Singapore enhances ecotourism with two new wildlife parks

WTTEN-Singapore will supplement its already extensive portfolio of nature-based attractions in the coming years, following the launch of a major new project that will include the creation of two brand new wildlife parks.

Mandai Park Holdings (MPH) has commenced work on its new “Mandai rejuvenation project”. This will see existing Singapore Zoo, River Safari and Night Safari expanded and supplemented with a brand new bird park, rainforest park, a nature-themed indoor attraction and “eco-accommodation” options.

The bird park will feature a wetlands area

The project will use “impacted land” has been earmarked for redevelopment since 2008, as well as space currently used by Mandai’s three nature parks. The project passed an Environmental Impact Assessment in October 2016.

“Reviews and discussions on Mandai’s rejuvenation have been going on for several years with various stakeholders. With the necessary government approvals now obtained, we are delighted to mark this milestone with our partners today”, said S Dhanabalan, chairman of MPH.

The new bird park will feature a range of species, including many which are threatened in the wild, housed in “large walk-through aviaries, themed after different regions of the world”. MPH stated that it will adopt breeding, conservation, educational programmes, acting as a “sanctuary where… birds will be preserved, studied and reproduced”.

The rainforest park (pictured top) will replicate a Southeast Asian jungle, with boardwalks elevating visitors into the multiple tiers, from ground-level to the canopy. Aside the new parks, the project will create new entranceways to all of MPH’s parks, a new basement transport hub, event spaces and new walkways.

The project will be completed in phases, with the bird park and rainforest park scheduled to open by 2020 and 2021 respectively.