Punggol Zoo

Last updated

Singapore Zoological Gardens and Bird Park
William Lawrence Soma Basapa.png
William Lawrence Soma Basapa with his pet Bengal tiger, Apay, at Punggol Zoo.
Punggol Zoo
1°24′42.9″N103°54′42.0″E / 1.411917°N 103.911667°E / 1.411917; 103.911667
Date opened1928
Date closed1942
Location Punggol, Singapore
Land area10 hectares (100,000 m2)
No. of animals200
OwnerWilliam Lawrence Soma Basapa
Punggol Zoo

The Punggol Zoo, formally Singapore Zoological Gardens and Bird Park, [1] was a former animal collection in Singapore from 1928 to 1942. [2] Founded by Singaporean-Indian land owner William Lawrence Soma Basapa, the name comes from the location on an 11-hectare site on Punggol Road, possibly near Sungei Dekar (now called Coney Channel). [3] The zoo persisted until just before the Japanese occupation of Singapore during World War II. [2]

Contents

History

Originally located on 549 Serangoon Road before a move to larger 10-ha plot near the Punggol seafront in 1928 to accommodate large number of both animals and visitors, [4] the collection included 200 animals, including a Bengal tiger named Apay, [5] seals, polar bears, chimpanzees, spectacled monkeys, Shetland ponies, zebras, a black leopard, Malayan tapirs, and orangutans, as well as 2,000 birds. [2] Albert Einstein likely visited the zoo at 549 Serangoon Road in 1922 while on a fundraising trip for the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. [6] [1] The zoo was also visited and described by international correspondent Sir Percival Phillips. [7] A python-wrestling scene in the 1930s exploitation film Forbidden Adventure [a] starring English actor M. H. Kenyon-Slade, was reportedly filmed at the Punggol Zoo. [1] [8] [9] [10] The zoo was offficially granted a licence by the Singapore Rural Board in 1937.

The zoo was forced to close in 1942 when "British moved their forces to the north of Singapore in anticipation of invading Japanese forces. Basapa was given 24 hours to relocate his animals and birds. The time-frame was too tight so the British took the land, released the birds and shot the rest." [6] Another account says, "The dangerous varieties of animals were killed, while harmless ones were released into the forest." [5] Remember Singapore states, "Identifying the Punggol end as a potential landing site for the Japanese invaders, the British forces wanted to make use of the Ponggol Zoo as a defensive ground...After the fall of Singapore, the Japanese confiscated Basapa's power generators and steel cages, using the site to store their supplies and ammunition." [4] Reginald Burton, in his memoir of "personal experiences as a captain in the 4th Battalion, Royal Norfolk Regiment, captured by the Japanese after the fall of Singapore in 1942," [11] describes encountering a zebra released from the zoo. He wrote, "Punggol Point...had been shelled and there was nobody to care for the animals, so when the 5th Suffolks took up their position they released what animals they found there, at least giving them a chance of survival." [12]

During the Japanese Occupation of Singapore, the generators and steel cages were removed and the land converted into an ordnance storage and the site of a mess by the Imperial Japanese Army.

Basapa passed away in 1943. By the end of the Japanese Occupation of Sinagpore, the cages and structures that had been left intact were flattened and the grounds levelled by bulldozers. The estate was enclosed by fences and became a depository for Japanese ammunition and explosives, which were subsequently picked up by lighters and disposed at sea.

In 1948, the land which was inherited by estate trustees after Basapa's death, was sold to a private investor. [13]

The site currently a part of the Punggol Promenade.

Notes

  1. ↑ This film seemingly went by several alternate titles including Angkor, Forbidden Adventure in Angkor, Beyond Shanghai (UK), Inyaah, The Jungle Goddess, Jungle Virgin, Strange Adventures, The Virgin of Sarawak and Dyak.

Related Research Articles

London Zoo, previously known as ZSL London Zoo or London Zoological Gardens and sometimes called Regent's Park Zoo, is the world's oldest scientific zoo. It was opened in London on 27 April 1828, and was originally intended to be used as a collection for scientific study. In 1831 or 1832, the animals of the Tower of London menagerie were transferred to the zoo's collection. It was opened to the public in 1847. As of December 2022, it houses a collection of 14,926 individuals, making it one of the largest collections in the United Kingdom.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tourism in Singapore</span>

Tourism in Singapore is a major industry and contributor to the Singaporean economy. In 2019, 19,114,002 tourists visited the country, which was the highest recorded number of arrivals since independence in 1965. As of 2023, as tourist arrivals recovers from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, there were a total of 13,610,404 international tourists that have visited Singapore, which was more than twice the country's total population.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Singapore Zoo</span> Zoo situated in Mandai, Singapore

The Singapore Zoo, formerly known as the Singapore Zoological Gardens or Mandai Zoo, is a 28 hectares zoo located on the margins of Upper Seletar Reservoir within Singapore's heavily forested central catchment area. It is operated by the Mandai Wildlife Group, which also manages the neighbouring Night Safari, River Wonders, Bird Paradise as well as the forthcoming Rainforest Wild Park.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">North East MRT line</span> Mass Rapid Transit line in Singapore

The North East Line (NEL) is a high-capacity Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) line in Singapore. Operated by ComfortDelGro's SBS Transit, the 20-kilometre (12-mile) line is the MRT's shortest. It runs from HarbourFront station in southern Singapore to Punggol station in the northeast, serving 16 stations via Chinatown, Little India, Serangoon and Hougang. Coloured purple on official maps, it is Singapore's third MRT line and the world's first fully-automated underground driverless heavy rail line.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Punggol</span> Planning Area and HDB Town in North-East Region, Singapore

Pungool is a planning area and new town situated on the Tanjong Pungool peninsula in the North-East Region of Singapore. The town directly borders Sengkang to the south and shares riverine boundaries with the planning area of Seletar to the west and Pasir Ris to the east. Bounding the town to the north and north-east is the Straits of Johor, with Coney Island included as a part of the Punggol planning area.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hougang</span> Planning Area and HDB Town in North-East Region, Singapore

Hougang is a planning area and mature residential town located in the North-East Region of Singapore. It is the largest housing estate in Singapore based on land area, and is home to 247,528 residents as of 2018. Hougang planning area is bordered by Sengkang to the north, Geylang to the south, Bedok to the southeast, Toa Payoh to the southwest, Serangoon to the west and Paya Lebar to the east.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Punggol Temporary Bus Interchange</span> Temporary bus interchange in Punggol, Singapore

Punggol Temporary Bus Interchange is a temporary bus interchange in Punggol New Town, Singapore, located adjacent to the Punggol MRT/LRT station. It was built to allow for easy dismantling when the site is redeveloped as part of a major commercial development when Punggol New Town is more developed. The bus interchange was officially opened on 30 November 2003.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sengkang</span> Planning Area and HDB Town in North-East Region ----, Singapore

Sengkang is a planning area and residential town located in the North-East Region of Singapore. The town is the second most populous in the region, being home to 249,370 residents in 2020. Sengkang shares boundaries with Seletar and Punggol in the north, Pasir Ris and Paya Lebar in the east, Hougang and Serangoon to the south, as well as Yishun and Ang Mo Kio to the west.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Buangkok</span> Place in Singapore

Buangkok is a neighbourhood located in north eastern Singapore. The neighbourhood roughly encompasses the Trafalgar and Compassvale subzones of the Hougang and Sengkang Planning Areas respectively, as designated by the URA.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Frank Buck (animal collector)</span> American hunter, animal collector, actor and author (1884–1950)

Frank Howard Buck was an American hunter, animal collector, and author, as well as a film actor, director, and producer. Beginning in the 1910s he made many expeditions into Asia for the purpose of hunting and collecting exotic animals, bringing over 100,000 live specimens back to the United States and elsewhere for zoos and circuses and earning a reputation as an adventurer. He co-authored seven books chronicling or based on his expeditions, beginning with 1930's Bring 'Em Back Alive, which became a bestseller.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Paignton Zoo</span> Zoo in Devon, England

Paignton Zoo is a zoo in Paignton, Devon, England. The zoo was started as a private collection by avid animal collector and breeder, Herbert Whitley, in the grounds of his home Primley House. It was opened to the public on a number of occasions, originally as Primley Zoological Gardens, and closed twice due to disputes with the tax authorities. The commercialisation of the zoo came when animals and attractions were relocated from Chessington Zoo during World War II, and the site was named as Devon's Zoo and Circus

<span class="mw-page-title-main">North-East Region, Singapore</span> Region in Singapore

The North-East Region of Singapore is one of the five regions in the country. The region is the most densely populated and has the highest population among the five, with Sengkang being its most populous town as of 2020 and Seletar as the regional centre. Comprising 13,810 hectares, it includes seven planning areas and is largely a residential region with 217,120 homes. Housing largely consists of high-density HDB public housing estates, however private housing is also present in the region. As its name implies, it is located in the north-eastern part of Singapore.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sungei Serangoon</span> River

Sungei Serangoon is a river in the north-eastern part of Singapore. The 8-kilometre river starts as a canal near Tampines Road, and flows through Hougang, where it is joined by tributary Sungei Pinang just before Sengkang, before flowing towards Lorong Halus, where it is joined by another tributary Sungei Blukar, before emptying into the Serangoon Harbour. The river is also known as the Serangoon Estuary. Since 2011, the river has been converted into a reservoir - Serangoon Reservoir.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Singapore</span> Historic site in Upper Serangoon Road

The Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary is a Roman Catholic church in Singapore. It is located in Hougang, the North-East Region of Singapore, and is within the Serangoon District. It is well known as the oldest Catholic church for the Teochew community in Serangoon.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Serangoon Harbour</span> Harbour in Singapore

Serangoon Harbour is a harbour in Singapore located between the mainland island of Singapore and Pulau Ubin.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kovan, Singapore</span> Place in Singapore

Kovan is a neighbourhood located within the town of Hougang, in Singapore. The neighbourhood today largely consists of private housing properties, where majority of the residents live in terrace homes, semi-detached houses and bungalows.

Punggol Point Park, formerly known as Punggol Point, is located in Punggol, north-east of Singapore.

Urban-wildlife interactions in Singapore have been an evolving aspect of the city-state's history. As a rapidly urbanising nation, Singapore has experienced a significant transformation of its natural habitats, leading to complex interactions between humans and wildlife. The island's unique geographical location and tropical climate have all played a role in shaping these interactions.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Gopal, Nalina (July–September 2013). "Finding Basapa - In search of a pioneer and his story". Be Muse. 6 (2). Retrieved 19 December 2022.
  2. 1 2 3 Teng, Sharon (14 March 2016). "Punggol Zoo". Singapore Infopedia. Singapore National Library Board. Retrieved 19 December 2022.
  3. ↑ nickyeo (18 September 2013). "Discovering Punggol Zoo". The Lion Raw. Retrieved 19 December 2022.
  4. 1 2 RemSG (19 March 2012). "A Forgotten Past – A Zoo at Punggol". Remember Singapore. Retrieved 19 December 2022.
  5. 1 2 Sin, Yuen. "Blog To Express: Our Forgotten Zoo" . Retrieved 19 December 2022.
  6. 1 2 Migration (6 April 2013). "Ponggol Zoo: Singapore's first zoo rated 'wonderful' by Einstein". The Straits Times . Retrieved 19 December 2022.
  7. ↑ Seah, Shawn Li Song (17 September 2020). My Father's Kampung: A History Of Aukang And Punggol. World Scientific. pp. 42–44. ISBN   978-981-12-2670-0.
  8. ↑ "punggol zoo". THE HUNTER. 10 January 2013. Retrieved 19 December 2022.
  9. ↑ "Forbidden Adventure - The Grindhouse Cinema Database". www.grindhousedatabase.com. Retrieved 19 December 2022.
  10. ↑ "Forbidden Adventure". prod-www.tcm.com. Retrieved 19 December 2022.
  11. ↑ Burton, Reginald (1963). The road to three pagodas. London: Macdonald – via catalogue.nla.gov.au.
  12. ↑ Burton, Reginald (19 June 2010). Railway of Hell: War, Captivity and Forced Labour at the Arms of the Japanese. Pen and Sword. ISBN   978-1-78340-049-2., originally published as The Road to Three Pagodas, United Kingdom: Macdonald, 1963.
  13. ↑ "Punggol Zoo". www.nlb.gov.sg. Retrieved 6 December 2024.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.