No animal tamers at Ragunan Zoo

JAKARTA: Ragunan Zoo in South Jakarta employs keepers instead of tamers for animals such as tigers, snakes, crocodiles and bears, a zoo official said on Saturday.

"Keepers understand the behavior and needs of animals better than tamers because they have more education," said Pantara, a member of the zoo's promotion staff.

The zoo hires graduates from schools of animal husbandry and of veterinarian medicine to work as keepers.

"Keepers are not tamers because keepers do not use magic to tame the animals," said keeper Suyadi.

The zoo is home to some 3,200 animals from 270 species, of which 90 percent come from Indonesia. --Antara