17 July 2022
I vaguely remember going to the reptile park as a kid, amused and frightened at the same time of the crocodiles kept in the enclosures. A visit to the now abandoned Jurong Reptile Park brought back those memories, although the place has now been reduced to a mere shadow of its past.
History
The Jurong Reptile Park (also known as Jurong Reptile and Crocodile Paradise) was a 2-hectare (4.9-acre) reptile zoo located within the Boon Lay Planning Area of the Jurong district in Singapore. It was the largest reptile park in Asia. The park had a collection of more than 50 species of reptiles including crocodiles, Komodo dragons, anacondas, pythons, king cobras, and tortoises, almost half of which were venomous.
It included a walk-through iguana enclosure, a footbridge over a collection of hundreds of crocodiles, an underwater observation gallery, and the Cavern of Darkness, which simulated nighttime for the crocodiles, including Asian tropical jungle sounds. There were crocodile feeding sessions and reptile shows. Visitors could have their pictures taken with snakes and other reptiles and reptile skin products could be purchased in the showroom. Adapted from: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jurong_Reptile_Park
Exploring Jurong Reptile Park
1215 | Walk onto the Show Stage |
1230 | Explore the Cave Enclosure |
1230 | Look at the Crocodile Tanks |
1215 | Walk onto the Show Stage
We walked into an unassuming building by the side of the road, an old building that could easily be missed. We walked through the side entrance and was surprised as it opened into a huge stage area. The coloured steps once sat audiences watching the reptile shows. The stage area had a grand staircase with its walls spotting the letters J.C.R.P., and surrounded by a moat that once housed crocodiles performing for the shows. I was half expecting to find crocodiles in the moat, but it now sits empty with only some murky and dubious water remaining. We climbed onto the stage and immediately felt like the star of the show. It still had a sense of grandeur despite its depilated state.
1230 | Explore the Cave Enclosure
To the side of the stage building were smaller abandoned tanks and a manmade cave-like enclosure. Sections of the cave had blocked out the light entirely and was eerily dark. I peered hard into the clouded glass enclosures to see what was within, relieved that it was mostly debris and pieces of wood. This might have been the enclosures that once housed smaller reptiles in the park.
1230 | Look at the Crocodile Tanks
The other side of the stage building had a few bigger tanks, which now stood empty and overgrown with plants. I stared into the glass tank and imagined how the crocodiles would swim about inside. There were still some information signs on the tank explaining the difference between a crocodile and alligator. Pretty interesting.
My Thoughts
Walking out of the compound and looking back, it was hard to guess that an unassuming old building previously housed a reptile park. We took the rest of the day to explore the nearby Jurong Bird Park, enjoying another childhood haunt that will soon be vacated as well. At the point of writing, the Jurong Bird Park has already moved to Mandai.
Nice shot