Draft:William Lawrence Soma Basapa

William Lawrence Soma Basapa (1893 — 1943) was a prominent landowner and animal collector in Singapore. He founded the Punggol Zoo, the first zoo in Singapore.

Early life
Basapa was the son of Hunmah Somapah, a prominent landowner.

Career
Following his father's death in 1919, Basapa became a trustee of the Somapah estate. He also inherited 317 Serangoon Road, where he collected several species of animals and birds from 1920 to 1922.

Personal life and death
Following the death of his first wife, Rukmani, he married Alberta Maddox in April 1922.