DESTINATION ONE | SINGAPORE
Singular Style Singapore forges ahead with investment in bold innovations. BY RICHARD NEWTON
Natural Environment: (left to right) The observation point next to Kingfisher Pond in the Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve, a small saltwater crocodile resting on a tree trunk, and hornbills PHOTOS: © YEZHENLIANG | DREAMSTIME .COM, © LILLIAN TVEIT | DREAMSTIME.COM, © HASLINDA | DREAMSTIME.COM
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or all its cosmopolitan trappings, Singapore remains, at heart, a tropical island. The city planners determinedly preserved greenery amid the high groves of concrete and glass, and for a complete escape from urban bustle there still remain patches of the jungle and mangroves that covered the island when Sir Stamford Raffles first established a trading outpost here in 1819. His outpost became the city we see today. Can nature truly
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survive in one of the most densely populated countries on Earth? It must. Singapore’s health and well-being depend on it. The country has acknowledged that truth for decades and made efforts to preserve habitats. Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve, on the island’s northern coast, is one of the most important of these natural remnants. Protecting an area of 320 acres, it offers a vital stopover for migratory birds and a home for otters, snakes and even saltwater crocodiles. The largest remaining patch of jungle lies in the center of the island, enfolding the city’s main reservoirs and for decades the location of Singapore Zoo and its Night Safari, now part of an ambitious project to create a unified natural attraction, Mandai Park. In 2019 a forested wildlife bridge was constructed to connect patches of rainforest previously separated by a highway. Other elements of the Mandai project will include a new bird park, a rainforest park and aerial walkways. After completion in 2023, this new eco-tourism hub is expected to attract 10 million visitors each year.
