Singapore Miniature Zoo, Historical zoo in Pasir Panjang, Singapore
The Singapore Miniature Zoo was a zoo in Pasir Panjang, Singapore, that covered two hectares along West Coast Road. The facility included enclosures for bears, penguins, big cats, and 50 tanks holding tropical fish.
Wildlife dealer Tong Seng Mun opened the facility on January 25, 1957, and ran it until the early 1960s. New trade regulations eventually led to the closure of the zoo.
For residents of the island, the zoo offered the first chance to see animals like lions or penguins up close without traveling abroad. The sea lion imported from the Netherlands was considered a major draw at the time and attracted many families on weekends.
The zoo opened daily from 9 in the morning to 7 in the evening, with admission costing 50 cents for adults and 20 cents for children. The location near the coast made it easy to combine a visit with other activities in the area.
Alongside the land animals, the park also kept a baby rhinoceros, tapirs, and panthers, which was unusual for a zoo of this size. The sea lion from the Netherlands cost 3000 dollars at the time, a considerable sum in the 1950s.
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