Japan's cute and furry raccoon dogs come to Singapore

They look like raccoons, are cute as buttons with furry coats to make Cruella de Vil swoon. A pair of tanukis, which are a subspecies of raccoon dogs native to Japan, will make their home in Singapore as part of an exchange program between Wildlife Reserves Singapore (the folks who run the Jurong Bird Park, Night Safari and Singapore Zoo) and Asahiyama Zoo in Japan. They're named Pom and Poko and will be housed at a permanent exhibit in the upcoming River Safari river-themed park.

Tanukis have been a part of Japan’s folklore since ancient times but because of their silky coats, they are hunted by furriers and have been commercially farmed since 1928. Even today, raccoon dogs are reportedly bred in cruel conditions and are often skinned alive, which led to global campaigns against the use of raccoon dog fur in fashion.

Pom and Poko will be some of the star attractions at River Safari -- a S$140 million river-themed park which is slated to open later this year. This new park will be carved out of the 89-hectare compound of the Zoo and Night Safari, and house some animals from those two attractions. It will also have boat rides, displays of freshwater habitats, and some new species.

In the meantime, Pom and Poko are under quarantine and being monitored as they acclimatize to their new environments.