Photographer Wong Maye-E: Animals

Today is Earth Day, the annual event surrounding issues of environmental protection first founded in 1970. In honor, we feature a collection of astounding animal photos taken through the years by Wong Maye-E, Associated Press photojournalist based in Singapore.

Singapore Birds

King Penguins are seen in an enclosure at the Singapore Bird Park on Wednesday April 16, 2008, in Singapore. The park currently houses 30 King Penguins, 15 of which were bred in the park itself. King Penguins take 14 -16 months to fledge a single chick and each adult can rear a maximum of only two chicks every three years. (AP Photo/Wong Maye-E)

Singapore Birds

An African Crowned Crane grooms itself at the Jurong Bird Park on Tuesday June 9, 2009 in Singapore.(AP Photo/Wong Maye-E)

Singapore Bird Surgeries

In this photo taken Tuesday, Jan. 19, 2010, the feathers of a Livingstone Turaco is seen during a sexing procedure at the Jurong Bird Park in Singapore. Singapore's wildlife reserves have actively been involved in its wildlife preservation through breeding programs and education. (AP Photo/Wong Maye-E)

Singapore Zoo Endangered Babies

Two under a year old baby Bornean orangutans, second left and right, cling on to their mother while another 3-year-old orangutan kisses her, Thursday, Oct. 3, 2013, at the Singapore Zoo. The Singapore Zoo is renowned for its flagship animal, the orangutan, and exhibits both the endangered Bornean and critically endangered Sumatran sub-species in a social setting. The zoo is also known for its efforts in promoting and educating the public about the importance of wildlife conservation through its educational programs and through the breeding of these endangered species. To date, there have been 41 orangutan births in the last 40 years at the Singapore Zoo. (AP Photo/Wong Maye-E)

APTOPIX Singapore Polar Bear

Singapore Sea Cow

Gracie, a resident Sea Cow also known as the Dugong surfaces from the water on Tuesday Jan. 13, 2009 in Singapore at the Singapore Underwater World. Gracie the Sea Cow or Dugong, a highly endangered species similar in shape and size to the dolphin is celebrating its twelve birthday in conjunction with the Chinese Lunar New Year of the Ox.(AP Photo/Wong Maye-E)

Singapore Zoo

A Baby black howler monkey (Alouatta caraya) clings onto its mother's back on Thursday Jan. 29, 2009 in Singapore where it's national zoo is actively involved in the conservation and education of wildlife reserves.Despite its name, only males are black while females and juveniles are brown. Young males attain their black pelage upon maturity. This is the loudest animal in the New World and the largest monkey that lives in the South American rainforests. (AP Photo/Wong Maye-E)

Singapore Lemurs

A 2-week old Ring-tailed Lemur clings on to its mother at the Singapore Zoo, Friday March 26, 2010 in Singapore. The endangered Ring-tailed Lemur babies were born in the city-state's zoo which is a strong supporter of wildlife preservation through educational programs to members of the public. (AP Photo/Wong Maye-E)

APTOPIX Singapore Lemur

A Ring-tailed Lemur rests on a tree branch at the Singapore Zoo, Friday March 26, 2010 in Singapore. The endangered Ring-tailed Lemur babies were born in the city-state's zoo which is a strong supporter of wildlife preservation through educational programs to members of the public. (AP Photo/Wong Maye-E)

Singapore Baby Elephant

A 2-week old male baby elephant explores next to his 25-year old mother, Nandong, at the Singapore Zoo's Night Safari on Friday, Dec. 10, 2010 in Singapore. This baby is the first baby to be born in the enclosure after 9 years and had a birth weight of 151-kilograms. The Singapore Zoo and Night Safari ensures that its animals in captivity have habitats as close to that of the wild as part of its wildlife conservation efforts. Elephants are listed as endangered on International Union for Conservation of Nature.(AP Photo/Wong Maye-E)

Singapore Baby Elephant

Nandong, a 25-year old elephant mother, watches closely as her 2-week old male baby elephant explores at the Singapore Zoo's Night Safari on Friday, Dec. 10, 2010 in Singapore. This baby is the first baby to be born in the enclosure after 9 years and had a birth weight of 151-kilograms. The Singapore Zoo and Night Safari ensures that its animals in captivity have habitats as close to that of the wild as part of its wildlife conservation efforts. Elephants are listed as endangered on International Union for Conservation of Nature.(AP Photo/Wong Maye-E)

Singapore Zoo

The eye of a mud covered female African Southern Rhino named Shova is seen at the Singapore Zoo on Tuesday July 17, 2012 in Singapore. The zoo was actively involved in educating the public about wildlife conservation and was also successful in breeding endangered species within the Zoo's premises. (AP Photo/Wong Maye-E)

APTOPIX Singapore Zoo Babies

Bino, one-year-old Sumatran Orang Utan, peeps from behind his mother Tuesday, April 10, 2012 at the Singapore Zoo in Singapore. The zoo is actively involved in educating the public about wildlife conservation and has also been successful in breeding endangered species within the Zoo's premises. (AP Photo/Wong Maye-E)

Singapore Bird Park Oriental Pied Hornbill

Three 2-month old Oriental Pied Hornbills are displayed at the Jurong Bird Park's Breeding and Research Center in Singapore, Friday March 8, 2013. These three birds were hatched after a successful artificial incubation at the bird park after their eggs were rescued on an off-shore island in Singapore. This is all part of the park's efforts in preserving and educating the public about its wildlife and wildlife reserves. (AP Photo/Wong Maye-E)

APTOPIX Singapore Polar Bear

Inuka, the first polar bear born in the tropics, swims in his new enclosure at the Singapore Zoo on Wednesday, May 29, 2013 in Singapore. Modeled closely after the arctic habitat, the enclosure helps replicate the chilly climate of the arctic by including an ice cave, and a large pool filled with giant ice blocks. These are part of the Wildlife Reserves Singapore's efforts in providing visitors greater knowledge of the natural world. (AP Photo/Wong Maye-E)

Singapore Zoo Endangered Animals

A Bornean Orang Utan hangs from a vine as he feeds, Wednesday March 6, 2013 in Singapore. The Singapore Zoo is renowned for its flagship animal, Orang Utan, and exhibits both the endangered Bornean and critically endangered Sumatran sub-species in a social setting. It is also known for its efforts in promoting and educating the public about the importance of wildlife conservation through its educational programs and breeding of these endangered species. (AP Photo/Wong Maye-E)

APTOPIX Singapore Zoo Endangered Animals

One month-old endangered Bornean Orang Utan sleeps on his mother named Miri on Wednesday, March 6, 2013, in Singapore. The Singapore Zoo is renowned for its flagship animal, the Orang Utan, and exhibits both the endangered Bornean and critically endangered Sumatran sub-species in a social setting. It is also known for its efforts in promoting and educating the public about the importance of wildlife conservation through its educational programs and breeding of these endangered species. (AP Photo/Wong Maye-E)

Animal Agenda

FILE - In this Jan. 18, 2012 file photo, people are silhouetted against the glass of an aquarium while a Giant Manta Ray swims past at the Resorts World Sentosa's Marine Life Park in Singapore. Elephants, rhinos, sharks and manta rays are among the animals that could be getting more international protection at the triennial meeting of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora. (AP Photo/Wong Maye-E, File)

Singapore Night Safari Wallaby Trail

A Sugar Glider crawls into a log at the Night Safari at the Singapore Zoo on Friday, Aug. 17, 2012 in Singapore. The tourist haunt which claims popularity as the world's first Night Safari, opened yet another attraction, "The Wallaby Trail" consisting of wildlife in the Australasian region which includes Australia, New Guinea and New Zealand to the public Friday.(AP Photo/Wong Maye-E)

Singapore River Safari

A squirrel monkey climbs across a vine in its enclosure at the newly completed River Safari on Monday March 25, 2013 in Singapore. The River Safari, the Wildlife Reserves Singapore's latest attraction will showcase 5,000 animal specimens representing 300 animal species from freshwater habitats inspired by eight of the world's iconic rivers including the Mississippi, Nile, Mekong, Yangtze and Amazon Rivers and will open its doors to the public in April this year. (AP Photo/Wong Maye-E)

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Follow Wong Maye-E | Twitter: @mayersINsg | Instagram: w0ngmayee

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