The Mandai Wildlife Reserve in Singapore will gain a new visitor attraction in the second quarter of 2023 – a 17-hectare sanctuary for birds.

Called Bird Paradise, the new area will transport visitors into a colourful world that will be the home to 3,500 birds from over 400 avian species.

Designed to encourage discovery at every turn, Bird Paradise will welcome visitors into immersive and naturalistic mixed-species habitats.

Visitors will be able to explore eight large walk-through aviaries which reflect different biomes of the world such as dense African rainforests, South American wetlands, Southeast Asian paddy fields and Australian dry eucalypt forests.

Some of the park’s most threatened species will be housed in Winged Sanctuary, a zone specially dedicated to birds of high conservation value including Critically Endangered species like the Philippine Eagle and Vietnam Pheasant.

In total, 24 per cent of the species in Bird Paradise will be threatened species, the highest percentage listed under human care in a single zoological park.

The new bird park will also have the world’s largest living genetic reserve of Hornbills under human care, with over 20 species.

Bird Paradise will be the first of the new wildlife parks located at Mandai Wildlife Reserve to open to the public.

The move is part of larger plans to co-locate all of Singapore’s wildlife parks and other nature-based experiences together at the Mandai Wildlife Reserve.

The site's operator, Mandai Wildlife Group, wants to position the park as a unique destination for nature and wildlife activities.

While Bird Paradise will open in 2023, development work for the rest of the large park is also well underway and the remaining features are set to open progressively through to 2025.

Mike Barclay, Group CEO of Mandai Wildlife Group said, “When the Mandai Rejuvenation Project was envisioned, we wanted Bird Paradise to exemplify our commitment to operating open, immersive wildlife parks that place animal welfare at the centre of what we do.

"We've designed Bird Paradise to offer guests an array of carefully themed and choreographed walk-through aviaries, that will bring visitors even closer to some of the most stunning bird species in the world.

"The support facilities are also of the highest standard, including a state-of-the-art avian hospital and an extensive breeding facility.

"As an organisation dedicated to protecting wildlife, I am confident that Bird Paradise will provide us with the perfect platform to further our education programmes, capacity-building initiatives and our important work to protect threatened bird species across the region.