos in the region. So, I am curious, which animal were you referring to? Maybe I have seen them when I was there during the time when you visited. :p The very recent trip to the Zoo was to the night safari. I was trying out my new camera and the night settings. Sadly, not many pictures came out nice without the flash.