Save on tickets at River Safari's soft launch

Save on tickets at River Safari's soft launch

HELLO: A squirrel monkey in the Squirrel Monkey Forest exhibit. (PHOTO: THE STRAITS TIMES)

The breathtaking sight of manatees gliding among concrete "tree trunks" in a submerged rainforest will be one to savour when the River Safari opens its doors next Wednesday.

It is one of the highlights of the $160-million attraction, the latest addition to the Wildlife Reserves Singapore's portfolio, which the public will get to experience in a soft launch.

The soft-launch period will end when the park fully opens later this year.

During this period, visitors will be charged a discounted ticket rate of $25 for adults and $16 for children aged between three and 12.

This is because some attractions, such as the Amazon River Quest - which comprises a 15-minute boat ride where visitors can see animals like the jaguar and white-faced saki monkey - are still in their final stages of testing.

When the park is fully open, tickets will be priced at $35 for adults and $23 for children.

Mr Ang Cheng Chye, the park's assistant director of zoology, said animals are still being added progressively to the exhibits. He estimates that 60 per cent of the animals will be ready for viewing at the park by next week.

The 12ha attraction will showcase animals from freshwater habitats inspired by eight of the world's iconic rivers, such as the Nile and the Mekong.

It will feature over 5,000 aquatic and terrestrial animals of 300 species, including endangered ones like the giant otter and the Yangtze alligator.

River Safari is also home to the pair of giant pandas Kai Kai and Jia Jia, whose exhibit opened in November.

~News courtesy of Channel Newsasia~