Photo credit: MANDAI WILDLIFE GROUP

Bird Paradise set to open in second quarter of 2023 with 8 walk-through aviaries

The new bird park will feature 10 zones, slated to open progressively through to 2025.

Amanda Tan

Skills include buying the same jeans in different colours.

Published: 3 October 2022, 2:15 PM

Bird Paradise is set to open in the second quarter of 2023, following the closure of Jurong Bird Park in January 2023. 

The new 17-hectare park will be the first of the new wildlife parks located at Mandai Wildlife Reserve to open to the public.

The new bird park is designed to emphasise environments inspired by different ecologies and habitats, the natural behaviours of birds and the unique avian adaptations found across species, announced Mandai Wildlife Group in a press release on Monday (Oct 3).

It will house 3,500 birds from over 400 avian species which visitors can learn more about through eight large walk-through aviaries reflecting different biomes of the world such as dense African rainforests, South American wetlands, Southeast Asian paddy fields, Australian dry eucalypt forests, and more.

Here’s a preview of the new wildlife park:

Heart of Africa

The largest walk-in aviary, Heart of Africa is modelled after the forested valleys of continental Africa and the colourful birds that live amongst the towering rainforest trees.

 

Unique cultural elements of the aviary include Congolese pavilions and a larger-than-life artificial sycamore fig tree. PHOTO CREDIT: MANDAI WILDLIFE GROUP

 

The habitat features a Bee-eater’s Cliff where visitors can watch bee-eater species diving and swooping to catch insects mid-air.

Wings of Asia

Paying homage to the diverse forests of Southeast Asia, Wings of Asia is a recreation of the tranquil bamboo forests and sloping rice terraces of the continent.

Catch pheasants scouring the undergrowth for food and hornbills soaring above the trees.

 

Cultural elements that have been integrated into the habitat include a Balinese-inspired split gate, pavilions, and water-based sound sculptures. IMAGE CREDIT: MANDAI WILDLIFE GROUP

 

More than just for aesthetic purposes, the labyrinth of bamboo serves as a major food source for the animals in the habitat. The terraces also create a unique ecosystem for birds like the critically endangered Baer’s Pochard and endangered Milky Stork, said Mandai Wildlife Group.

Penguin Cove

Showcasing the fascinating behaviours of penguins is Penguin Cove, a cold salt-water habitat designed to facilitate the natural behaviours of the aquatic birds.

 

The state-of-the-art indoor habitat will eventually be home to penguins such as the Gentoo Penguin, King Penguin, Humboldt Penguin and Northern Rockhopper Penguin. IMAGE CREDIT: MANDAI WILDLIFE GROUP

 

It also features a sustainable dining experience immersed in an underwater environment with the penguins.

Crimson Wetlands

Crimson Wetlands features a clay lick wall, where colourful macaws can be observed feeding and a cascading waterfall as a tribute to the Waterfall Aviary of Jurong Bird Park.

 

Visitors can expect to see Scarlet Ibises and Roseate Spoonbills gliding over the marshy wetlands. PHOTO CREDIT: MANDAI WILDLIFE GROUP

 

There’s also an elevated restaurant which will offer “breath-taking views of the habitat and waterfall”, with a menu curated by a local celebrity chef.

Australian Outback

A dry arid forest at Australian Outback will be home to various species of Lorikeets, endangered cockatoos and flocks of cooing pigeons.

 

Walk amidst a landscape inspired by the region of Oceania and around, at the Australian Outback habitat. PHOTO CREDIT: MANDAI WILDLIFE GROUP

 

“As an organisation dedicated to protecting wildlife, I am confident that Bird Paradise will provide us with the perfect platform to further our education programmes, capacity-building initiatives and our important work to protect threatened bird species across the region,” said Mandai Wildlife Group CEO Mike Barclay. 

Bird Paradise will also continue to preserve the incumbent bird park’s heritage and legacy and pay tribute to Singapore’s pioneer wildlife park by retaining iconic features such as the heliconia collection.

The process of moving the avian residents to Bird Paradise will begin following Jurong Bird Park’s official last day of operations on Jan 3, 2023. 

Development work for the rest of the precinct is also underway. The remaining features are set to open progressively through to 2025.

You may like these

Trending