Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve is located at the North-western part of Singapore bounded by the Straits of Johor and encroached by the Kranji Agricultural Farmlands. The reserve derived its name from Sungei Buloh Besar which means “Greater Bamboo River”. The area of 87 ha contains the former prawn and fish cultivation ponds and rich mangroves vegetation was recognised for its ecological importance and developed as a nature park in 1989. On 6 Dec 1993, Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong officially opened the Nature Park.

Sungei Buloh was officially gazetted as a nature reserve and renamed as Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve on 1st January 2002.

There are several observation hides and rain shelters located along the various walking trails around the reserve. An observation tower is situated along Route One, which commands the bird-eye view of the reserve and the coastline of Johor. A Visitors’ Centre facilitated with Exhibition Hall, Lecture Theatre and Restaurant at the reserve entrance. Wooden boardwalks and bridges link up at several walking routes.

Sungei Buloh is an important stopover and refuge for the migratory shorebirds. These birds make arrival at the reserve from September every year to spend their winter here or just “refueling” for further journey to the South. Most birds there throughout till next April when it is time to fly back to their homeland in the distant North as far as Siberia. Some common visitors are Marsh Sandpiper, Common Redshank, Common Greenshank, Common Sandpiper, Whimbrel, Pacific Golden Plover, Little Egret, Great Egret and Chinese pond heron.

However our residence birds are worth looking at. Do not miss the beauty of the colourful Stork-billed and Collared Kingfishers. Both the magnificent Grey and Purple Herons once built their nest at the reserve, they abandoned the heronry due disturbance and stress to the rise in visitor-ship. Our mangrove specialists are Ashy Tailorbird, Copper-throated Sunbird, Pied Fantail, Mangrove Whistler and Sundra Woodpecker did certainly make bonuses to the birdwatchers.

Other attractions at Sungei Buloh included the residential family of six Smooth Otters and a juvenile Estuary Crocodile which were regularly sight from the bridge over the main river.

Sungei Buloh has recorded over ten different species of mangrove trees belong to genes of Rhizophora, Avicennia, Xylocarpus and Brugeria. Other Common coastal plants such as the Sea Hibiscus, Puat Laut, Great Morinda and Nipa Plam are common along the walking trails.

Sungei Buloh Eco-exploration can be conducted as a day trip with EOA nature guide or by engaging the park in-house guide. Having a nature guide will definitely make the excursion more informative and interesting.

Sungei Buloh is also being selected by EOA for its annual Eco Race “Nature Take 5” scheduled in end August 2002.