River Safari opens doors to public during soft launch

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http://www.todayonline.com/singapore/river-safari-opens-doors-public-during-soft-launch

The River Safari opened to the public for the first time yesterday.

Not all its attractions are open yet, but visitors were undeterred, making themselves among the first to visit Singapore’s newest wildlife park.

The 12-hectare park is home to one of the world’s largest collections of freshwater creatures, including the giant river otter, the electric eel and the manatee, also known as the sea cow. They were among the first to move into the River Safari from the Singapore Zoo.

What is arguably a central feature of the River Safari is the Upper Seletar Reservoir, one of Singapore’s largest.

The theme park is built around the catchment area, which provides a magnificent setting and another viewing gallery for wildlife such as migratory birds.

And back in the cooler indoors, giant pandas Jia Jia and Kai Kai remain a big draw. But their lesser known neighbours, the red panda, are possibly the star attractions.

Of the park’s 300 animal species, 42 are endangered. Most are under a captive breeding programme, with the hope of adding to their numbers worldwide.