LOCATION:
Near the Reptile Garden.

DESCRIPTION:
Small Mammals is unique in a sense that it does not have any particular thematic display of animals. Everything goes here. You will see that by the end of this article.

There is a glass enclosure which houses an ocelot (or Bengal cat, leopard cat) which looks strikingly similar to that of the cheetah/ leopard/ jaguar sub-family but is somewhat tame. Then there are a number of prairie dogs which a large tagline that says "A Dog That Is Not A Dog" because they are actually a bunch of cute and adorable ground squirrels which happen to know how to bark!

The uniqueness does not stop as yet. I met with the innocuous-looking squirrel monkeys which probably derive their name from the monkey-like body and adorable squirrel-like face. Next to the prairie dogs display is a common porcupine which is still unique if you have never seen one.

It got more interesting as I walked out of the enclosure. On the far end of a clear glass-walled pool are a group of penguins! They are probably not as thick-furred as their Arctic or Antarctic counterparts but they are just as adorable. You could also catch them play some tricks at the nearby Shaw Foundation Amphitheatre but you have to check the schedule in advance. There is also a large pelican bird on display.

The last but not least, next to the penguins are the adorable dugongs. Watch them swim carelessly in the clear water through the glass wall.

MY VERDICT:
Great variety of exotic animals.