Bird Paradise Welcomes 32 Penguins From Jurong Bird Park
With Bird Paradise soft opening next Monday (8 May), the last of its feathered inhabitants have been making their way over to their new home.
A colony of 32 penguins was the latest group to embark on the great migration from Jurong Bird Park.
Image courtesy of Mandai Wildlife Group
After completing a 30-minute journey by truck, they were released into their new habitat, which is three times larger than the old one.
Vets check penguins before move
A press release by Mandai Wildlife Group states that the move went swimmingly on Friday (28 Apr).
The colony consists of four different species — Gentoo, Humboldt, King, and Northern Rockhopper penguins — and will be housed in Ocean Network Express Penguin Cove at Bird Paradise.
Image courtesy of Mandai Wildlife Group
Before the move could take place, a veterinary healthcare team conducted a physical examination on the birds to ensure they were fit for transport.
This included weighing each penguin before it went into its customised crate.
Image courtesy of Mandai Wildlife Group
The larger species could waddle into the crates on their own.
Image courtesy of Mandai Wildlife Group
For the smaller species like the Gentoo penguins, their keepers were able to gently pick up and place them inside.
Image courtesy of Mandai Wildlife Group
To mimic the environment of the old exhibit, the crates had ice at the bottom and the truck maintained a temperature below 12°C.
“Minimising temperature fluctuation prevents thermal stress and ensures a safe and smooth transition for the penguins,” Mandai Wildlife Group explained.
New home at Bird Paradise is 3 times bigger
The journey from Jurong Bird Park to Bird Paradise took about half an hour.
Soon, the penguins were introduced to their new home in Ocean Network Express Penguin Cove, a sprawling 3,000 sqm space featuring two saltwater acrylic tanks with water measuring 7m deep.
This is three times the size of the old exhibit at Jurong Bird Park.
Image courtesy of Mandai Wildlife Group
At first, temporary barriers were put up to confine the penguins to the beach level so they could become accustomed to the new environment.
These barriers were taken down on Tuesday (2 May) after the keepers assessed that it was safe to do so.
Some of the more curious penguins eventually began diving into and exploring the deepest parts of the tank.
Mandai Wildlife Group noted that this is “a positive indicator that they are adapting to the new space”.
Image courtesy of Mandai Wildlife Group
A lot of thought has been put into making the environment as close to nature as possible.
For instance, the exhibit has its own Southern Lights projected inside the dome.
Image courtesy of Mandai Wildlife Group
The lighting also imitates the day and night cycles of the Sub-Antarctic Falkland Islands, allowing for the penguins’ natural biological cycles to follow the seasons in the southern hemisphere.
Additionally, the birds will get to feel like they’re searching for food in the wild with special feeding devices that propel fish into the water.
This will encourage them to dive and express their natural hunting behaviours.
As the tanks are much deeper than the ones at Jurong Bird Park, the animal care team had to undergo special training for dry suit diving so that they can clean and maintain the tanks while submerged in the cold water.
Lots of activities for guests
Park visitors can look forward to plenty of exciting and enriching activities at the new penguin exhibition.
Image courtesy of Mandai Wildlife Group
Bird lovers would surely be eager to sign up for the ‘Backstage Pass – Penguin Encounters’, which will be available soon.
The pass includes an exclusive behind-the-scenes tour that lets you see what it takes to care for the colony.
You’ll even get to have a close encounter with one of the penguins.
Image courtesy of Mandai Wildlife Group
There’s also a restaurant on the first level where you can enjoy sustainably sourced seafood while watching the penguins dive and hunt for their own dinners.
On the second level is a cafe and seating area where you can munch on pastries while observing the birds mingle on the beach.
Bird Paradise soft opens on 8 May
We love seeing how much care and attention has been put into ensuring the penguins had a safe and comfortable move to the new park.
If you’re looking forward to greeting the penguins and countless other species at Bird Paradise, click here for more information and to get your hands on tickets.
After that, it’s time to plan your trip there:
Bird Paradise
Address: 20 Mandai Lake Road, Singapore 729825
Opening hours: 9am – 6pm daily (last admission at 5pm)
Nearest MRT: Kranji, Marsiling & Woodlands South Stations
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Featured image courtesy of Mandai Wildlife Group.
