SINGAPORE: Most of Bird Paradise’s residents have settled in after their big move and will soon welcome visitors to their new home at Mandai Wildlife Reserve.
The park opens on May 8, and there will be a S$10 (US$7.50) discount on tickets for children and adults during the soft opening period.
After that, from May 27, tickets will cost S$48 for adults, S$33 for children aged three to 12 years old and S$20 for senior citizens.
Members of the public will be able to book tickets from Apr 24.
The 17ha park will operate from 9am to 6pm daily, with last admission at 5pm. There are free shuttle services within the park as well as between the Singapore Zoo and Mandai Wildlife West, which is the public area outside Bird Paradise.
The River Wonders and Night Safari entrances are close to the zoo's.
Ahead of the opening, members of the media were given a tour of Bird Paradise.
From eight walk-through aviaries where visitors can get up close and personal with birds like macaws to a 20m-tall waterfall and play areas for children, including one with trampolines, here’s what visitors can look forward to.
MIXED SPECIES HABITATS
With larger aviaries in the new park, more species can be placed in the same home to interact with each other, said Dr Luis Neves, vice president of animal care at Mandai Wildlife Group.
"We went (into) very much detail, making sure that whatever is mixed, they actually can co-exist without any problems," he said.
"That means that they get to experience new things, they get to fly more, they get to interact with other species, they get to be in bigger flocks. And this is really important for them."
Dr Neves added that the aviaries are meant to mimic what it would be like looking for birds in their natural habitat as they may be hidden in trees rather than on display in an enclosure.
Some birds are friendly and may land on visitors in the immersive aviaries.
About 80 different species live in the Heart of Africa, the largest aviary in the park at 1.55ha.
"Each (aviary) is themed to a different part of the world with birds appropriate for that part of the world," said Mr Mike Barclay, group chief executive officer of Mandai Wildlife Group.
Visitors can also look forward to spotting other types of animals, such as mousedeer, in certain aviaries.
The penguins have yet to move over, but will be housed in a 3,000 sq m indoor habitat with two large tanks.
Guests on the upper floor can see the penguins emerging from the cold saltwater, or watch them dive and swim from the lower floor of the Ocean Network Express Penguin Cove.
Lighting in the tanks mimics the day and night of the sub-Antarctic islands.
MANMADE WATERFALL, RICE TERRACES
In the Hong Leong Foundation Crimson Wetlands – housing birds like red-and-green macaws as well as American flamingoes – guests will be greeted by a 20m-tall waterfall.
It is inspired by the San Juan Curi waterfall in Colombia and also pays tribute to the Waterfall Aviary of Jurong Bird Park.
During Keeper Talk sessions, flocks of macaws will be called via an electric whistle while the keepers share more about the birds. Penguin and songbird keepers also have Keeper Talk sessions.
The Kuok Group Wings of Asia aviary is inspired by different habitats of Southeast Asia, and features rice terraces that mandarin ducks and other species can wade in.
The architecture is influenced by Indonesian and Thai design.
PLAYGROUNDS AND DINING
Children can climb the nets in dry playground Treetop Play and bounce on trampolines. There is also an egg-themed playground with water slides and shallow pools.
Both playgrounds are in the Central Plaza, which can be accessed on foot or via a shuttle from the entrance.
Bird Paradise has seven food and beverage outlets, including a buffet-style restaurant at Penguin Cove and egg-focused dishes at Egg Splash Cafe and Shop.
Crimson Restaurant's menu is curated by local celebrity chef Eric Teo, while there are other casual, grab-and-go food outlets.
More options are also available outside the entrance of Bird Paradise, at Mandai Wildlife West. These include fast food chain A&W as well as a gelato boutique and sandwich bar by Birds of Paradise.