What Makes A World-Class Zoo? Singapore Figured It Out 52 Years Ago
The Singapore Zoo is recognised as one of the best rainforest zoos in the world, home to over 4,200 animals from more than 315 species, many of which are threatened or endangered. And it officially opened today 52 years ago (27 June 1973).
How it all started
Singapore had a zoo way before 1973 – the very first one popped up in the Singapore Botanic Gardens in 1875. Poor funding and high animal mortality led to its closure in 1905. In the decades that followed, private zoos came and went, including Punggol Zoo and Singapore Miniature Zoo, but none were built to last.
Dr Ong Swee Law (far left), then-Chairman of Singapore’s Public Utilities Board, and his committee survey an early exhibit. | IMAGE: MANDAI WILDLIFE GROUP
In 1968, Dr Ong Swee Law, then-chairman of the Public Utilities Board, proposed a zoo for Singapore to have more spaces for families to hang out. He also realised that for some Singaporeans, even seeing a cow or chicken up close was already a novelty. So that same year, Ong set up a steering committee to explore the idea of building a zoo that could serve as a recreational, social, and educational space for the public.
By the following year, the Government got on board, setting aside $9 million and 260 acres of land near Seletar Reservoir. Director of the National Zoological Gardens of Sri Lanka, Lyn de Alwis, was hired to help bring the vision to life.
IMAGE: SIM DING EN
IMAGE: SIM DING EN
Singapore Zoo was a game-changer
The Singapore Zoo (then called Singapore Zoological Gardens) was officially opened by then-Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence Goh Keng Swee on 27 Jun 1973. When it opened, it featured about 270 animals from over 70 species.
Here’s the cool part: it was designed as an “open zoo”. That meant no cages, and instead, animals roamed in large, landscaped enclosures with moats or glass barriers made to look as natural as possible. It was ahead of its time, and visitors loved it.
Just 17 months after opening, the zoo had already welcomed its one millionth visitor!
Inuka, the first polar bear born in the tropics. | IMAGE: MANDAI WILDLIFE GROUP
Bronze statue of Ah Meng. | IMAGE: WIKIMEDIA COMMONS
A legacy of wild firsts
Singapore Zoo wasn’t just about giving families a good time. It also made waves in conservation and breeding such as the first orangutan birth in 1975, the first polar bear born in the tropics (Inuka) in 1990, and the first Komodo dragon hatchling outside of Indonesia in 2009. The zoo’s team of dedicated zookeepers, vets and researchers achieved breakthrough after breakthrough.
And let’s not forget the zoo’s most beloved icon, Ah Meng. The gentle Sumatran orangutan was a superstar – she met Michael Jackson, Prince Philip, and even snagged a Special Tourism Ambassador Award. After her passing in 2008, she was immortalised in a bronze statue.
Today, the Singapore Zoo is part of the sprawling Mandai Wildlife Reserve, alongside the Night Safari, River Wonders (hello, giant pandas), Bird Paradise, and Mandai Rainforest Wild Asia. Together, the five parks care for more than 15,000 animals across 1,000 species. Another fun fact for foodies: the parks also serve up some pretty good makan options!
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