Wildlife Reserves Singapore (WRS), which created the award-winning Singapore Zoo and Night Safari, hopes that the River Safari - the first of its kind in Asia - will pull in at least 750,000 visitors annually.

The new park will be carved out of the 89-hectare compound of the Zoo and Night Safari, and house some animals from those two attractions.

It will also have boat rides, displays of freshwater habitats, and some new species.

The aim of this park, said Wildlife Reserves' group chief executive Ms Fanny Lai, is to 'create a greater awareness of freshwater habitat conservation.'

'The River Safari attraction will educate visitors on the conservation of fresh water habits, and also introduce them to the ecosystem's interesting water wildlife,' said Ms Lai in a statement on Wednesday.

She added that the idea started germinating in 2007, and this is now an 'opportune time to embark on this project.'

As the new project is located within the zoo grounds, it will have minimal impact on the Mandai Nature Reserve area, assured Ms Lai.

She said WRS team had consulted various government bodies such as NParks and PUB on the environmental viability of the project.

For example, it carried out a survey to identify the trees that will be affected and has decided that instead of cutting them, the trees will be relocated.

In addition, more than 30,000 new trees will be planted around the River Safari.

Currently, the Zoo and the Safari are among the top draws of Singapore's tourist attractions, and attracted more than 1.5 million visitors and 1.1 million visitors respectively.