When leisure park ORTO in Yishun was shut down in 2023, many tenants including BBK Bistro and Bar were relocated – but the Live Turtle and Tortoise Museum stood strong and remained open. Sadly, the museum’s owner has announced that authorities have requested for it to vacate by the end of February 2025.
Owner Connie Tan announced the museum's closure in a TikTok video on January 27, 2025, where she shared that the museum happens to be smack in the centre of a construction site related to redevelopment projects in the vicinity. The museum will remain open until February 28, 2025 so you’ll want to plan a trip there soon for your last-ever visit.
The new location and re-opening dates have not been confirmed, but Connie hopes that the museum will be up and running again in June or July this year.
For those who’ve never been to the Live Turtle and Tortoise Museum, it’s more than just an animal park – it’s a sanctuary to many rare turtles and tortoises like the alligator turtle, radiated tortoise, sulcate tortoise, pig nose flying turtle, and Malaysia giant river turtle, some of which have been rescued. You’ll also find an array of turtle-themed artefacts here, from giant turtle stone statues to tiny tortoise souvenirs collected by the owner’s family from around the world. In fact, the museum holds a Guinness World Record for the largest collection of turtle and tortoise items.
Most of the giant turtles are free-ranging, and you’re allowed to give them a friendly pat on the shell. You can purchase vegetables to feed the tortoises or hang around and watch the museum’s staff care for them if you’re a wee bit shy. Do note that the museum is closed every Tuesday, and can get more crowded during weekends. The Live Turtle and Tortoise Museum is located at 81 Lorong Chencharu, a short walk from Khatib MRT station. Tickets start from $10, and the museum also hosts group tours of over 50 pax. Find out more here.
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