I visited Singapore's First Zoo🦁🐯🦒🦓🐘...and it was in Punggol?! #Punggol #Zoo

#Punggol #Zoo #Singapore #Heritage #HEritagewithHE We all know the Singapore Zoo in Mandai… but did you know there was once a zoo in Punggol? 🐅🌿 Established in 1928 by animal enthusiast William Lawrence Soma Basapa, Punggol Zoo was Singapore’s first full-sized public zoo and bird park. Starting with just a few animals from Europe, it soon grew to include lions, leopards, a bear, an elephant, a hippo and Basapa’s famous Bengal tiger, Apay — attracting visitors from across the island. Set amid jungle fringes and rubber plantations, the zoo had a rustic charm, with Basapa personally caring for many of the animals. But during World War II, operations were disrupted, animals were dispersed, and the zoo eventually closed during the Japanese Occupation. Today, the site has transformed into Punggol Promenade and the Punggol Digital District. Though the zoo is long gone, it remains an early chapter in Singapore’s wildlife history — paving the way for the modern Singapore Zoo that opened in 1973. 📍 Punggol — where Singapore’s first zoo once stood 🔔 Like, comment & subscribe for more hidden Singapore stories 🇸🇬📜 👉 Follow my instagram for more heritage related content!   / heritage.with.he   Punggol Promenade Nature Walk: https://maps.app.goo.gl/iQVCL1ELihkZi... Punggol Settlement: https://maps.app.goo.gl/URWjupxdjPV7x... Punggol Beach: https://maps.app.goo.gl/YY2aDgypVRiUs... Punggol Heritage Trail: https://maps.app.goo.gl/T7CopJojc1YYs... Punggol Digital District: https://maps.app.goo.gl/h5irQWFukUKwT...