The encyclopedia · Strategy & Leadership · Strategic decision · 1971–2023
Singapore closed Jurong Bird Park on its 52nd birthday
Opened in January 1971, Jurong Bird Park closed on 3 January 2023 — its 52nd anniversary — as Singapore consolidated its wildlife parks at Mandai.
Jurong Bird Park · Mandai Wildlife Reserve · 2023-01
What happened
Jurong Bird Park opened on 3 January 1971 on 20.2 hectares in western Singapore, the vision of then finance minister Goh Keng Swee, who conceived the idea in 1968. Its walk-in aviaries and bird shows made it a fixture of Singaporean childhoods; even in its final years it drew almost 770,000 visitors a year.
In 2016 the decision came: Singapore's wildlife parks would be consolidated into an integrated nature precinct around Mandai Lake Road, alongside the zoo, River Wonders and the Night Safari. Jurong Bird Park would not be renewed in place — its collection would move north and become the new Bird Paradise.
The park closed on 3 January 2023, its 52nd anniversary to the day. More than 30,000 people came in the final five days, and about 2,600 watched the last Kings of the Skies show in the rain. Roughly 3,500 birds were relocated to Bird Paradise, which opened at Mandai on 8 May 2023 — on a slightly smaller site than the one they left.
Why it happened
- Singapore chose to consolidate its wildlife parks into one Mandai precinct; the 1971 site was worth more inside a redevelopment plan than as a standalone park.
- A 52-year-old park needed wholesale rebuilding; moving the collection let Mandai build a new park to modern standards instead of renovating piecemeal.
- Visitor numbers had levelled off — about 770,000 a year at the end — and future visitors were going to be found at Mandai, not Jurong.
The lesson
Jurong Bird Park didn't fail; Singapore outgrew it. The state's decision to consolidate its wildlife parks at Mandai closed a 52-year institution on its own anniversary.
Aftermath
Bird Paradise opened at Mandai on 8 May 2023 with the relocated birds; the Jurong site awaits redevelopment, with landmarks like its waterfall expected to be retained.
Sources
- Channel NewsAsia, January 2023 — Jurong Bird Park shuts after 52 years; 2,600 people show up for final visit (closed 3 January 2023 on its 52nd anniversary after opening in 1971; about 2,600 visitors on the final day against a daily average of 2,000, and more than 30,000 over the final five days from 30 December 2022; roughly 3,500 birds to move to Bird Paradise at Mandai Wildlife Reserve, set to open in Q2 2023 and slightly smaller than the current 20.2-hectare site; last Kings of the Skies show continued despite heavy rain)
- Wikipedia — Jurong Bird Park (opened 3 January 1971; conceived in 1968 by then finance minister Goh Keng Swee; 20.2-hectare site; held 5,000 birds of 400 species at its height and about 3,000+ birds at closure; 768,933 visitors in FY2019/20; relocation announced 2016 when Mandai Wildlife Reserve said its wildlife parks would be consolidated into an integrated nature precinct; closed 3 January 2023; Bird Paradise opened at Mandai on 8 May 2023)
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