Oh deer, can deer survive in Monas park?
Novan Iman Santosa and Theresia Sufa, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta/Bogor
Governor Sutiyoso's plan to release deer from the grounds of Bogor Palace into the National Monument (Monas) park in Central Jakarta could be a fatal blunder unless additional facilities are provided to prevent the herd from getting stressed, say experts.
This was so given that deer could become easily stressed, even though they normally adapted quickly to a new environment.
"The herd could come under huge pressure, thus leading to stress, due to the presence of humans near them," Bambang Triana, a veterinarian at the city-run Ragunan Zoo, told The Jakarta Post on Thursday.
"That's why a fence must be erected to separate visitors from the deer. It is important for the deer to feel secure."
A maintenance official at the Bogor Palace, Apandi, said the fence would need to be between two and three meters high.
"There should also be rumput gajah and ki pahit varieties of grass available as these are what the deer like," he told the Post.
"Another important factor is that the deer must be kept separate from other animals as deer are highly sensitive creatures."
Sutiyoso announced on Wednesday that the administration was holding discussions with the Bogor Palace on the number of deer to be sent to Jakarta.
The grounds of Bogor Palace are home of hundreds of spotted deer (Axis axis), which were introduced from India by a Dutch governor general. The grounds of the palace are now home to some 600 deer, too many for the area available to them.
The city administration also plans to develop soccer pitches and a jogging track in the park. These projects, as well as the introduction of the deer, are expected to be carried out next year.
Bambang said the administration must provide shade trees, shrubs and bushes, and ponds to ensure that the deer could survive in their new home.
"Shade trees are needed by the deer as protection from the heat of the sun, while shrubs and bushes provide cover for the deer," he said.
"The pools must have plenty of clean water for the deer to drink. They also serve as bathing places during hot weather."
Meanwhile, a spokesman for the Indonesia Safari Park in Cisarua, West Java, Julius H. Suprihardo, said that sufficient food would have to be provided for the deer and their health carefully monitored.
"I think they can survive in Monas as they have survived in similar conditions in the Bogor Palace gardens," he said when asked about the problem of traffic noise in Monas.
Bambang was also confident that the deer could survive in Monas park as long as the necessary facilities were provided.
"As for food, we can give them bananas and other fruit for variety. Providing them with vitamins and minerals can also reduce their stress levels," he explained.
Another important point, according to Bambang, was the presence of dedicated keepers to look after the deer.
Meanwhile, Hadi S. Ali Kodra, a lecturer at the Bogor Institute of Agriculture (IPB), suggested that the Jakarta administration could start with a limited number of deer first.
"Jakarta could start off with a male deer accompanied by eight female deer. Or simply a couple of male and female deer.
"I am worried that the deer would not survive in a place like Monas if there are too many of them," he added, stressing the importance of providing enough space for the deer.