Bird Paradise is an aviary located in Mandai, Singapore. Opened on 8 May 2023, it replaced the Jurong Bird Park and forms a part of the Mandai Wildlife Reserve, consisting of the Singapore Zoo, Night Safari and River Wonders and the upcoming Rainforest Wild Park. Bird Paradise covers approximately 17 hectares (42 acres), with larger and double the walk-in aviaries than the previous Jurong Bird Park.[1]
History
In 2016, the Mandai Wildlife Group announced that Jurong Bird Park would be closed and the entire collection would be relocated to a different, similarly-sized park at Mandai Lake Road by 2020. This would result in the consolidation of the three existing Singapore wildlife parks with the new Rainforest Wild Park, and form a fully-integrated nature and wildlife district, collectively referred to as the Mandai Wildlife Reserve.[2]
In 2021, the group announced that the park's successor in Mandai would be named Bird Paradise.[3] It was also announced that the park’s grand opening would be slightly delayed due to challenging construction site conditions, and the ongoing impact of the tapering COVID-19 pandemic.[4]
In 2022, it was announced that Jurong Bird Park would be closed on 3 January 2023, in an effort to accelerate the relocation to Bird Paradise, Mandai.[5]
Bird Paradise officially opened to the general public on 8 May 2023, with ticket pre-sales commencing on 24 April 2023.[6]
Animals and exhibits
Ocean Network Express Penguin Cove
Penguin Cove is one of the world’s largest simulated Antarctic exhibits. Featuring cold saltwater pools for gentoo, king and rockhopper penguins, the exhibit simulates conditions near the South Pole. Along with the penguins are other seabirds from the southern hemisphere; the Humboldt penguin and Fuegian steamer duck are both native to coastal Chile, Patagonia and Perú, while the silver gull is found across Australia. The building consists of two levels, one for observing the birds whilst swimming (via underwater windows), and another above the water level simulating a windswept, cold beach for the birds to roost and nest on. The exhibit utilises specially-timed lighting systems for the birds' well-being, intending to replicate the 24-hour summer daylight of the poles, or, depending on the time of year, the 24-hours of darkness (polar winter). This exhibit has earned the Platinum BCA Green Mark Award for green innovation. Species include:
The Winged Sanctuary houses the park's collection of over 20 species of hornbills and other endangered tropical birds, such as the Bali myna, the Palawan peacock-pheasant and the Philippine eagle (also known as the monkey-eating eagle). The area consists of tall and densely-planted steel-mesh screen aviaries. Species include:
This aviary mimics the semi-arid environment of the Australian outback, as well as semi-tropical portions of Papua New Guinea and Northeastern Australia. The landscaping consists primarily of eucalyptus and ficus trees, termite mounds and Aboriginal cave paintings. In addition to the many birds, visitors may observe Bennett’s (or red-necked) wallabies here. Species of interest are:
This unique aviary replicates the coastal, tropical forests of Papua New Guinea, with some species from Northern Australia and other nearby islands. Within the aviary are buildings styled after the huts of the Papuan Korowai people, and viewing galleries inspired by Sepik houses. Species inside include:
This is a continuation of an aviary of the same name at the former Jurong Bird Park, housing many species of psittaciformes. Notably, there is a large breeding population of blue-eyed cockatoos, as well as:
Songs of the Forest features vulnerable, threatened and endangered songbirds (among other species) of Southeast Asia, such as the straw-headed bulbul, Bali myna and the fairy bluebird.[13] The exhibit shines a spotlight on the global black market trade of endangered birds, an issue which requires urgent attention. Species of interest are:
Crimson Wetlands recreates the wetland habitats of South America and the Caribbean. Its main attraction is a very large pool with a plunging waterfall, overlooking a lake for the park’s flock of American flamingoes, along with typical New World waterbirds such as the roseate spoonbill and scarlet ibis (the national bird of Trinidad and Tobago), as well as turtles of South America. There is a simulated clay wall where various parrots gather to nest and extract nutrients by chewing the clay, as a form of mineral lick. Species include:
This aviary replicates a Balinese or Indonesian landscape, with dense trees, bamboo and simulated rice terraces.[16] There are elevated walkways where visitors can experience the aviary via two different levels. Species include:
Heart of Africa is the largest aviary at Bird Paradise.[16] It was inspired by the dense Nyungwe Forest of Rwanda in East Africa. Similar to Wings of Asia, Heart of Africa has various suspension bridges and elevated walkways, enabling visitors to see birds at varied heights, from the forest floor to the treetops. Species of interest include:
Bird Paradise has two live shows, Predators on Wings and Wings of the World, both of which are presented periodically throughout each day at the park’s Sky Amphitheatre.[19]
Wings of the World features many ambassador animals that were part of previous shows at the Jurong location. Some notable birds include ‘Sunny’, a great pied hornbill and the mascot of Bird Paradise (along with several other Oriental pied hornbills), ‘Amigo’ the yellow-naped amazon parrot who sings in three languages, and a 50-year-old sulphur-crested cockatoo.[20]
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