Singapore welcomes world's largest freshwater aquarium

The world's largest freshwater aquarium has opened to the public at the nature-themed River Safari in Singapore.

Built over 12 hectares between the Singapore Zoo and the Night Safari, River Safari is Asia's first river-themed wildlife park. It features nearly 300 species of aquatic and other wildlife from eight of the world's major rivers: the Congo, Ganges, Mississippi, Amazon, Mekong, Nile, Murray and Yangtze.

The US$160 million attraction also features the Giant Panda Forest, which has been open to the public since November last year.

Other highlights include the Amazon Flooded Forest exhibit, where visitors can wander through a viewing tunnel window measuring 22 x 4 metres with a volume of 2,000 metres3.

The freshwater aquarium also has reptiles and amphibians such as Chinese alligators, Indian gharial, giant salamanders and frog-faced soft-shell turtles.

The purpose of the aquarium is to create a greater awareness of freshwater habitat conservation by bringing visitors up close to such fish species that are dependent on freshwater habitats. In addition, through captive breeding programmes, it hopes to contribute to the population of endangered freshwater species.

Welcoming the opening, Tourism Management Institute of Singapore acting Chief Executive Patricia Auyeong stated that the Giant Panda Forest "would definitely be the highlight" of the River Safari, and add value to the experience that the park offers.

The attraction is the fourth zoo in Singapore, along with the Singapore Zoo, Jurong Bird Park, and Night Safari, all of which are managed by the Wildlife Reserves Singapore.

For more information go to www.riversafari.com.sg/

6th September 2011 - RESORTS WORLD SENTOSA UNVEILS ITS MARITIME EXPERIENTIAL MUSEUM & AQUARIUM