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Jurong Bird Park

Coordinates: 1°19′05″N 103°42′26″E / 1.31806°N 103.70722°E / 1.31806; 103.70722
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Jurong Bird Park
Map
1°19′05″N 103°42′26″E / 1.31806°N 103.70722°E / 1.31806; 103.70722
Date opened3 January 1971; 53 years ago (1971-01-03)
LocationJurong, Singapore
2 Jurong Hill, 628925
(1971 - 2020)
Mandai, Singapore
80 Mandai Lake Road, 729826 (2020 onwards)
Land area20.2 ha (50 acres)
No. of animals5,000[1]
No. of species380[1]
Annual visitors900,000 (2010)[1]
OwnerWildlife Reserves Singapore
Websitewww.birdpark.com.sg

Jurong Bird Park is an aviary and tourist attraction in Jurong, Singapore. The bird park, managed by Wildlife Reserves Singapore, covers an area of 0.2 square kilometres (49 acres) on the western slope of Jurong Hill, the highest point in the Jurong region.

Wildlife Reserves Singapore reported on 1 June 2016 that in 2020, Jurong Bird Park will be relocated to 80 Mandai Lake Road, 729826, with a new name for the Bird Park. For now, operation continues as per normal.[2][3]

History

Caribbean flamingos 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.[4]

Work on the aviary started in January 1969.[5] 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.[6]

On 3 January 1971, Jurong Bird Park, built at a cost of S$3.5 million, was opened to the public.[7]

Jurong Bird Park is now a world-famous bird zoo where there are specimens of magnificent bird life from around the world, including a large flock of flamingos. It is currently 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 29 are of threatened species.[1]

In 2006, Jurong Bird Park completed a S$10 million makeover. With the upgrading, the park boasts a new entrance plaza, a park-owned and managed Bongo Burgers restaurant, an ice cream parlour, a gift shop and a bird hospital.[8]

Exhibits

Waterfall Aviary

Waterfalls

The Waterfall Aviary towers at a height of 35m (equivalent to 13 storeys) and houses one of the world's tallest man-made, indoor waterfalls. Cross the suspended bridge for a panoramic view of the surrounding landscape and hike up to the Hut to catch sight of the some of the more reticent birds in action. The aviary is named after the 30-metre (98 ft) tall Jurong Falls, one of the world's tallest man-made waterfalls. Species include the golden-breasted starling, turacos and the hoopoe.

Dinosaur Descendants

In one corner of the zoo there is a section full of flightless birds: ostriches, emus, rheas and cassowaries are the residents of this exhibit.

Wings of Asia

Visitors can see the largest collection of Southeast Asian birds, which has over 200 species. There are large, central walk-in aviaries and peripheral aviaries housing the more delicate and territorial birds. A thunderstorm is simulated at noon each day, followed by a cool, light drizzle. Territorial species are kept in large cages, while species that can coexist with each other (fruit doves and pigeons being two examples) are left to roam freely in the aviary.

Lory Loft

The Lory Loft

About nine storeys high and covering 3,000 square metres (32,000 sq ft), the Lory Loft is the world's largest walk-in flight aviary for lories and lorikeets, with over 1,000 free-flying lories. The ambience is similar to that of a rainforest valley in tropical Northern Australia. Visitors can offer the lories a special nectar mix.

Penguin Coast

Penguins

Houses five species of penguins within 1,600 square metres (17,000 sq ft). Featuring a 21-metre (69 ft) tall Portuguese galleon façade and designed to resemble a ship, the interior of Penguin Coast is constructed with timber beams and wooden flooring. Penguin Coast is home to the Humboldt, rockhopper, macaroni and king penguins, which live in an indoor, climate-controlled den with access to an outdoor enclosure showcasing African penguins, one of the few species that are adapted to the tropics. Joining them are cape shelducks and gulls.

World of Darkness

Asia's first nocturnal bird house featured a system of reverse lighting, converting day to night and vice versa. On display were 60 birds from 17 species, like the night herons, fish owls, boobook owls and snowy owls. It was akin to a quiet nocturnal walk along a starlit jungle path, watching birds in their nocturnal surroundings and hearing them beckon each other. The nocturnal bird house has been closed, apparently permanently, since about early 2018.

Pelican Cove

Visitors catch a glimpse of all eight species of pelicans, including the endangered Dalmatian pelican. There is a board-walk where visitors can stroll and observe the birds. Visitors can also see the pelicans at the world's first underwater viewing gallery for pelicans, where the birds scoop up fish at feeding time.

Shows

High Flyers Show

Salmon-crested cockatoo

This bird show has the world's largest number of performing birds in a single act. Besides highlighting the antics of talented birds like the mimicking cockatoos, this show is also a window onto the natural behaviour of birds like pelicans, flamingos and hornbills.

Kings of the Skies Show

Visitors watch birds of prey such as eagles, hawks and falcons, who will fly in loops and soar above the treetops. Visitors also learn about falconry as these birds are put through their paces in a simulated hunt.

Lunch with the Parrots

Visitors enjoy a parrot show over lunch in front of the flamingo lake.

List of birds

Order Galliformes (fowl)

Family Phasianidae (pheasants and relatives)

Family Perdicinae (partridges, Old World quails, and francolins)

Family Cracidae (chachalacas, guans and curassows)

Order Anseriformes (waterfowl)

Family Anatidae (ducks, geese and swans)


Family Anhimidae (screamers)

Order Podicipediformes (grebes)

Family Podicepidae (grebes)

Order Procellariiformes (tubenoses)

Family Hydrobatidae (storm-petrels)

Order Phaethontiformes (tropicbirds)

Family Phaethontidae (tropicbirds)

Order Suliformes (frigatebirds and relatives)

Family Sulidae (gannets and boobies)

Family Fregatidae (frigatebirds)

Family Phalacrocoracidae (cormorants and shags)

Family Anhingidae (darters)

Order Ciconiiformes (storks)

Family Ciconiidae (storks)

Family Balaenicipitidae (Shoebills and relatives)

Order Pelecaniformes (pelicans, herons and relatives)

Family Pelecanidae (pelicans)

Family Ardeidae (herons, egrets and bitterns)

Family Threskiornithidae (ibises and spoonbills)

Order Accipitriformes (hawks, kites, and eagles)

Family Pandionidae (osprey)

Family Accipitridae (eagles, hawks and relatives)

Family Cathartidae (New World vultures)

Family Sagittariidae (Secretarybirds)

Order Falconiformes (falcons)

Family Falconidae (falcons and relatives)

Order Gruiformes (cranes and relatives)

Family Heliornithidae (finfoots)

Family Psophiidae (trumpeters)

Family Gruidae (cranes)

Family Aramidae (limpkins)

Family Rallidae (rails and relatives)

Order Charadriiformes (shorebirds)

Family Charadriidae (plovers and lapwings)

Family Jacanidae (jacanas)

Family Recurvirostridae (stilts and avocets)

Family Stercorariidae (skuas and jaegers)

Family Laridae (gulls, terns, and skimmers)

Order Columbiformes (pigeons)

Family Columbidae (pigeons)

Order Psittaciformes (parrots)

Family Cacatuidae (cockatoos)

Family Psittrichasiidae (Indian Ocean island parrots)

Family Psittaculidae (Old World parrots)

Family Psittacidae (African and New World parrots)

Order Opisthocomiformes (Hoatzin and relatives)

Order Cuculiformes (cuckoos and relatives)

Order Musophagiformes (turacos and go-away-birds)

Order Strigiformes (owls)

Family Tytonidae (barn and bay owls)

Family Strigidae (typical owls)

Order Coraciiformes (kingfishers and relatives)

Family Coraciidae (rollers)

Family Alcedinidae (kingfishers)

Family Todidae (todies)

Family Meropidae (bee-eaters)

Family Motmotidae (motmots)

Family Phoeniculidae (wood-hoopoes)

Family Bucorvidae (ground hornbills)

Family Bucerotidae (hornbills)

Order Trogoniformes (trogons and quetzals)

Order Piciformes (woodpeckers and relatives)

Family Megalaimidae (barbets)

Family Ramphastidae (toucans, toucanets and aracaris)

Order Passeriformes (perching birds)

Family Pittidae (pittas)

Family Eurylaimidae (broadbills)

Family Acanthizidae (gerygones and relatives)

Family Pachycephalidae (whistlers and relatives)

Family Paradisaeidae (birds-of-paradise)

Family Dicruridae (drongos)

Family Rhipiduridae (fantails)

Family Monarchidae (monarchs, paradise flycatchers)

Family Tephrodornithidae (woodshrikes and relatives)

Family Campephagidae (cuckooshrikes, trillers, minivets and relatives)

Family Oriolidae (Old World orioles)

Family Corvidae (crows and relatives)

Family Irenidae (fairy bluebirds)

Family Chloropseidae (leafbirds)

Family Laniidae (shrikes)

Family Aegithinidae (ioras)

Family Turdidae (thrushes)

Family Muscicapidae (Old World flycatchers)

Family Sturnidae (starlings, mynas, oxpeckers)

Family Pycnonotidae (bulbuls)

Family Phylloscopidae (leaf warblers)

Family Acrocephalidae (reed warblers)

Family Locustellidae (grass warblers)

Family Cisticolidae (cisticolas and allies)

Family Pellorneidae (ground babblers)

Family Timaliidae (Old World babblers)

Family Leiothrichidae (Laughingthrushes)

Family Zosteropidae (white-eyes)

Family Dicaeidae (flowerpeckers)

Family Nectariniidae (sunbirds and spiderhunters)

Family Motacillidae (wagtails, pipits and relatives)

Family Ploceidae (weavers and relatives)

Family Estrildidae (estrildid finches)

Family Viduidae (indigobirds and whydahs)

Family Fringillidae (true finches)

Family Emberizidae (buntings and relatives)

Family Passeridae (Old World sparrows)

Awards

Awarded to Jurong Bird Park:[9]

  • 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

Transport

Jurong Bird Park can be accessed on SBS Transit Service 194 from Boon Lay Bus Interchange, which has connections to the Mass Rapid Transit at Boon Lay MRT station.

  • Palm-nut vulture
    Palm-nut vulture
  • Cattle egret
    Cattle egret
  • Blue-and-yellow Macaw
    Blue-and-yellow Macaw
  • Nankeen night heron
    Nankeen night heron
  • Spangled cotinga
    Spangled cotinga
  • Black-naped oriole
    Black-naped oriole
  • Palm cockatoo
    Palm cockatoo
  • Rainbow lorikeet
    Rainbow lorikeet
  • Pink-spotted fruit-dove
    Pink-spotted fruit-dove
  • Superb starling
    Superb starling
  • Oriental pied hornbill
    Oriental pied hornbill
  • Marabou stork
    Marabou stork
  • Great blue turaco
    Great blue turaco
  • Sun parakeets
    Sun parakeets

See also

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Jurong Bird Park.

References

  1. ^ a b c d "Park experience". Jurong Bird Park.
  2. ^ "Mandai Area Set for Major Redevelopment". Today. 5 September 2014. Retrieved 7 June 2016.
  3. ^ "Mandai nature precinct will house two new wildlife parks". Channel NewsAsia. 1 June 2016. Retrieved 7 June 2016.
  4. ^ "Goh tells why the bird park was built". The Straits Times. 4 January 1971. pp. 15–16. Retrieved 1 June 2016 – via NewspaperSG.
  5. ^ Yeo, Toon Joo (3 January 1969). "Work on $1 mil. aviary at Jurong". The Straits Times. p. 6. Retrieved 1 June 2016 – via NewspaperSG.
  6. ^ "Ready by end of year: Jurong's Bird Park". The Straits Times. 11 August 1969. p. 11. Retrieved 1 June 2016 – via NewspaperSG.
  7. ^ "Dr. Goh Opens Park". The Straits Times. 4 January 1971. p. 1. Retrieved 1 June 2016 – via NewspaperSG.
  8. ^ "The pecking order". The Straits Times. Archived from the original on 2 March 2007. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  9. ^ "Accreditation and accolades". Wildlife Reserves Singapore. Retrieved 6 December 2015.

Bibliography

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