Ragunan Zoo to have kangaroos

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Ragunan Zoo in South Jakarta will have three pairs of kangaroos courtesy of the Australian government by the end of the year.

The announcement was made after a meeting between Australian Ambassador to Indonesia David Ritchi and Governor Sutiyoso at City Hall on Tuesday.

Sutiyoso said the kangaroos were a symbol of the close relationship between the two neighboring countries.

He also said that during the meeting Ritchi had expressed his satisfaction with the Indonesian government's move to fight terrorism, specifically the trials of the Bali bombing suspects and the arrests made in relation to the bombing of the JW Marriott Hotel in Jakarta.

Last year's Bali bombings left 202 people dead, mostly Australians and Indonesians.

Ragunan Zoo head Edy Setiarto said that a pen for the kangaroos had been prepared at the zoo, but he declined to give details on the budget allocated for the construction.

Edy said that there would be no problems feeding the kangaroos as they could eat grass and fruit.

The zoo is home to around 300 animals, including four gorillas from the Port Lympne Animal Park in England.