'May we have giraffes now?'<\/p>\n
Bambang Nurbianto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Controversy over the deer at the National Monument (Monas) park
\nhas apparently not affected people's desire to see the animals.
\nNews that the does are pregnant has also increased their desire
\nto pay a visit.<\/p>\n
Dozens of people gathered outside the fence of the five-
\nhectare deer zone on Sunday, picnicking.<\/p>\n
"It's good to have such a zone, as we no longer have to go to
\nthe zoo or Bogor to see spotted deer. It'd be better if there
\nwere giraffes and other animals here," said Mukmainah, 40, a
\nresident of Tomang, West Jakarta.<\/p>\n
Another visitor, Kuncoro, 35, from Ciledug, Tangerang, arrived
\nat Monas park with his wife and two children. He said he wanted
\nto see various birds at the park, as in the zoological garden.<\/p>\n
Monas park is currently home to 12 deer: Six does and six
\nbucks. Deer project leader Hadi S. Alikodra said that all does
\nwould give birth by the end of the year.<\/p>\n
A member of the deer monitoring team, Ridwan, said that
\nvisitors' demands to see more animals had been on the increase,
\nwith regard to the replies from questionnaires distributed to
\nvisitors to the deer zone.<\/p>\n
"It's still possible to place more deer and other species,
\nincluding birds and mouse deer, as the zone is large enough for
\nsome 30 deer," he said.<\/p>\n
"However, it's unlikely we'll have large animals like giraffes
\nor elephants because there isn't enough grass and the perimeter
\nfence won't be strong enough to contain them, either," said
\nanother monitoring team member Syamsul, a graduate from Bogor
\nAgriculture Institute (IPB).<\/p>\n
Both volunteers are members of the 15-strong deer monitoring
\nteam, which has been assigned to monitor the animals every two
\nhours.<\/p>\n
Syamsul said that the first step was to monitor the deer's
\nbehavior, to see if they could adapt to the environment. The
\nsecond was to find out the potential dangers to deer.<\/p>\n
"Dogs are their worst enemy. We must ensure that no dog goes
\nanywhere near the deer zone," he said.<\/p>\n
The deer were put in the park thanks to Governor Sutiyoso,
\nalthough he was turned down by the State Secretariat when he
\nrequested deer from Bogor presidential palace.<\/p>\n
Critics addressed his idea, saying that Monas park was
\nunsuitable for animals. The park is not only noisy but the high
\nlevel of air pollution from the surrounding main thoroughfares is
\nnot good for the animals' health.<\/p>\n
The deer zone went ahead nonetheless, was formally opened by
\nPresident Megawati Soekarnoputri in early June and has attracted
\nvisitors to the area.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/may-we-have-giraffes-now-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}