Showing posts with label wildlife. Show all posts
Showing posts with label wildlife. Show all posts

Singapore Zoo

About The Zoo

Around 28 hectares in size, and located near the Upper Seletar reservoir , within Singapore's central catchment area, Singapore's Zoological gardens attracts around 1.6million tourists annually and with good reason. There are over 300 species of animal of which around 16% have been classified as endangered.

Getting there + Admission Costs

The zoo is located  about 12 minutes on the bus from Choa Chua Kang MRT station. However, depending where you start your journey from a taxi maybe the fastest way to get there.  http://gothere.sg is a great site planning your journey and the mode of transport you wish to take.

Regarding admission costs, there are a number of offers one can take,  for example you can for $58 dollars get a "park hopper" which allows you to cover all three of Singapore's wildlife tours i.e. Zoo, Night Safari and Jurong Bird park.  For just a single adult the cost is $2. If you want unlimited boat and tram rides then you can opt for "Zoo Saver" which will set you back $27.

What to see + highlights

There is definitely no shortage of animals to see, to keep you occupied throughout the day, with a number of animal shows throughout the day there is enough for all people big or small, young or old.

The main highlight here is the rare White Tiger, and quite rightly so. There are three of them and they are nothing short of magnificent, it was a very rewarding experience to be able to capture them in bits even though they were not in their natural habitat.  Other highlights include the funny Himadrayan Baboons who spend most of their time climbing rocks, or grooming one another.  Orangutans were also amusing to watch as they roamed freely and often seemed to stop and look curiously as you pointed your camera towards them, as though they understood what was going on. At times their behavior and interaction among themselves often reminded me of how we are so much alike save for the appearance and ability to speak. 

Final Thoughts.

A great day out , plenty of animals to see and a lot to learn about the world we live in.  I would have liked to see more, but completely understandable given that the Zoo is currently undergoing extensive renovation. Hope to visit it again soon when they have completed the work.













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Jurong Bird Park

 About The Park

Considered to be the largest bird park in Asia with a staggering 20.2 to hectares, and around 380 species of birds, this truly is a bird lovers paradise.  Complete with an artificial rainforest setting, one soon forgets that they are in Singapore and feel as though they have been magically transported into the thick of the Amazon rainforest.

Getting There + Admission costs

The easiest way to get to Jurong Bird park is by taxi, you could take bus or MRT but there is quite a walk from the nearest station/bus stop, therefore taxi is by far the best choice.

Upon entering the park you have a number of ticket options, for adults you can pay $23.00 and get a ticket that includes the panorail ride, or if you prefer to walk around the park then it's $18.00 which is pretty reasonable. Children's tickets cost $12.00

What to see  and highlights


There are enough species ranging from colorful to weird and wonderful to keep you entertained for the day. Whether your a photographer, bird lover,  or just here on a family outing there is plenty to see.

Several areas of key interest are  the "South-East Asian Aviary", "African Waterfall", Fuji Hawk walk Window of Paradise" so named since it houses around 12 varieties of birds of paradise, sadly none of which were around during my visit!

The park hosts a number of shows, and  of these, the most rewarding is the "King Of The Skies" show which takes place at 4pm daily. It lasts for around 30mins and gives you an opportunity  to bear witness to trained falconers demonstrate the agility, speed and dexterity of natures magnificent birds of prey, ranging from the Bald Eagles, Peregrine Falcons, several species of Owls, Vultures  and Brahminy Kites.
 Seeing a Peregrine falcon snatch its prey in mid air at speeds that would rival the fastest jet fighters is nothing short of spectacular. An owls silent, stealthy  flight, well suited to hunting in total darkness would even impress a certain vigilante we all know and love.

If you have children with you then it is worth checking out the Lori feeding program which starts around 1pm, much fun is to be had here feeding these colorful parrots.


Final Thoughts

Highly recommended, one of the best places to observe birds in a semi natural environment if a trip to the jungles of Africa, the mountains of Mongolia and The Amazon rainforest are beyond your reach.










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