Pandas, Polar Bears for Singapore River Safari

Singapore's newest attraction will allow visitors a view of river environments from across the world, from the Mekong to the Mississippi delta.

The River Safari in Mandai will transport guests to 10 different river ecosystems around the world, giving them a glimpse of exotic freshwater flora as well as animals like the giant Mekong stingray and manatees.

The US $180 million park, nestled between the Night Safari and Singapore Zoo, is the newest addition to Wildlife Reserves Singapore's (WRS) stable of attractions, and will open in early 2012.

Another star attraction of the 12-hectare park - it is less than half the size of the 28-hectare Singapore Zoo and is dwarfed by the 40-hectare Night Safari - will be a pair of giant pandas, which will arrive late next year on a 10-year loan from China.

The Zoo's polar bears, Sheba and Inuka, will move to the River Safari as well. They will get a larger, climate-controlled home in the new park's 'Frozen Tundra' exhibit, which is six times bigger than their current enclosure.

In all, the new attraction will have some 500 species from 1,500 species on display, including howler monkeys, giant stingrays, soft-shelled turtles and the Mekong catfish, which can grow to 300kg. It is expected to draw more than 820,000 visitors each year, and tentative admission rates have been set at between $28 and $30 per head.

2nd December 2009 - ADELAIDE PANDAS BRING $600 MILLION BOOST