Zoo

Overview

Singapore Zoo, formerly known as the Singapore Zoological Gardens and commonly known locally as the Mandai Zoo is an open concept zoo. Instead of cages, the animals are kept in spacious landscaped enclosures separated from the visitors by either dry or wet moats. Whereas animals with climbing abilities like jaguars are kept in landscaped glass-fronted enclosures.

The 28 hectares zoo was built by the government of Singapore and opened since 1973. The zoo is one of the most beautiful in the world and it attracts about 1.4 million visitors a year. There are about 315 species of animal in the zoo, of which some 16% are considered threatened species.

The iconic and the most recognised resident is the orang utan. Visitors can also catch the daily animal presentations or watch the animals being fed during token feeding sessions that happen throughout the day.

The zoo also has a “friends of the zoo” programme, where people can sign up for a yearly pass which grants them special privileges such as:

• Free and unlimited entry to Singapore Zoo for whole year
• Free Zoo tram rides and parking
• A free quarterly “Wildlife wonders” magazine
• 10% discount at some participating retail outlets

What not to be missed

Rainforest Kidzworld. Children can look forward to splashes of exhilarating activities at Singapore Zoo’s Rainforest Kidzworld. This new and special attraction within the park offers an educational, fun and engaging time with family-focused activities.

Elephants Of Asia. This new ecological journey is modeled after one of the few remaining logging areas like the hill tracts of Arakan in Myanmar, where elephants are still used in sustainable logging operations. Visitors will be able to appreciate how the elephants are bathed and scrubbed by their mahouts. In the thatched huts along the rustic jungle path to the logging camp, bite-sized information and interactive items will provide information on the wonderful world of elephants as well.

Polar Bears. They are kept in a large, 3.5-metre deep pools to allow the polar bears to cool off, an air-conditioned den and a separate cubbing den for rearing cubs. Live fish are released so that the polar bears can go `fishing’ as they would in the wild. Pieces of fruit and meat frozen in ice blocks are thrown in for the bears to toss and discover the goodies as the ice melts away, not forgetting toys such as traffic cones for the bears’ amusement as well.

How to get there

By Bus – From the City, take bus service 171 to Mandai Road, then alight at the first bus stop and transfer to bus service 927 or 926 (operates only on Sundays and Public Holidays).

By Mass Rapid Transit

• Alight at Choa Chu Kang station (BP1/NS4) and take bus service 927.
• Alight at Woodlands station (NS9) or Marsiling station (NS8) and take bus service 926 (operates only on Sundays and Public Holidays).

Opening Hours

8.30am to 6.00pm daily Last admission at 5.30pm

Address

80 Mandai Lake Road Singapore 729826
www.zoo.com.sg

– See more at: http://www.best-singapore-guide.com/singapore-zoo.html#sthash.JdnZGLHP.dpuf