Surabaya Mayor Claims Zoo Animal Health Improves Amidst IDR 10.2 Billion Corruption Case
Surabaya Mayor Eri Cahyadi has claimed that the health of animals at Surabaya Zoo (KBS) has gradually improved, asserting that there have been no further animal deaths over the past three years.
The claim was made amid ongoing legal proceedings into an alleged corruption case involving Rp10.2 billion in funds at the KBS Wildlife Park Municipal Enterprise (PD TS KBS), which has ensnared the company’s former Director for 2016-2024, Choirul Anwar (CA).
Eri acknowledged that the budget corruption allegedly committed by CA had affected the animals’ health, with the last animal death occurring in 2023. However, he assured that no animal had suffered health problems or died as a result of the alleged corruption since 2024.
“So, thank God, since 2024 there have been no [animal deaths]. From late 2023, 2024 and 2025, nothing has happened. Why? Because it is now being monitored,” Eri said at Surabaya City Hall on Wednesday (22/7).
Eri said the case began with the discovery of a significant discrepancy between KBS’s financial balance records and the actual cash position, which had persisted since the era of Mayor Tri Rismaharini through to his own administration.
KBS’s finances were subsequently audited by an independent team outside of KBS’s own internal choices, unlike the audit mechanisms of previous years.
“Usually those audits were conducted by auditors chosen by the BUMD itself. So I requested an audit because when I read the audit report, I noticed something odd,” he added.
It was through the independent audit recommended by the Supreme Audit Agency (BPK) that the alleged financial irregularities at KBS were uncovered, amounting to Rp10.2 billion.
Meanwhile, KBS Head of Public Relations Lintang Ratri Sunarwidhi said the zoo had changed its animal care standards since its status changed to a municipal public company (perumda) in February 2026, unlike the previous management.
“We carry out care in accordance with applicable regulations. With the perumda status, we have differentiated our care from the previous management. So now we must adjust to the animals’ needs,” Lintang said.
She explained that the animals’ nutritional needs are now calculated based on the age and ideal body weight of each animal, and the quality of feed is properly maintained. On feeding arrangements, Lintang said the animals are fed twice a day to make it easier to monitor their health.
Lintang said KBS also respects the ongoing legal process and has ensured that the institution’s operations continue as normal.
Previously, the East Java High Prosecutor’s Office (Kejati Jawa Timur) named the former Director of the Surabaya Zoo Wildlife Park Municipal Enterprise (PD TS KBS), Choirul Anwar (CA), as a suspect in an alleged corruption case involving Rp10.2 billion in company funds between 2016 and 2024.
CA served as Director of PD TS KBS from 2016 to 2024. During his tenure, he is alleged to have abused his authority by using company budget funds for expenditure that was not in accordance with its intended purpose and was fictitious, including for personal interests, amounting to Rp10,209,664,735.60.
To carry out his crimes, CA allegedly used the method of marking up the animal feed budget. The animals’ food portions were reduced, while the accountability reports were manipulated to appear as though they matched.
As a result of his actions, in addition to harming state finances, the alleged corruption committed by CA also affected the condition of Surabaya Zoo, which was poorly maintained, even leading to animals dying of starvation.