Singapore Zoo Opens Rainforest Kidzworld

By Natt Haniff

Singapore - Singapore Zoo officially launched its latest attraction, Rainforest Kidzworld, a children’s discovery area which creatively fuses fun and exciting features. The three-hectare revamped area takes the place of Animal Land and Play Land.

“This is a very momentous and exciting occasion for us at Wildlife Reserves Singapore as children will have a special place at Singapore Zoo where they can learn and have fun. The team at the Zoo has worked very hard to make this an engaging and adventurous endeavour, with a creative infusion of educational elements,” said Ms Claire Chiang, Non-Executive Chairman, Wildlife Reserves Singapore.

Learning the fun way
The new attraction not only promises fun-filled activities for children, it also incorporates learning and educational elements to invoke an early appreciation for animals and plants among young children. Highlights include a Kampung House with nooks and crannies to discover, a Creature Plants section which features plants with animal names, a petting corner, Rainforest Challenge (an obstacle course for young children), paddocks for the ponies and falabellas (a kind of miniature horse), a Birthday Pavilion, Wild Animal Carousel, pony and horse carriage rides and the central Water Play area.

Creative interpretives have been thoughtfully placed throughout the attraction, especially around the animal-centred areas, making for interactive learning. Daily keeper demonstrations and contact sessions are also held throughout the day where children are encouraged to get up close and personal with domestic animals such as dogs, goats, guinea pigs and rabbits. The education department has also collaborated with Ministry of Education’s Teachers Network to develop activity books for upper and lower primary students.

“At the Zoo, we will always try to introduce novel ways where families can bond and enjoy a meaningful time together through exhibit upgrades and new attractions. The new activity books will help young visitors learn more about animal conservation and nature in an interactive manner,” said Ms Fanny Lai, Group CEO, Wildlife Reserves Singapore.

Planned and conceptualised in late 2006, the construction of Kidzworld took approximately 12 months to complete. Visitors to the park can expect a more interesting pony ride, as it now travels an undulating path or families can go for a leisurely trot on a horse carriage, which takes them along the periphery of Rainforest Kidzworld, and in view of the pristine Seletar Reservoir.

With the main feature themed like a wet animal wonderland, the Water Play area has many water-spouting points dotting the playground where waves of fun are ready to be explored. Children can also zoom from one point to another via the Cableway or get insights on how to groom a falabella at the keeper demo area at the paddock
Since its inception in the early 1970s, Singapore Zoo has evolved from being a Viewing Zoo to a Learning Zoo offering an extraordinary fun experience, outdoor classroom style, amidst nature. The Zoo’s success formula has been recognised by the Singapore Tourism Board, through its nine time win of the ‘Best Leisure Attraction Award’. Recently, Michelin Green Guide awarded Singapore Zoo a three-star rating, the highest recommendation for visitors to visit.

ABOUT WILDLIFE RESERVES SINGAPORE
Wildlife Reserves Singapore (WRS) is the parent company of award-winning attractions Jurong BirdPark, Night Safari and Singapore Zoo. WRS strives to be a world-class leisure attraction, providing excellent exhibits of animals and birds presented in their natural environment for the purpose of conservation, education and recreation. Last year (2007), Jurong BirdPark served 900,000 visitors, the Night Safari, more than 1.1 million visitors and Singapore Zoo welcomed more than 1.5 million visitors. WRS parks have been conferred the Best Leisure Attraction Experience Award at the Singapore Tourism Awards 18 times. The record achievement affirms WRS parks’ status as Singapore’s premier leisure venues. In the areas of conservation and research, WRS parks have undertaken multiple projects, which focus on species such as the oriental pied hornbill, pangolin and orangutan, through collaborations with various organisations and institutions. This year conservation efforts include hosting a regional Asian pangolin conservation workshop. Two WRS parks, Night Safari and Singapore Zoo are designated wildlife rescue centers, and Jurong BirdPark is the designated official rescue Avian Centre by the governing authority.

ABOUT SINGAPORE ZOO
Set in a rainforest environment, Singapore Zoo's world famous "Open Concept” offers the opportunity to experience and be inspired by the wonders of nature. Home to over 2,500 specimens from 315 species, 16% of which are threatened, the Zoo has attained a strong reputation internationally for its conservation initiatives and breeding programs. To better meet the healthcare needs of its animals and working towards its aspiration to become a leading global centre of excellence for veterinary healthcare and research, a purpose-built Wildlife Healthcare and Research Centre was set up in March 2006. In 2007, 1.5 million visitors enjoyed the experiential learning experience at the 28-hectare award-winning Zoo. Singapore Zoo is part of Wildlife Reserves Singapore. The Zoo is designated a wildlife rescue centre by the governing authority.