Article: Zoo Negara hopes to get more tropical animals

Thursday August 6, 2009

KUALA LUMPUR: Zoo Negara is looking at expanding its collection of animals, especially those from the tropics.

Malaysian Zoological Society chairman Datuk Ismail Hutson said the zoo was hoping to increase the percentage of its tropical animals from 60% to 90% or 100%.

"We are targeting to become a world-class zoo by 2015, so hopefully before that we can expand the collection of our animals.

"We prefer to concentrate on local tropical animals. If possible, we want to have a collection of every tropical animal in the region." he told The Star.

The zoo has been working closely with the Wildlife and National Parks Department (Perhilitan) through the years to achieve that, said Ismail, adding that even the department faced problems in acquiring tropical animals.

"These animals, for example, the rhinoceros, Malaysian gaur and Siamang are becoming very rare. Maybe we can get them from Indonesia but it takes time.

"We have a few gaur and only one Siamang here. If we have more, they can breed," he said.

Ismail, along with Zoo Negara director Dr Mohamad Ngah and Zoo Negara animal welfare committee chairman Prof Dr Zulkifli Idrus have also refuted a news report on Aug 2 which painted the zoo management in a negative light, said Ismail, adding that it may cause sponsors to pull out.

He said the false information was spread by some council members who "may have a personal agenda".

The welfare of animals is the utmost priority for the management, said Dr Zulkifli, adding that the zoo's mortality rate last year (4%) was a standard one and the lowest in eight years.

"People also overlook the fertility rate, which is a good indicator of the welfare of the animals," he said.

Meanwhile, Dr Mohamad revealed that the zoo needs RM2mil a year to attain world-class standard in 2015.

"The zoo's income mainly comes from the gate collection (which is around RM8mil a year), sponsorships and donations. They are sufficient to cover operational expenses. However, in order to become world-class, we need more funds to develop and expand the zoo," he said.

This article was taken from: The Star Online: Nation 6 August 2009