Singapore Zoo installs braille interpretives for the visually handicapped

The disabled can now look forward to a sensory experience at the Singapore Zoo.

The zoo has revamped the park to make it accessible for all - including the physically and visually handicapped.

It has installed braille signs and life-sized replicas of some animals to enhance the experience for the blind.

45-year-old Adeline Krishnan has never seen an otter before, but now, thanks to the revamped facilities at the Singapore Zoo, blind people like Adeline can size up how animals like kangeroos and Malayan tapirs look like.

The zoo has installed braille interpretive signboards, and life-sized models at 10 of its most popular exhibits like the white tiger, rhinoceros, hippopotamus and proboscis monkeys.

"There are a couple of animals here that I've not seen before, especially life-sized crocodiles and these otters and kangeroos. I got a chance to touch them and know what it'll be like if it's a real kangeroo. The 3D diagram is very good because we can actually feel what the animal is actually like in the real form," said Adeline.

"I went to the zoo 6 years ago. Now it's much more friendly because it has the braille, and next to the braille there's a 3D model," said Ang Nam Kok.
"We're able to get some basic information about the animals and maybe if it arouses my interest then probably later, I can go and surf the net and find out more" said Jaafar Sidek, member, Singapore Association of the Visually Handicapped.

To encourage the visually handicapped to return for regular visits, the Zoo has produced a guidebook which contains a braille version of the Zoo map, and introductions to some of the animals here.

The book is available for loan free of charge at the Visitors Centre.

Apart from the hardware, the student volunteer guides are also important in helping to heighten the experience for blind visitors.

There are also special tours available where they can even get to touch rare animal artefacts like a polar bear and a tiger cub.

"We want to make sure that this national park is all-inclusive to everyone and we're progressively adding more and more facilities for everyone. In fact the whole transformation did not cost us a lot of money; we spent less than $10,000 to transform the park," said Fanny Lai, Executive Director, Singapore Zoo and Night Safari.

90 percent of the zoo is already accessible by wheelchair, but it is working with the Disabled People's Association of Singapore to make the zoo a national park that's accessible to all, and enjoyed by everyone.