The crocodile farm at Upper Serangoon Road was the only one of its kind in Singapore when it was established after the end of the Second World War by Tan Gua Chua to share his fascination with crocodiles with the public. Located on a 90,000 square feet site on the outskirts of the Serangoon Garden Estate, the farm produced crocodile skins for Tan’s tannery firm to make shoes, wallets, belts and handbags. In the 1960s, the farm was managed by Tay Ghee Pang, whose job was to feed the crocodiles at the farm daily and to capture at least 100 of the reptiles every month for skinning. In the 1970s, the farm had developed into a popular tourist attraction where tourists could view live crocodiles, most of which were imported from Indonesia and Cambodia, wading around in large pools. Next to the farm was a factory where visitors could view the process of tanning and processing raw crocodile skins, as well as a shop where they could purchase finished crocodile skin products. Its popularity inspired the establishment of a crocodilarium at East Coast Parkway and a crocodile park at Jurong Hill in the 1980s. The farm operates today as the Tan Moh Hong Crocodile Farm, which continues to educate the public about crocodiles by offering free admission and guided tours.
