The Jurong Bird Park in Singapore
The Jurong Bird Park is one of Singapore's best attractions. When I lived in Singapore I used to take a taxi out to Jurong a couple of times a month just to roam around and relax in the park. My kids could have watched the penguin exhibit for hours. But the walk in aviaries that let you get close to the birds in a natural environment makes the park very memorable.
Pros
Relaxing Environment - This is a great place to just go hang out, read a book, drink some coffee…
Amazing Exhibits - The Penguin Parade alone could occupy hours of your time
Shows - There's a show of some kind in the park about every half hour
Decent Food - there's a burger shack, a Ben & Jerry's at the park, and Korean food at the park
The Children's Play Area - specially designed to allow wheelchair bound children to participateCons
Jurong is on the other side of the island from most of Singapore's attractionsDescription
A 20+ hectare park with open exhibits containing 9,000 birds representing 600 different species.
Fifteen different exhibits including a penguin enclosure, an African Wetlands, and Swan Lake.
A number of walk-in aviaries that allow you to see the birds in a natural environment.
A rail system that allows for easy travel within the facility.
Fully handicapped accessible (and free admission for people with disabilities).
Shows throughout the park every 30 to 45 minutes.
Food vendors on site.
There are a number of great exhibits at the park. The new African Wetlands Exhibit has attracted a lot of attention and shows that the park is still growing. Birds in the exhibit include the Shoebill, the African Crowned Crane, the Egyptian Goose, the Blue Crane, White-faced Tree Duck, White-breasted Commorant, Crested Guinea Fowl, and Great White Pelican.
The 21,000 square foot Hornbill and Toucan Exhibit is also popular. The exhibit includes 25 separate aviaries. The park has a successful breeding program for Hornbills.
A number of exhibits are "open concept" presentations with birds more or less roaming the park free. This is true for the swans, pelicans, and flamingo exhibits. (One of my daughters once tried to hug a pelican at the park and the bird flogged her.)
If you are on your own for a day in the city I recommend the park as a place to escape the hustle of life. Take a book and go sit by the park's lake and read, maybe drink some coffee. I always thought it was worth the price of admission (about $15 Singapore, or $9.50 US).
Without a doubt the park's best exhibit is the Penguin Parade: 17,000 square feet of Antarctica right there in Singapore. The exhibit includes Humboldt, Rockhopper, Macaroni, Fairy and King Penguins and is designed to allow you to see them underwater, as well as on land.
The Jurong Bird Park is an excellent treat for children. Adults find it a satisfying experience, as well. I recommend it highly.
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