Show Map

Sungei Buloh Nature Reserve

Show Photo

Show Photo

Show Photo

Sungei Buloh Nature Reserve was named after the river, Sungei Buloh, separates the reserve proper from the Nature Reserve Visitor Centre. Sungei Buloh is Malay for 'bamboo river'.

Back in 1820, Singapore mangrove forest covered 13% of Singapore land area. Today, only a mere less than 5% remained. For the past decades, the mangrove forest has provided the villagers with shelter, food, fuel and medicine. According to the Straits Settlement Government Gazette Reports of the Botanic Gardens, 1890, the Sungei Buloh area was a forest reserve from 17th April, 1890 and did "Consists entirely of mangrove swamp". However, this "area of 1,128 acres, 3 roods (sic) and 18 poles, more or less" (approximately 457 hectares) ceased to be a forest reserve on 4th April, 1938, according to the Straits Settlement Government Gazette, 1938. Maps of this area on the other hand, have indicated that the area was a forest reserve until 8th April, 1938, and a map dated November, 1966, still indicated the area around Sungei Buloh as a forest reserve.

Sungei Buloh Nature Reserve is a 87-hectare park was officially opened on the 6th of December 1993. It includes Pulau Buloh and is situated in North-west of Singapore, between Kranji Reservoir and Sarimbun Reservoir.

The park consists of a Visitor Centre, numerous trails and hides for observing resident and migratory birds, a mangrove walkway area, ponds and a car park. The park is a wetland area with three main parts: the reserve proper, the Visitor Centre and Pulau Buloh, an island in the north. Both Pulau Buloh and the Visitor Centre area consist mainly of mangrove, and the reserve proper also contains man-made brackish and freshwater ponds.