Taman Safari seeks funds for tiger park project
Taman Safari seeks funds for tiger park project
JAKARTA (JP): Taman Safari is looking for funds to help
finance a plan to build a new three-hectare park for its 28
Sumatran tigers, which are currently jammed into a 2,000-square-
meter plot.
On Monday, Frans Manangsang, one of the three owners of the
park, told The Jakarta Post by telephone from Cisarua, West Java,
that a massive injection of funds was needed to provide a proper
space for the protected species to live in and breed.
"In the beginning, we had 16 Sumatran tigers in the old
breeding place... Now, their number has grown to 28 and they all
still live in the tiny space, which we think is no longer
suitable for this kind of animal," Frans said.
Since the space was no longer a proper area for the Sumatran
tigers to breed, the park's management decided to temporarily
stop the breeding program of the rare species.
"We're afraid that the tiny space would disturb the natural
life of the Sumatran tigers should we let their population grow,"
Frans said.
With the help of the current government and after a five-year
struggle, the park's management was finally able to purchase an
adjacent plot of land from a former village chief.
"About three or probably five hectares of this plot would be
used for the tigers' new breeding park, which would also be
developed in such a way to become a special zone for Sumatran
tigers in which visitors could directly observe their activities
from, for example, glass windows."
The ongoing crisis has led to escalating food prices for the
park's 2,300 animals of 230 species and reduced visitor numbers.
As a consequence, the management of the 138-hectare park in the
popular Puncak mountain resort in Cisarua have called on
financial assistance from any concerned parties, particularly
international bodies, to realize the construction of the new
enclosure.
"Based on our experience, local parties, especially
businessmen, are reluctant to donate funds for animals."
Frans said Indonesian tycoons were only interested to throw
money at government projects, in an attempt to obtain more
projects for their businesses.
"We strongly depend on the international community and animal
lovers to help realize the new breeding park for the Sumatran
tigers," Frans, who runs the park with his two brothers with
strong governmental support, said.
The Safari Park is the only official institution in the
country allowed to breed Sumatran tigers.
Last year, the park's management opened a similar animal park
in East Java.(bsr)