Singapore (Commonwealth Union)_ Singapore’s Jurong Bird Park is the largest bird park in Asia. It is the world’s largest bird park by number of birds and the second largest by number of bird species and land area next to Germany’s Weltvogelpark Walsrode. It spans an area of 0.2 square kilometers (49 acres) on the western slope of Jurong Hill, which is the highest point in the Jurong district. The Jurong Bird Park, which cost nearly S$3.5 million to construct, was opened to the public in January 1971.
Jurong Bird Park is now the most popular bird zoo in the world with gorgeous birds from all over the globe, including a big flock of flamingos. Between 1971 and 2023, Jurong Bird Park was a major aviary and tourist destination in Jurong, Singapore. Jurong Bird Park is home to 5,000 birds of 400 breeds, of which 24% are endangered, the greatest ratio of any zoo in the world. On the final day, nearly 2,600 people gathered in the park, which is greater than the daily average of 2,000.
The Mandai Wildlife Group, which runs Jurong Bird Park, reported that the park received more than 30,000 visitors in the final five days preceding last Friday. On its 52nd anniversary, the 20.2 acre research and conservation park, the largest bird park in Asia, closed its doors after initially welcoming visitors in 1971. Additionally, the park has received a number of world-first awards for reproducing and protecting endangered species like the Great Hornbill, Black Hornbill, Twelve-wired Bird-of-Paradise, Straw-billed Bulbul, and Santa Cruz Ground-dove.
Further, it will continue to care for its 3,500 birds as it prepares to shift to a new, somewhat smaller bird park named Bird Paradise, which is scheduled to open during the second quarter of this year in the Mandai Wildlife Reserve. The park will also join the Singapore Zoo, River Wonders, and Night Safari. It will also be part of Mandai’s planned attractions, which include Rainforest Wild and a new resort on the site. The final presentation began at 3 pm in front of a packed audience, with many eager to engage with the birds. Many visitors were given the opportunity to hold a knotted rope in the air as dazzling yellow sun conures landed centimeters away.
The performance concluded with pelicans fluttering their enormous wings while waddling from stage left to stage right, and flamingos circling the center of the stage. Multiple parrots swooped down from the top of the amphitheater to join them. In an emotional departure, the trainers behind the High Flyers performance appeared with the birds to thunderous applause. Eileen Lim, supervisor for animal behavior and programs, spoke about each trainer and became too emotional as she expressed her last thanks to the crowd for their support.
At 4 pm, guests rushed to witness the final performance of the day, Kings of the Skies, which featured the park’s birds of prey. The sky was sunny when the park was opened, but a torrential downpour at around 4.30 pm briefly dampened the spirits. The host asked if the show should go on and was met with a resounding “Yes!” by the audience, who began taking out their umbrellas. Even though the stands were nearly filled by 3.30 pm, a little drizzle threatened to cancel the performance before it began. However, the rain stopped, and the performance commenced on time despite the gloomy sky.
During the final High Flyer event, where guests could snap photographs with flamingos, a long line of around 200 individuals waited from the stage to the top of a vast amphitheater. The administrative executive said, “The show was a very special memory for us. It was very touching when they said goodbye to us. I felt like crying.” At the park’s entrance, a model of the bird park’s ancient cuckoo clock tower displayed a digital clock counting down the final minute of operation. As the last word was made that the park would be closed, employees gathered to bid farewell to the tourists.
The final guests were escorted out of the park at around 6.30 pm, accompanied by jubilant staff members who thanked them for their support. Daisy Ling, vice president of Jurong Bird Park, delivered the last closing statement to the staff via walkie-talkie at around 6:45 pm. Five minutes later, the park’s shutters quietly rolled down for the final time. As the doors closed, the staff led the remaining visitors in three cheers for Jurong Bird Park. With tears in their eyes, several of them hugged one another and posed for a group photograph outdoors.
