Oh deer, can deer survive in Monas park?<\/p>\n
Novan Iman Santosa and Theresia Sufa, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta\/Bogor<\/p>\n
Governor Sutiyoso's plan to release deer from the grounds of
\nBogor Palace into the National Monument (Monas) park in Central
\nJakarta could be a fatal blunder unless additional facilities are
\nprovided to prevent the herd from getting stressed, say experts.<\/p>\n
This was so given that deer could become easily stressed, even
\nthough they normally adapted quickly to a new environment.<\/p>\n
"The herd could come under huge pressure, thus leading to
\nstress, due to the presence of humans near them," Bambang Triana,
\na veterinarian at the city-run Ragunan Zoo, told The Jakarta Post
\non Thursday.<\/p>\n
"That's why a fence must be erected to separate visitors from
\nthe deer. It is important for the deer to feel secure."<\/p>\n
A maintenance official at the Bogor Palace, Apandi, said the
\nfence would need to be between two and three meters high.<\/p>\n
"There should also be rumput gajah and ki pahit varieties of
\ngrass available as these are what the deer like," he told the
\nPost.<\/p>\n
"Another important factor is that the deer must be kept
\nseparate from other animals as deer are highly sensitive
\ncreatures."<\/p>\n
Sutiyoso announced on Wednesday that the administration was
\nholding discussions with the Bogor Palace on the number of deer
\nto be sent to Jakarta.<\/p>\n
The grounds of Bogor Palace are home of hundreds of spotted
\ndeer (Axis axis), which were introduced from India by a Dutch
\ngovernor general. The grounds of the palace are now home to some
\n600 deer, too many for the area available to them.<\/p>\n
The city administration also plans to develop soccer pitches
\nand a jogging track in the park. These projects, as well as the
\nintroduction of the deer, are expected to be carried out next
\nyear.<\/p>\n
Bambang said the administration must provide shade trees,
\nshrubs and bushes, and ponds to ensure that the deer could
\nsurvive in their new home.<\/p>\n
"Shade trees are needed by the deer as protection from the
\nheat of the sun, while shrubs and bushes provide cover for the
\ndeer," he said.<\/p>\n
"The pools must have plenty of clean water for the deer to
\ndrink. They also serve as bathing places during hot weather."<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, a spokesman for the Indonesia Safari Park in
\nCisarua, West Java, Julius H. Suprihardo, said that sufficient
\nfood would have to be provided for the deer and their health
\ncarefully monitored.<\/p>\n
"I think they can survive in Monas as they have survived in
\nsimilar conditions in the Bogor Palace gardens," he said when
\nasked about the problem of traffic noise in Monas.<\/p>\n
Bambang was also confident that the deer could survive in
\nMonas park as long as the necessary facilities were provided.<\/p>\n
"As for food, we can give them bananas and other fruit for
\nvariety. Providing them with vitamins and minerals can also
\nreduce their stress levels," he explained.<\/p>\n
Another important point, according to Bambang, was the
\npresence of dedicated keepers to look after the deer.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Hadi S. Ali Kodra, a lecturer at the Bogor
\nInstitute of Agriculture (IPB), suggested that the Jakarta
\nadministration could start with a limited number of deer first.<\/p>\n
"Jakarta could start off with a male deer accompanied by eight
\nfemale deer. Or simply a couple of male and female deer.<\/p>\n
"I am worried that the deer would not survive in a place like
\nMonas if there are too many of them," he added, stressing the
\nimportance of providing enough space for the deer.<\/p>",
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