Country's biggest bird shelter opens at Taman Safari

M. Taufiqurrahman, The Jakarta Post, Bogor

The Indonesia Safari Park in Cisarua, Bogor, has opened a new bird enclosure, which, with more than 300 birds, including 63 rare species, is believed to be the largest in the country.

Red-winged parrots, josephine lorikeets, red-breasted parakeets, blue-faced honeyeaters, purple swanhens and black- winged starlings can be seen inside the 2.5-hectare enclosure, which is situated in the heart of the Safari park. The enclosure was officiated on Tuesday in conjunction with the inauguration of the Gunma Safari Park enclosure -- also situated within the Indonesian Safari Park -- that is home to six snow monkeys from Japan.

Visitors enter the bird enclosure through an archway and can immediately hear birds chirping in trees nearby the manmade waterfall.

Apart from a variety of flora, specifically planted to shelter the birds, several artificial caves have been constructed to house bats, owls and a handful of insect-eating rodents.

Visitors can stroll along the enclosure's winding bridge or enjoy the scenery from a 15-meter high watch-tower.

In the Gunma Safari Park enclosure, six snow monkeys, whose natural habitat is very cold, are housed in a virtually freezing environment.

The red-faced monkeys, including one male, were sent from the Nasu Primate Center in Yokohama, Japan. A Japanese-style shelter has been erected, reminiscent of those in the origin country.

Established in 1986, the Safari Park has a well-earned reputation as a world leader in the conservation and preservation of wildlife. It is situated on the slopes of the mist-shrouded Mount Pangrango in Bogor, West Java.