Kent Ridge Park - Plant and Animal Life

Plant and Animal Life

The park is managed by the National Parks Board, and is open daily to the public. Admission is free except for entrance to the war museum. The park is accessible via entrances on Vigilante Drive and Pepys Road, off Pasir Panjang Road. Most of the remaining wild part of the park comprises secondary forest with plants native to Singapore and Peninsular Malaysia such as Tembusu, Angsana, White Leaf Fig, Common Pulai, Singapore Rhododendron, Pitcher plants, Cicada tree and Simpoh Air.

The trails through the park, including one for mountain biking, run almost parallel along the ridge. There is a natural pond with fishes and turtles in the north-west of the park. A 280-metre long canopy walk was completed in the eastern part of the park in October 2003, linking Kent Ridge Park to the war museum, Reflections at Bukit Chandu, enhancing the park's and museum's accessibility to the public. Along the walk, there are information boards providing educational information on the flora and fauna in the park. At the half-way point, there is a shelter for visitors to take a short break or to enjoy a scenic view of Normanton Park and the National Parks Board's plant nursery.

Due to its undisturbed habitat and abundant plant life, Kent Ridge Park has long been a bird sanctuary for resident and migratory birds during the winter season. As such, it is one of four popular birdwatching sites on mainland Singapore along with Pasir Ris Park, Fort Canning Park and Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve. Birds found in the park include: White-crested Laughing Thrush, Collared Kingfisher, White-bellied Sea Eagle, Banded Woodpecker, Pink-necked Pigeon, Blue-tailed Bee-eater, White-breasted Waterhen, Spotted Dove.

Eco-tours and heritage tours are regularly organised by various special interest groups such as the Nature Society Singapore and the Raffles Museum of Biodiversity Research, for students and the general public.