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Jurong Bird Park is an aviary and tourist attraction in Jurong, Singapore. 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.

Jurong Bird Park

Date opened	3 January 1971; 51 years ago (1971-01-03)
Date closed	3 January 2023; 47 days' time (2023-01-03) (succeeded by Bird Paradise)
Location	Jurong, Singapore 2 Jurong Hill, Singapore 628925
Coordinates	1°19′05″N 103°42′26″E
Land area	20.2 ha (50 acres)
No. of animals	12,000[1]
No. of species	500[1]
Annual visitors	768,933 (FY 2019/20)[2]
Owner	Mandai Wildlife Reserve
Public transit access	194
Location
Website	www.mandai.com/en/jurong-bird-park

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 will close on 3 January 2023 to finalise its move to Bird Paradise at Mandai.[7]

History

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.[8][9]

Work on the aviary started in January 1969.[10] 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.[11]

On 3 January 1971, Jurong Bird Park, built at a cost of S$3.5 million, was opened to the public.[12]

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. 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.[13]

Animals and exhibits

Penguin Coast

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.[14]

• African penguin
• Gentoo penguin
• Humboldt penguin
• King penguin
• Northern rockhopper penguin

Flamingo Pool

• Caribbean flamingo
• Lesser flamingo

Flamingo Lake

• Greater flamingo

Wings of Asia

500 birds from 135 species are housed in this aviary. The aviary houses and has successfully bred many endangered birds, including the Bali myna, black-winged starling and Santa Cruz ground dove.[15]

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

Heliconia Walk

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

Guests can observe a variety of waterfowl, ibises, spoonbills and more. A wave machine prevents the buildup of algae in the water.[16] A large aviary housing scarlet ibises is unaccessible to guests but is visible from the path.

Royal Ramble

Window on Paradise

This building has three free-flight aviaries for birds-of-paradise.[17]

• Green oropendola
• Malayan peacock-pheasant
• Raggiana bird-of-paradise
• Victoria crowned pigeon
• Western crowned pigeon

Hornbills and Toucans

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.[18]

African Treetops

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.[19] The African Treetops aviary was formerly the Lory Loft, which was moved to the former Jungle Jewels site.

Lory Loft

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.[20]

Birds of Prey

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.[21]

• Marabou stork
• Palm-nut vulture
• Philippine eagle
• White-backed vulture

Dinosaur Descendants

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.

• Northern cassowary
• Saddle-billed stork
• Sarus crane
• Southern cassowary

Pelican Cove

Multiple species of pelicans are featured in this pond. It is also the world's first pelican underwater viewing gallery.[22]

• Australian pelican
• Dalmatian pelican
• Great white pelican
• Pink-backed pelican
• Spot-billed pelican

Parrot Paradise

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.[23]

Waterfall Aviary

The Waterfall Aviary is 35 meters tall and has one of the world's tallest man-made waterfalls. 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.[24]

Shows

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.[25]

The "Kings of the Skies Show" features the park's birds of prey.[26]

Awards

Awarded to Jurong Bird Park:[27]

• 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

Jurong Bird Park is not currently served directly 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.[28]

Gallery

• 
  Penguins
• 
  Palm-nut vulture
• 
  Cattle egret
• 
  Blue-and-yellow macaw
• 
  Rufous night heron
• 
  Pelicans
• 
  Spangled cotinga
• 
  Grey crowned crane
• 
  Black-naped oriole
• 
  Nicobar pigeon
• 
  Palm cockatoo
• 
  Coconut lorikeet
• 
  Pink-spotted fruit-dove
• 
  Superb starling
• 
  Oriental pied hornbill
• 
  Brahminy kite
• 
  Marabou stork
• 
  Sarus crane
• 
  Victoria crowned pigeon
• 
  Great blue turaco
• 
  Sun parakeet
• 
  Great hornbill
• 
  American flamingo
• 
  Shoebill

See also

• Gardens by the Bay, Singapore
• Night Safari, Singapore
• River Wonders, Singapore
• Singapore Botanic Gardens
• Singapore Zoo

References

Bibliography

• Véronique Sanson (1992). Gardens and Parks of Singapore. Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-588588-0.

External links

• Official website

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