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A Guide to Live Turtle and Tortoise Museum: Come Out of Your Shell for a Snappin’ Good Time
A museum dedicated to turtles and tortoises? That sounds like something that only exists in my head. But no, to my delight, there actually is a museum like this one in Singapore, and it’s aptly named the Live Turtle and Tortoise Museum!
Tucked all the way north in Yishun, this museum started as a passion project by one family, but now, it’s become a beloved spot for all turtle enthusiasts. There are many types of turtles and tortoises housed here, and the best part is that you can interact with them!
Curious to check this museum out? Here’s a guide to help you prepare for your visit.
Things to Know
Address: 81 Lor Chencharu, #01-16 ORTO
Operating Hours: Wednesday to Monday—10 am to 6 pm
Website
How to Get Here
By MRT: Take a North-South Line train and disembark at Khatib Station. Take Exit B and keep walking even when you reach a stairway. Go down the stairway, which will lead you to Orto’s old pond area. Continue walking until you reach the museum.
By Bus: Ride any of the following bus services: 39, 85, 117, 851, 852, 853, 854, 855, 857, 858, 965, and 969. Then, alight at the bus stop opposite Yishun Stadium. Head down the stairway, to the old pond area, until you reach the museum.
By Car: Drive along Seletar Expressway (SLE), then exit onto Lentor Avenue, Sembawang Road, or Mandai Avenue. Then, turn into Lor Chencharu Road and Chencharu Link. The museum has free parking available.
Admission Fee
Standard ticket price:
- Children ages between 3 and 6 years old: S$10
- Everyone else: S$14
Pink or Blue IC tickets:
- Children ages between 3 and 6 years old and senior citizens ages 60 years old and above: S$6
- Everyone else: S$10
Group tour: Between S$15 and S$20 per person. The final pricing depends on how many people are there in your group. Contact the museum via email ([email protected]) to book.
What to Expect
Rare and Exotic Turtles
From: turtlemuseumsg
Understandably, the main highlight of this museum is the wide array of turtle species that you can find here. According to the owner, there are over 700 turtles and tortoises across 30 different species in total, and many of them are rare and exotic!
For example, they even have mata mata turtles, which are usually found in the Amazon basin. I used to only see pictures of these perpetually smiling turtles in books, so you can imagine my surprise when I saw one in the flesh here!
Another rare species you’ll find in this museum is the pig-nose flying turtle. They can’t actually fly, but the way they flap their fins about, you’d think they could. I love how cute these turtles are, and they’re quite social, too!
Terrapins Everywhere!
From: turtlemuseumsg
Terrapins aren’t rare. They’re exceedingly common in Singapore, especially as pets.
But coming to this museum and seeing terrapins is still a surprise simply because they’re literally everywhere! I can just be roaming mindlessly, and all of a sudden, there are a couple of terrapins cutting my path.
The museum pond is where these turtles love to chill out.
Free-Range Tortoises
From: turtlemuseumsg
Terrapins aren’t the only ones allowed to roam the museum whenever they want. The tortoises are also wanderers, and they’re so adorable!
One time, I caught a clique of sulcata tortoises, and they looked like they were having a meeting of sorts. My younger nephews and nieces speculated that they were gossiping about humans.
If you come across tortoises roaming about, don’t be afraid to pet and stroke them. They will be glad that you do!
Feeding Sessions
From: mindsetsingapore
At this museum, you can do more than just pet the turtles and tortoises. You can also feed them!
There’s a part of the museum that sells food pellets and vegetables. I recommend buying a few of each type because you’ll most likely run out before you know it.
Adorable Artifacts and Other Turtle-Themed Souvenirs
From: turtlemuseumsg
If you’re a massive turtle and tortoise fan, then you need to stop by the museum shop and get yourself—and a loved one if you want—a souvenir.
The shop sells all sorts of items. I love the plushies because they’re so big and so soft—perfect for my bed. I also really like the ceramic turtles (they’re perfect as decorative items) and the colourful pins (they can serve as fashion accessories, too).
Volunteer or donate to the museum
From: turtlemuseumsg
Another way you can further support the museum is by volunteering or donating to them.
As a volunteer, your main tasks include preparing the vegetables and pellets for feeding, record-taking the individual appetite of turtles and tortoises, cleaning aquariums, and conducting routine health inspections.
Volunteers must be at least 16 years old, so if you’re interested, fill out this form.
If you don’t have the time to volunteer, you can donate instead. When you donate, you’ll receive complimentary perks like free entry or free bundles of feed every month. Check this page to see how you can donate to the museum.