The tallest Merlion statue in Singapore will be demolished to make way for a themed linkway between the north and south shores of Sentosa, as part of a facelift for the resort island and adjacent Pulau Brani.
Here are six key points about this iconic statue:
1. A HOMAGE TO MYTHS
The Merlion, featuring a lion's head and a fish's body, was designed in 1964 by Alec Fraser-Brunner to serve as the logo for the Singapore Tourist Promotion Board. The fish symbolizes Singapore's origins as a fishing village, while the lion references Sang Nila Utama, who named the island Singapura, or "lion city" in Sanskrit, after sighting the animal.
2. THE ORIGINAL STATUE WAS AT THE SINGAPORE RIVER
The original Merlion statue was unveiled in 1972 by Lee Kuan Yew at the mouth of the Singapore River. Designed by Kwan Sai Kheong, it faced obstruction from the Esplanade Bridge in 1997 and was relocated in 2002 to Merlion Park, where it now stands at 8m tall and weighs 70 tonnes. A smaller cub statue accompanies it.
Sentosa to tear down Merlion statue to make way for new attractions
Video by CNA
3. THERE ARE SEVEN MERLIONS IN SINGAPORE
Singapore is home to seven Merlion statues, including the one in Sentosa and two at Merlion Park. Additional statues are located at Mount Faber and near Grange Road, with two more situated in Ang Mo Kio Avenue 1.
4. SENTOSA MERLION WAS BUILT IN 1995
Constructed in 1995 by Australian sculptor James Martin, the Sentosa Merlion stands at 37m and cost $8 million. It features exhibits, including an animated story of Sang Nila Utama's discovery of Singapore. Until its closure, local residents can visit for discounted prices.
5. SLEEPING WITH THE MERLION
In 2011, artist Tatzu Nishi created a pop-up hotel featuring the original statue within a luxury suite. The installation was fully booked within an hour and was part of the Singapore Biennale.
6. GUEST APPEARANCES OVERSEAS
The Merlion has inspired replicas abroad, including one in Hakodate, Japan, symbolizing friendship with Singapore. This statue stands at 8.6m and was erected in 1989 to safeguard navigation for ships. Another replica exists in Tateyama, Chiba, linked to the Singapore Botanic Gardens.
