Jurong Bird Park

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Jurong Bird Park
Taman Burung Jurong
裕廊飞禽公园
(Yù Láng Fēiqín Gōngyuán)
ஜுரோங் பறவை பூங்கா
(Jurōṅ Paṟavai Pūṅkā)
Park entrance
Date opened 3 January 1971
Location Jurong, Singapore
Coordinates Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
Land area 20.2 ha (50 acres)
Number of animals 5,000[1]
Number of species 380[1]
Annual visitors 900,000 (2010)[1]
Owner Wildlife Reserves Singapore
Website www.birdpark.com.sg
Caribbean flamingos
Penguins
Sun parakeets
The Lory Loft
A great blue turaco
Waterfalls
A salmon-crested cockatoo
An eclectus parrot

Jurong Bird Park is a tourist attraction in Singapore managed by Wildlife Reserves Singapore. It is a landscaped park, built on the western slope of Jurong Hill. It is located within the Boon Lay Planning Area of the Jurong district and has an area of 202,000 square metres (50 acres).

History

The idea of a permanent bird exhibit 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.

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

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.[2]

Exhibits

African Waterfall Aviary

The African Waterfall Aviary is the second largest walk-in aviary in the world, covering 2 hectares (4.9 acres) and including more than 600 free-flying birds of more than 50 species. 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.

Southeast Asian Birds Aviary

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

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

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 features a system of reverse lighting, converting day to night and vice versa. On display are 60 birds from 17 species, like the night herons, fish owls, boobook owls and snowy owls. It is akin to a quiet nocturnal walk along a starlit jungle path, watching birds in their nocturnal surroundings and hearing them beckon each other.

Pelican Cove

Visitors catch a glimpse of all seven 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

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

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Awards

Awarded to Jurong Bird Park:[3]

  • 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.

Gallery

  • Palm-nut vulture

  • Cattle egret

  • Blue-and-yellow Macaw

  • Nankeen night heron

  • Spangled cotinga

  • Black-naped oriole

  • Palm cockatoo

  • Penguins

  • Rainbow lorikeet

  • Pink-spotted fruit-dove

  • Superb starling

  • Oriental pied hornbill

  • Marabou stork

  • Great blue turaco

See also

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  2. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  3. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.

Bibliography

  • Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.

External links

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