Zoo #12 River Safari
The worst zoo out of all four in Singapore, I don’t think River Safari deserve the hype that it once got. The zoo is not great except for the amazon tank, and some attractions are just downright awful. I think a “good, bad, ugly” review will suit the zoo well. Notice that I have visit river safari twice, and this rating is based on my second visit, not the one in 2013. If I’m going to rate it based on 2013, it will actually be higher on the list, due to that time the awful stuff is not opened yet (and jaguarundi, which are gone now).
Good:
First, I do think the idea is good. A zoo focusing on the river around the world on showcasing the species around. It certainly seems like an interesting idea. From the Amazon to the Nile, Yangtze to Mississippi, I think it is a good idea to take people around the world, and also showcasing how important river is around the world.
Second, the massive tank is also pretty good, especially the manatee tank. Seeing those gentle giants roaming around is certainly quite pleasing to see. Other tanks scatter around the river of the world area is ok, but the large tank for giant stingray is also impressive.
"Mekong river" tank
Manatee tank
There are also some rarer animals in the zoo. It is a delight to see giant otters swimming around the exhibit, and the underwater tunnel for them is also good enough. Giant pandas and howler monkeys are also there, and although they are both rare, I do think their ways of exhibition is no good.
Bad:
Actually most of the zoo is ok, not really in the bad category. But there are some if one must say.
First, some of the animals are house in a space quite tight for the inhabitants. This is true for the amphibians and reptiles, which is living in a small space. The giant salamander exhibit seems to lack depth a bit.
Second, the pandas. I know this seems harsh, but I don’t think giant pandas lives near the Yangtze river (or I’m just stupid and this whole sentence is wrong) I know that pandas are for the visitors, but why don’t keep them in the zoo? It will make sense a whole lot more.
Also, another problem is that why are the manatees in Amazon river? I previously always assume they are Amazonian manatee, until I found out it isn’t on zoochat. Yes, manatee do live in Amazon river, but they are a different species. I think the zone named “Amazon flood forest” may led to this belief. I don’t think it would be possible to get Amazonian ones, but I think the zoo should point that out more clearly.
Ugly:
You know what I will say here. The boat ride. Some people here oppose the idea of a safari park, claiming that seeing them for a few seconds is no good. I don’t entirely oppose the idea of a ride through exhibit (some of them can done well), in the case of River Safari’s boat ride, I think it is a failure.
From the animals, the exhibit for them in the boat ride is too small. The animals don’t always have the best in the exhibit. From a visitor perspective, the animals cannot be viewed for a long time, nor can be viewed easily. For example, I want to see the red howler, yet I get 2 seconds for them, and they may not be even out for viewing. (Which is my experience). So no, this isn’t how you do a good boat ride in a zoo.
In conclusion, River Safari is a zoo which hold a great idea, with once great ambitions and fame. However, it is not hyped to that and the Amazon boat ride is just awful. I would prefer a more pleasant ride with more viewing of the animal, if not entirely opposing the idea and build a path for viewing. Another alternative is to cancel that $5 dollar fee, and have BOTH walking and boat viewing platform. The other part of the zoo is ok but this part is a let down and 12th is the place it earned.
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