Taman Safari breeding program offers hope<\/p>\n
By Stevie Emilia<\/p>\n
CISARUA, West Java (JP): It is a perilous race against time
\nfor many endangered animal species in Indonesia.<\/p>\n
As the country's fauna slips into extinction at a faster rate
\nthan ever before, the captive breeding program at Taman Safari
\ncarries hope that future generations will get to see living
\nexamples, instead of illustrations in history books.<\/p>\n
Located at the foot of Mount Pangrango, the safari park has
\nbred the Bali starling, Komodo dragon, mountain anoa, lowland
\nanoa, Javan gibbon, Sumatran tiger, Sumatran elephants and
\nSumatran rhino, all of which are threatened or close to
\nextinction in the wild.<\/p>\n
One of the park's directors, Tony Sumampau, said the aim of
\nthe breeding program was to eventually return the animals to the
\nwild.<\/p>\n
\"I'm optimistic we can return the endangered animals to their
\noriginal habitat in the next 10 years,\" said Tony.<\/p>\n
He said realization of the plan would be far in the future.
\nReintroducing the animals into the wild today would be futile, as
\nlocal people would probably capture them to be sold as rarities.<\/p>\n
The park once tried -- and failed -- to return Bali starlings
\nto their original habitat in west Bali, to join the tiny wild
\npopulation of 22 birds.<\/p>\n
\"Unfortunately, the birds were captured by the local people,\"
\nhe said. \"It's difficult to prevent such poaching practices
\nbecause they are well organized.\"<\/p>\n
In a warped irony, the commercial value of animals jumps as
\nsoon as they are declared endangered.<\/p>\n
\"Some people even regard them as part of a precious
\ncollection,\" Tony said.<\/p>\n
Bali starlings sell for Rp 2.5 million (US$961.5) each, he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Taman Safari's other conservation breeding efforts include
\nstoring sperm of wild Sumatran tigers, now estimated at around
\n500 animals, for future breeding.<\/p>\n
\"Tigers can't be captured for the breeding project because
\nthey become used to people,\" Tony said. \"With the insemination
\nplan, they will remain wild but manage to reproduce.\"<\/p>\n
The park spends Rp 150,000 monthly to store the sperm.<\/p>\n
The Sumatran rhino is one of the park's less successful
\nbreeding stories.<\/p>\n
\"Most of them died because of old age, or digestion problems.
\nIt's difficult for them to adapt to the food here,\" said Tony,
\nwho grew up in a circus family and once worked as an animal
\ntrainer in Australia.<\/p>\n
The park's breeding program is run in conjunction with the
\nMinistry of Forestry's Forest Protection and Nature Conservation,
\nthe Indonesia Zoological Association and Conservation Breeding
\nSpecialist\/The World Conservation Union.<\/p>\n
Ethical tussle<\/p>\n
The ethical tussle over the often conflicting interests of
\nanimals and people promises to continue in the future.<\/p>\n
\"It's difficult to decide whether to protect the animals or to
\nprioritize people's interest,\" Tony said.<\/p>\n
Animals, particularly large land mammals like tigers and
\nrhinoceri, need space. The dilemma is their natural habitats are
\noften coveted by people for farming and plantations.<\/p>\n
\"We can't press too hard on animal protection and preservation
\nbecause we should pay attention to people's interests as well,\"
\nTony said.<\/p>\n
He emphasized the importance of educating people on conserving
\nanimal species.<\/p>\n
\"Zoos are not only to entertain people, but to stimulate the
\npeople's awareness of conservation efforts,\" Tony said.<\/p>\n
Through knowing more about the animals and their habits,
\npeople will refrain from killing them or keeping them as pets, he
\nadded.<\/p>\n
History<\/p>\n
Established in 1980 on 136.5 hectares of former tea
\nplantations donated by the local administration, the park opened
\nto the public in 1986.<\/p>\n
The idea for the park came after Tony's circus had difficulty
\nobtaining animals.<\/p>\n
After examining several areas, the current park land was
\nchosen because of its clean water sources and tranquility.
\nSurrounding trees and hills are natural shelters for the animals
\nfrom heavy winds and rain, he said.<\/p>\n
The government declared the park a national tourism site and
\nthe Indonesian Center for Reproduction of Endangered Wildlife and
\nOff-site Conservation in 1990.<\/p>\n
\"Formerly, the government was against our plan to open the
\npark because they thought we were trying to control the land,\"
\nTony said.<\/p>\n
The park received support from the West Java provincial
\nadministration and the Ministry of Forestry for its development.<\/p>\n
\"The (government) permits were finally issued in 1990, four
\nyears after we applied for them in 1986. They were willing to
\ngive us a chance after all...,\" Tony said.<\/p>\n
The Ministry of Forestry also requested the park secure a
\nbuffer zone area up to Mount Pangrango.<\/p>\n
\"Now, most local people, including the government, understand
\nour good intentions,\" Tony said.<\/p>\n
The park's animal menagerie has grown. There were about 250
\nanimals from 100 species in 1985; 10 years later, there were
\n2,500 animals from 200 species.<\/p>\n
About 50 percent were born at the park, while others were
\ndonated by the Ministry of Forestry or public, or arrived through
\nexchange programs with foreign zoos.<\/p>\n
The park, a two-hour drive from Jakarta, records 10,000 to
\n15,000 visitors per day on weekends and fewer than 500 on working
\ndays.<\/p>\n
A survey conducted from December 1996 to February of this year
\nfound 42.7 percent of the park's visitors were from Jakarta, 35
\npercent from West Java, 9.9 percent from Central Java, 6.8
\npercent from East Java and the remaining 5 percent from outside
\nJava.<\/p>\n
A majority 61.6 percent had academic backgrounds or were
\nuniversity degree holders.<\/p>\n
Attractions<\/p>\n
The daytime safari and Night Safari are two of the park's
\nbiggest attractions. The latter opened to the public in February.<\/p>\n
The daytime safari is open from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. seven days
\na week, with ticket prices ranging from Rp 8,000 for adults and
\nRp 6,000 for children.<\/p>\n
The Night Safari opens from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. every Friday and
\nSaturday, costing Rp 15,000 for adults and Rp 12,000 for children
\naged six years and younger.<\/p>\n
Visitors are allowed to drive their own vehicles on the
\ndaytime safari, but must take park buses on the night program.<\/p>\n
Parking for the night safari costs Rp 2,000. Daytime safari
\nfares are Rp 5,000 for four-wheeled vehicles and Rp 6,000 for
\nvehicles with six or more wheels.<\/p>\n
\"All the ticket proceeds go to our conservation program,\" Tony
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Daily operation costs are Rp 7 million daily, mostly to buy
\nmeat and feed. Each tiger needs five kilograms of meat daily,
\nwhile a lion eats six kilograms.<\/p>\n
\"The park receives no financial assistance from the government
\nor private institutions,\" Tony said.<\/p>\n
Despite early start-up problems, the park has proven its
\ndetermination to ensure endangered species survive through
\ncaptive breeding.<\/p>",
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