Wildlife Reserves Singapore runs a total of 4 zoological parks in Singapore, namely the Singapore Zoo, Night Safari, River Safari, and Jurong Bird Park. Click on the interactive map below to find out more about the locations and details of these zoological parks!

 

  Interactive map showing the locations of the 4 zoological parks in Singapore

 

SINGAPORE ZOO

 

Entrance of the Singapore Zoo

(image credits: Wikipedia)

 

Inuka the polar bear

(image credits: The Straits Times)

 

The Singapore Zoo first opened in 27 June 1973, covering 28 hectares (69 acres) in Mandai, Singapore. It is home to more than 2800 animals from over 300 different species, some of which are endangered. These animals include meerkats, white tigers, elephants, polar bear, butterflies, as well as a diversity of primate species. The zoo attracts approximately 1.7 million visitors annually, including both tourists and Singaporeans.

FUNFACT 1: Singapore-born Inuka was the first polar bear to be born in the tropics!

FUNFACT 2: The Singapore Zoo has the largest captive colony of orangutans in the world!

 

NIGHT SAFARI

 

Night Safari

(image credits: http://travelagency.site)

 

The Night Safari first opened its doors to visitors on 26 May 1994 and is located right beside the Singapore Zoo. It houses over 130 species of nocturnal animals and is therefore only opened from 7:15pm to 12:00am. The late opening hours allows park visitors to view these animals when they are in their active state. Special lighting made by a London-based designer Simon Corder are used in the park. These lights resemble moonlight and thus does not affect the physiological behavior of these nocturnal animals.

FUNFACT: The Night Safari is the world’s first nocturnal zoo!

 

RIVER SAFARI

River Safari

(image credits: www.jlbuilding.com.sg)

 

Information about Kai Kai and Jia Jia

(image credits: ifonlysingaporeans.blogspot.sg)

 

The River Safari is the newest addition to by Wildlife Reserves Singapore, located between the Singapore Zoo and the Night Safari at Mandai, Singapore. It was officially opened in 28 February 2014, featuring river-themed attractions. It houses many fascinating animals, including alligators, eels, and stingrays!

 

FUNFACT: The two adorable giant pandas of the River Safari, Kai Kai and Jia Jia, are part of a 10-year loan from China to Singapore, to mark 20 years of strong ties between the two countries (Chew, 2015)!

 

JURONG BIRD PARK

 

Jurong Bird Park

(image credits: Wikipedia)

 

Flamingos at the Jurong Bird Park

(image credits: Wikipedia)

 

Lory Loft at Jurong Bird Park

(image credits: www.asianclassictravels.com)

 

The Jurong Bird Park (opened on 3 January 1971) was the first zoological park in Singapore and covers 0.2 square kilometres (49 acres) of land at Jurong Hill. It is an aviary park, and houses more than 380 species of birds, including flamingos, penguins, and a diverse species of owls.

 

FUNFACT 1: The Lorry Loft is one of the most famous attraction at the Jurong Bird Park and consists of over 1000 free-flying lories. A bridge suspends high above the canopy of a forest, where visitors are allowed to feed and interacts with the colourful birds!

FUNFACT 2: A bird park was built instead of a zoo because the former Deputy Prime Minister of Singapore, the late Dr Goh Keng Swee, saw that it was cheaper to buy seeds rather than meats! (Nair, 2016).

 

Wildlife Reserves Singapore and the 4 zoological parks it operates

(image credits: Jacaranda Travels)

 

The 4 zoological parks operated by Wildlife Reserves Singapore includes a variety of attractions. The animals in the exhibits are housed in naturalistic settings, many of which are free-ranging habitats. There are also many opportunities for visitors to get up-close with the animals and interact with them, such as through feeding times, animal shows, and small petting zoos. In addition, many animal-themed restaurants and souvenir shops can also be found in these zoological parks.

 

Other than being a place for entertainment, zoological parks are also good places for education. Click on the next few tabs under “Zoological Parks in Singapore” to look at some of the ways in which this is done!