Discover the wild side of Jurong Lake Gardens

Jurong Lake Gardens is known as Singapore's national garden in the heartlands. It comprises Lakeside Garden and the newly opened Chinese Gardens and Japanese Gardens.

Beyond the beautiful lakeside views and family-friendly playground, lies a thriving ecosystem that supports a wide variety of plants and wildlife. Whether you are an avid birdwatcher, butterfly enthusiast, wildlife lover or simply someone who wants to connect with nature, Jurong Lake Gardens offers something new with every visit.

Read on to find out more about the different habitats that can be found in Jurong Lake Gardens and the species that can be found there!

Parkland habitat

Parklands comprises of a palette of plants ranging from large shade trees to flowering shrubs and ornamental grasses. They thus provide habitat and food sources for native birds, insects, and even small mammals!

Parkland at Lakeside Garden

Some species you can find in parkland habitats include:

• Sunda Pygmy Woodpecker (Yungipicus moluccensisi)

• Changeable Hawk-Eagle (Nisaetus cirrhatus)

• Golden-bellied Gerygone (Gerygone sulphureai)

• White-breasted Waterhen (Amaurornis phoenicurus)

• Stork-billed Kingfisher (Pelargopsis capensis)

• Collared Kingfisher (Todiramphus chloris)

• Coppersmith Barbet (Psilopogon haemacephalus)

• Pink-necked Green Pigeon (Treron vernans)

• Large-tailed Nightjar (Caprimulgus macrurus)

• Lesser Dog-faced Fruit Bat (Cynopterus brachyotis)

• Paradise Tree Snake (Chrysopelea paradisi)

• Himalayan Cloak-and-Dagger Bee (Thyreus himalayensis)

Grassland habitat

Grasslands are habitats dominated by tall grasses which provides shelter and food for birds and amphibians. Head over to the bird hide in the grasslands to view these birds closely without disturbing them!

Grassland at Lakeside Garden

Some species you can find in grassland habitats include:

• Zitting Cisticola (Cisticola juncidis)

• Barred Buttonquail (Turnix suscitator)

• Blue-throated Bee-eater (Merops viridis)

• Ruddy-breasted Crake (Zapornia fusca)

• Brahminy Kite (Haliastur indus)

• Painted Bronzeback (Dendrelaphis pictus)

• Crab-eating Frog (Fejervarya cancrivora)

• Asian Jumping Mantis (Statilia maculata)

• Cedar Beetle (Family Callirhipidae)

Naturalised stream habitat

In a naturalised stream habitat, flood-resistant and water-loving plants are grown alongside the banks of the stream. Not only do these plants provide habitat and food for animals, they also maintain water quality in the reservoir, keeping the waters clean!

Naturalised stream at Lakeside Garden

Species that you can find at the naturalised stream include:

• Smooth-coated Otter (Lutrogale perspicillata)

• Grey Heron (Ardea cinerea)

• Purple Heron (Ardea purpurea)

• Little Heron (Butorides atricapilla)

• Chinese Pond Heron (Ardeola bacchus)

• Asian Openbill (Anastomus oscitans)

• Malayan Water Monitor (Varanus salvator)

Butterfly Maze

Enter the Butterfly Maze in Lakeside Garden and look out for the different host plants, that caterpillars feed and live on, and nectaring plants, that have flowers that butterflies drink nectar from.

Butterfly Maze at Lakeside Garden

Species that you can find at the Butterfly Maze include:

• Peacock Pansy (Junonia almana javana)

• Blue Pansy (Junonia orithya wallacei)

• Dark Glassy Tiger (Parantica agleoides agleoides)

• Common Tiger (Danaus genutia genutia)

• Plain Tiger (Danaus chrysippus chrysippus)

• Common Mormon (Papilio polytes romulus)

• Yellow-and-black Carpenter Bee (Xylocopa flavonigrescens)

• Broad-handed Carpenter Bee (Xylocopa latipes)

Water Lily Garden

The Water Lily Garden in Japanese Garden is Singapore's largest water lily collection. Odonates can be found here as the females deposit their eggs directly in water. They spend the nymph stage of their life cycle underwater, where they are fierce predators of small prey such as fish and other aquatic invertebrates.

Water Lily Garden at Japanese Garden

Species that you can find at the Water Lily Garden include:

• Common Snakehead (Channa striata)

• Crimson Dropwing (Trithemis aurora)

• Blue Dasher (Brachydiplax chalybea)

• Yellow-barred Flutterer (Rhyothemis variegata phyllis)

• Ornate Coraltail (Ceriagrion cerinorubellum)

Head down to Jurong Lake Gardens

Now that you know about some species that can be found in Jurong Lake Gardens, head down ↗ (opens in new tab) yourself to see what rich biodiversity you may find there!