The Animal Resort in Seletar will close for good in January 2021

SINGAPORE — The Animal Resort in Seletar announced yesterday (2 Dec) that it will close permanently after 10 January 2021 due to government plans to build roads on the land that the attraction currently occupies.

The rustic resort is tucked away in Seletar West, near the famous Jalan Kayu stretch of roti prata restaurants.

For 20 years, people have visited The Animal Resort for its petting zoo consisting of rare birds, rabbits, guinea pigs, and even an old former racing horse.

Besides common fowl like ducks, chickens and geese, there are a bunch of more exotic birds in the kampung-style menagerie, including peacocks, guinea fowl, a cassowary, a marabou stork, and a crown crane.

Most of the animals are allowed to roam free within the resort compound, allowing close-up interaction with visitors.

The Animal Resort said on Facebook that it made the decision not to renew its lease as the government would only allow it to renew it until September 2022.

According to the resort, it would not make business sense to incur costs amounting to a quarter of a milion dollars over the next two years only to shut down in 2022, so they decided to bring forward the closure date.

If you’re thinking of visiting The Animal Resort one last time before it closes – alas, slots are already fully booked from overwhelming demand since their announcement about the closure, said the resort (unless they open weekday slots, as dismayed netizens are clamouring for).

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the resort, which opens only on Friday, Saturday, Sunday and public holidays, had limited visitorship and imposed reservation bookings due to social distancing requirements.

The Animal Resort thanked customers for their support and friendship over the years and said that after it closes in January, it would rehome its animals and make sure they are safe and in good hands.