Sutiyoso vows to make Ragunan Zoo inviting<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Governor Sutiyoso pledged yesterday to make
\nthe Ragunan Zoo in South Jakarta a better place for recreation
\nand nature conservation despite the economic crisis.<\/p>\n
\"I want this zoo to be a more attractive place. This is
\nimportant because if more people visit it, we will make more
\nmoney from ticket sales,\" Sutiyoso said during a visit to the
\nzoo.<\/p>\n
The government has included developing a six-hectare lagoon, a
\nfood court and an animal exchange program with Yokohama Zoo in
\nJapan among the improvement projects it has floated.<\/p>\n
The governor said that the city budget for Ragunan Zoo had
\nbeen reduced due to monetary woes.<\/p>\n
\"I understand this is very hard for the zoo because the
\nanimals have to be fed as usual but their food is becoming more
\nexpensive.<\/p>\n
\"Tigers, lions and komodos, for instance, need a lot of meat
\nevery day, but even people don't eat meat during these difficult
\ntimes,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Official statistics show that 2.7 million people visited the
\nzoo last year.<\/p>\n
Ragunan Zoo was built in 1964 to accommodate animals relocated
\nfrom Cikini Zoo in Central Jakarta, which the government
\nconsidered too small to develop.<\/p>\n
From an initial site of 85 hectares, Ragunan Zoo has expanded
\nto cover 135 hectares today.<\/p>\n
Considered among Asia's best, the zoo has a collection of more
\nthan 4,000 animals from 300 species.<\/p>\n
The zoo is renowned for its collection of rare species, which
\ninclude komodos (giant lizards), Sumatran tigers and orangutans.
\nThe zoo currently houses 12 orangutans aged between two and 30
\nyears.<\/p>\n
Sutiyoso said to cope with the crisis, the administration was
\nconsidering raising ticket prices which are currently set at Rp
\n500 for children and Rp 1,000 for adults.<\/p>\n
\"I think we need to raise prices a little bit,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Ragunan Zoo acts as a conservation site, educational center
\nand research facility, in addition to its recreational use. The
\n135 hectare site also serves as a water catchment area, Sutiyoso
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Sutiyoso revealed the city planned to set up a food shop
\ninside the zoo because the ubiquitous kiosks within and outside
\nthe complex spoil the scenery.<\/p>\n
Zoo manager Atje Dimjati Salfifi told reporters that the city
\nadministration had allocated only Rp 3 billion (US$300,000) to
\nthe zoo for the 1998\/99 financial year. The budget for the
\ncurrent fiscal year is Rp 5 billion.<\/p>\n
\"Every month we spend Rp 1.5 billion on food for the animals.
\nThis excludes maintenance fees, renovation projects, salaries and
\nother routine expenses,\" Atje said.<\/p>\n
He said that the zoo has stopped importing kangaroo meat from
\nAustralia because of the crisis.<\/p>\n
\"Before the crisis, a kilogram of kangaroo meat cost Rp 6,000
\nbut it is now 200 percent more expensive.\"<\/p>\n
In a bid to cope with the crisis, feeding intervals have been
\nprolonged.<\/p>\n
\"For instance, tigers usually eat 5 kilograms of meat per day.
\nNow we feed them once every two days with the same quantity of
\nmeat.\"<\/p>\n
He said the number of visitors to the zoo had dropped
\nsignificantly since the monetary crisis first started to bite,
\nand particularly during the past two months, but he was unable to
\nprovide figures. (edt)<\/p>",
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