Jurong Bird Park

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Jurong Bird Park
Jurong Bird Park Logo.png
Jurong Bird Park 2014.jpg
Map
Date opened3 January 1971; 52 years ago (1971-01-03)
Date closed3 January 2023; 2 months ago (2023-01-03) (succeeded by Bird Paradise)
LocationJurong, Singapore
2 Jurong Hill, Singapore 628925
Coordinates1°19′05″N 103°42′26″E / 1.31806°N 103.70722°E / 1.31806; 103.70722Coordinates: 1°19′05″N 103°42′26″E / 1.31806°N 103.70722°E / 1.31806; 103.70722
Land area20.2 ha (50 acres)
No. of animals5000[1]
No. of species400[1]
Annual visitors768,933 (FY 2019/20)[2]
OwnerMandai Wildlife Reserve
Public transit accessBus transport 194
Location
Map
Websitewww.mandai.com/en/jurong-bird-park

Jurong Bird Park was formerly an aviary and tourist attraction in Jurong, Singapore between 1971 and 2023. The largest such bird park in Asia,[3] it covers an area of 0.2 square kilometres (49 acres) on the western slope of Jurong Hill, the highest point in the Jurong region. It is one of the parks managed by Mandai Wildlife Reserve, which are also the managers of Singapore Zoo, Night Safari and River Wonders.

In 2016, the Mandai Wildlife Group announced that the Jurong Bird Park would be relocated to a much larger park at Mandai Lake Road by 2020, consolidating with the three existing wildlife parks together with a new Rainforest Park to form an integrated nature and wildlife precinct known as the Mandai Wildlife Reserve.[4][5] In 2021, the group announced that the park's successor in Mandai would be named Bird Paradise.[6] In 2022, it was announced that Jurong Bird Park would close on 3 January 2023 to finalise its move to Bird Paradise at Mandai.[7][8]

History[edit]

American flamingo at Jurong Bird Park

The idea of a permanent aviary was first conceived by the late Dr Goh Keng Swee, then Minister for Finance, in 1968. During a World Bank meeting in Rio de Janeiro, Dr Goh visited its zoological garden and was impressed with its free-flight aviary. He set out to ensure that Singaporeans would have a place where they could escape from urban life and relax with nature.[9][10]

Work on the aviary started in January 1969.[11] A 35-acre site on the western slope of Bukit Peropok in Jurong was chosen for the project. The bird park was expected to be completed by the end of 1969.[12]

On 3 January 1971, Jurong Bird Park, built at a cost of S$3.5 million, was opened to the public.[13]

Jurong Bird Park became a world-famous bird zoo holding specimens of magnificent bird life from around the world, including a large flock of flamingos. At the time of its closing in 2023 it was the world's largest bird park in terms of the number of birds, and second largest both in the number of bird species and land area (after Germany's Weltvogelpark Walsrode). There are 5,000 birds of 400 species in Jurong Bird Park, of which 24% are of threatened species,[1] the highest percentage in any zoo worldwide.[14]

In 2006, Jurong Bird Park completed a S$10 million makeover. As a result of the upgrade, the park got a new entrance plaza, a park-owned and managed Bongo Burgers restaurant, an ice cream parlour, a gift shop and a bird hospital.[15]

Potential uses for the Jurong site after the bird park's closure include residential or recreational space. Memorable features such as the waterfall are expected to be retained.[16]

Animals and exhibits[edit]

Penguin Coast[edit]

An upgrade of the old Penguin Parade habitat. African penguins live in an outdoor pool meant to recreate a South African coastline with artificially created waves on the lagoon. Inside a Portuguese galleon facade, a climate-controlled enclosure kept at 10-15 °C houses sub-Antarctic penguins.[17]

Flamingo Pool[edit]

Flamingo Lake[edit]

Wings of Asia[edit]

500 birds from 135 species are housed in this aviary. The aviary houses and has successfully bred many endangered birds, including the Bali mynah, black-winged starling and Santa Cruz ground dove.[18]

Outside of the Wings of Asia aviary are enclosures for black-necked storks and Cape Barren geese.

Heliconia Walk[edit]

The Jurong Bird Park has the largest collection of Heliconias in Southeast Asia with over 167 species. Many different aviaries house a variety of rare birds like:

Wetlands[edit]

Guests can observe a variety of waterfowl, ibises, spoonbills and more. A wave machine prevents the build-up of algae in the water.[19] A large aviary housing scarlet ibises is inaccessible to guests but is visible from the path.

Royal Ramble[edit]

Window on Paradise[edit]

This building has three free-flight aviaries for birds-of-paradise.[20]

Hornbills and Toucans[edit]

The area consists of 27 large aviaries containing the world's largest collection of hornbills and a few species of toucans. The Jurong Bird Park is the first to successfully breed the black hornbill in captivity.[21]

African Treetops[edit]

This walkthrough aviary stimulates the canopy layer of a rainforest and features various birds from the rainforests of Africa. It has a few elevated walkways and a suspension bridge to provide an immersive experience. Some of the species housed in this aviary include various species of glossy-starlings and turacos.[22] The African Treetops aviary was formerly the Lory Loft, which was moved to the former Jungle Jewels site.

The former Lory Loft aviary, now the African Treetops aviary

Lory Loft[edit]

Guests can feed 10 species of lorikeets and lories. The attraction was chosen as a "Top 10 Best Family Experience" by the Singapore Tourism Board.[23]

Birds of Prey[edit]

A series of large aviaries that house different species of birds of prey. On 27 November 2019, a pair of critically endangered Philippine eagles named Geothermica and Sambisig were sent to the park as part of a recovery programme.[24]

Dinosaur Descendants[edit]

Larger ground-dwelling birds such as ratites and cranes are housed in this area. Around the enclosures are four huts containing interactive displays like elephant bird egg replicas and a cassowary's casque as well as a dig site play area for children where they can excavate dinosaur fossils.

Pelican Cove[edit]

Multiple species of pelicans are featured in this pond. It is also the world's first pelican underwater viewing gallery.[25]

Parrot Paradise[edit]

Located at the far north of the park, this 2.47 acre (1 ha) complex contains several species of parrots from Australia, Asia and South America.[26]

Waterfall Aviary[edit]

The waterfall in the Waterfall Aviary was once the tallest manmade waterfall at 35 metres tall

The Waterfall Aviary is 2 hectares in area and 35 meters tall, and has one of the world's tallest man-made waterfalls. At the time of its construction in the early 1970s the Waterfall Aviary was the world's largest aviary with the world's tallest man-made aviary.[27] Guests cross a suspended bridge to watch the many different birds. It houses a large variety of birds including grey crowned cranes, roseate spoonbills and several passerines.[28]

Shows[edit]

The "High Flyers Show" showcases the natural abilities and skills of various different birds including their yellow-naped amazon named Amigo who can sing in three different languages and many other birds. At the end of the show, visitors are allowed to take pictures with a flock of pelicans and flamingos.[29]

The "Kings of the Skies Show" features the park's birds of prey.[30]

Awards[edit]

Awarded to Jurong Bird Park:[31]

  • Michelin 2-star rating, 2008
  • Conservation & Research Award, International Symposium on Breeding Birds in Captivity, 2006 and 2007
  • Excellence Award, Association of Southeast Asian Nations Tourism Association, 2004 and 2007
  • Best Loved Pro-Family Business, Singapore, 2006
  • Superstar Winner of the Excellent Service Awards, Singapore Tourism Board, 2004
  • Tourism Host of the Year, Singapore Tourism Board, 2003
  • Breeders Award, American Pheasant and Waterfowl Society, 2001
  • Highly Commended, Tourism For Tomorrow International Awards, 1993
  • First Breeders Award by the American Pheasant & Waterfowl Society, 2001

Transportation[edit]

Throughout its existence, Jurong Bird Park was never directly served by any MRT line, with the nearest station being Boon Lay MRT station.

There is a bus service operated by SBS Transit which calls at the bus stop outside the park.[32]

The park itself was once served by the Jurong Bird Park Panorail a 1.7-kilometre (1.1 mi) loop monorail system which ran within the park. The system was constructed by Vonroll Transport Systems of Switzerland, which also built the Sentosa Monorail and Singapore Cable Car. The monorail system used four fully air-conditioned four-car trains which travelled around the park in approximately 11 minutes. It has since ceased operations in 2012 and was replaced by a trackless tram service similar to the ones found at the Singapore Zoo and Night Safari.

Gallery[edit]

See also[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Jurong Bird Park.

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c "Park experience". Jurong Bird Park.
  2. ^ "WRS Yearbook 2018/2019" (PDF). Wildlife Reserves Singapore.
  3. ^ Hamzah, Firdaus (30 August 2022). "Jurong Bird Park: Key milestones of the iconic Singapore attraction". CNA. Retrieved 30 August 2022.
  4. ^ "Mandai Area Set for Major Redevelopment". Today. 5 September 2014. Retrieved 7 June 2016.
  5. ^ "Mandai nature precinct will house two new wildlife parks". Channel NewsAsia. 1 June 2016. Retrieved 7 June 2016.
  6. ^ "River Safari, Jurong Bird Park renamed in Mandai Wildlife Group rebranding". TODAYonline. Retrieved 13 October 2021.
  7. ^ Auto, Hermes (30 August 2022). "1971-2023: Jurong Bird Park's last day of operations was on Jan 3 2022 as it prepares to move to Mandai". The Straits Times. Retrieved 30 August 2022.
  8. ^ "Rain fails to dampen spirits on Jurong Bird Park's last day of operations". CNA. 4 January 2023. Retrieved 4 January 2023.
  9. ^ "Goh tells why the bird park was built". The Straits Times. 4 January 1971. pp. 15–16. Retrieved 1 June 2016 – via NewspaperSG.
  10. ^ "Sociologists Have a Point, Says Dr. Goh". Retrieved 2 December 2018.
  11. ^ Yeo, Toon Joo (3 January 1969). "Work on $1 mil. aviary at Jurong". The Straits Times. p. 6. Retrieved 1 June 2016 – via NewspaperSG.
  12. ^ "Ready by end of year: Jurong's Bird Park". The Straits Times. 11 August 1969. p. 11. Retrieved 1 June 2016 – via NewspaperSG.
  13. ^ "Dr. Goh Opens Park". The Straits Times. 4 January 1971. p. 1. Retrieved 1 June 2016 – via NewspaperSG.
  14. ^ "Avian Wonders of the World to Nest in New Homes at Singapore's Bird Paradise". The New Age Parents.
  15. ^ "The pecking order". The Straits Times. Archived from the original on 2 March 2007.
  16. ^ "More than 3,000 birds to be moved from Jurong park to Bird Paradise in Mandai". CNA. Retrieved 19 February 2023.
  17. ^ "ZooLex Exhibit - Penguin Coast". zoolex.org.
  18. ^ "Wings of Asia - Jurong Bird Park". mandai.com.
  19. ^ "Wetlands - Jurong Bird Park". mandai.com.
  20. ^ "Birds of Paradise - Jurong Bird Park". mandai.com.
  21. ^ "Hornbills and Toucans - Jurong Bird Park". mandai.com.
  22. ^ "African Treetops - Jurong Bird Park". mandai.com.
  23. ^ "Lory Loft - Jurong Bird Park". mandai.com.
  24. ^ "Pair of Philippine Eagles at Jurong Bird Park Officially Presented to the Public and Media". philippine-embassy.org.
  25. ^ "Pelican Cove - Jurong Bird Park". mandai.com.
  26. ^ "Parrot Paradise - Jurong Bird Park". mandai.com.
  27. ^ Singapore's Fabulous Jurong Bird Park. Singapore: Winston Williams. 1983.
  28. ^ "Waterfall Aviary - Jurong Bird Park". mandai.com.
  29. ^ "High Flyers Show - Jurong Bird Park". mandai.com.
  30. ^ "Kings of the Skies Show - Jurong Bird Park". mandai.com.
  31. ^ "Accreditation and accolades". Wildlife Reserves Singapore. Archived from the original on 22 January 2016. Retrieved 6 December 2015.
  32. ^ "Getting Here". Mandai Wildlife Group.

Bibliography[edit]

External links[edit]

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