Legislator: Ragunan Tariff Adjustment Must Be Followed by Quality Improvements
The adjustment of the entrance tariff for Ragunan Zoo (TMR) to Rp10,000 has been agreed upon by the Jakarta DPRD and the Ragunan management. Hardiyanto Kenneth, a member of Commission C of the Jakarta DPRD, believes that this tariff adjustment presents an opportunity to improve management quality, services, and animal welfare at Ragunan.
Kenneth stated that the additional revenue from the entrance fee could be directed towards various priority needs within Ragunan Zoo. According to him, improving the quality of enclosure security, sanitation, cleanliness, and animal care deserves significant attention.
“A short while ago, a child fell into the elephant enclosure area. This is one of our notes, and we hope that safety standards can be increased alongside the tariff adjustment,” Kenneth expressed.
In addition to improving service quality, Kenneth believes the tariff adjustment could help Ragunan reduce its dependence on the Jakarta Regional Budget (APBD). Currently, approximately 70 per cent of Ragunan’s operational costs are still covered by the APBD.
“Our hope with this tariff increase is that Ragunan Zoo can become financially independent. Efficiency in the APBD budget can later be used for other programmes that are in greater need,” said the alumnus of the PPRA Lemhannas RI Class LXII.
Kenneth also hopes that the increased revenue can support animal breeding programmes as well as the welfare of employees and technical field officers.
“The condition of the animals must remain prime. Even for large animals, such as the male gorilla who currently does not have a mate, we are pushing for an animal exchange scheme between zoos so that he can obtain a female gorilla to breed properly. The welfare of employees and technical officers in the field must also be addressed. All of this requires significant funding,” the PDI Perjuangan politician added.
The need for animal medical personnel is also a concern for Kenneth. He noted that the number of animals in Ragunan Zoo has reached over 2,200, while the number of available veterinarians is only eight.
“There are more than 2,200 animals in Ragunan Zoo, but there are only 8 veterinarians; this is very disproportionate. If the adjustment of the entrance ticket can increase income, then increasing the number of veterinarians must be a mandatory priority,” he concluded.
Meanwhile, the Head of Ragunan Zoo, Dr Endah Rumiyanti, welcomed the tariff adjustment. Endah stated that Ragunan’s operational budget needs reach approximately Rp160 billion per year, whereas independent revenue collected is only about Rp30 billion per year.
“Our total annual operational budget requirement reaches around Rp160 billion, but the independent revenue we are able to collect is only about Rp30 billion per year. This means the subsidy level from the local government is still around 70 per cent,” Endah revealed.
Endah said that the tariff adjustment will be directed towards supporting the improvement of supporting facilities, maintenance of animal enclosures, and the arrangement of the area in accordance with the Ragunan development masterplan.
“If this tariff adjustment is implemented, our main focus is the improvement of supporting facilities, the repair and maintenance of animal enclosures, as well as the arrangement of the zonal system based on the prepared masterplan. The ultimate goal is to provide a green open space and an international-standard zoo that is safe, comfortable, and educational,” said Endation.