Ragunan zoo struggles to maintain its popularity

Text and photo by Bambang Parlupi

JAKARTA (JP): Ragunan zoo in South Jakarta is a popular place to visit, particularly during holidays.

Few know, however, the zoo, which is now located near Pasar Minggu area, was formerly located in Cikini, Central Jakarta.

According to its history, Taman Margasatwa Ragunan, or Ragunan Wildlife Reserve, was first set up by a Dutch flora and fauna lovers organization.

The organization, the Vereneging Plantenen Dierentuin at Batavia, set up the park on a 10-hectare plot of land in Jl. Cikini Raya 2, South Jakarta in 1864.

The park, Plantenen Dierentuin, was moved to the present location in 1964 to accommodate the city's development plan.

In the new location, the park was given a 10-hectare plot of land, but now it occupies 135 hectares of land.

"Basically, the park is intended as a place to conserve flora and fauna outside their habitat, or better known as ex-situ conservation," said the park's promotional staff Dedi Ruswandi.

At present, the zoo, some 20 kilometers away from the city center, has a collection of 277 species of about 3,200 animals, including rare and endangered animals like orangutans (Pongo pygmaeus), komodo dragons (Varamus komodoensis) and Sumatra tigers (Panthera tigris). There are also rare birds like birds of paradise and 142 other species coming from different regions.

This year, the park will get a new attraction with the arrival of four male African gorillas in October, which will certainly lure more visitors to the zoo.

The zoo's director Ismunanto earlier said that the gorillas were born in the Howletts Port Lympne Wildlife Park in England and are on loan to the zoo for a period of a year. The plan became a reality with the assistance given by a wildlife lover, the late Mrs. Puck Schmutzer and the Gibbon Foundation.

Now, the zoo is busy preparing a 10-hectare enclosure, which was described by the director as the largest and most luxurious one in the world, for the new guests.

"Apart from animals, we also collect various plants, including medicinal ones," said Dedi.

According to the park's data, there are now 968 plant species made up of 47,499 trees.

The park has long been known as one of the city's tourist spots, which receives lots of visitors during weekends. Entrance tickets are affordable. It charges an admission fee of Rp 3,000 for adults and Rp 2,000 for children. A discount of 25 percent is offered to visitors coming in groups.

"The largest number of visitors recorded was during the Idul Fitri holidays. At least 750,000 people thronged the park during the celebrations last year," Dedi said. During the period between 1999 and 2001, the park has been visited by over 3.1 million people.

Some people, however, disturb the animals by giving them food despite the presence of signs warning them not to do so.

"Any food given to the animals should be that recommended by the park's officials," said Maman of the park's nursery division.

Wrong food, he said, poses serious risks, such as causing illness.

The park also faced problems from visitors who throw trash or carelessly trample neatly arranged areas.

At present, the park is developing partnerships with members of the public, including individuals, groups and institutions, to help in its maintenance while at the same time, raising their awareness to help conserve flora, fauna and the park.

These efforts, according to Dedi, are aimed at not making the park simply a recreation place. Instead, there should be a strong connection, a sense of belonging, between members of the society and the park, he added.

People's concern, he said, could be manifested in various forms, such as services, time and money.

"For instance, people can take part in the renovation of enclosures, maintenance of plants and management of park trash."