Country's biggest bird shelter opens at Taman Safari

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.