From the beginning, Singapore Zoo followed the modern trend of displaying animals in naturalistic, 'open' exhibits (i.e. with hidden barriers).
The Night Safari opened in 1994 and occupies 40 Ha. This is the world's first nocturnal zoo. Unlike traditional nocturnal houses, which reverse the day-night cycle of animals so they will be active by day, the Night Safari is an entire open-air zoo set in a humid-tropical forest that is only open at night.
The animals of the Night Safari, ranging from Indian rhino to tarsiers, are made visible by lighting that resembles moonlight (filmic blue). Although it is brighter than full moonlight by a few orders of maginitude, it is dim enough not to disturb nocturnal and crepuscular animals' behaviour.