Sat, 18 Sep 1999

Zoo in hot water over deaths of dolphins

SURAKARTA, Central Java (JP): Where have all the dolphins gone? That is the likely question of visitors to Taru Jurug Zoo.

Only a fortnight ago, from nine to 18 dolphins lived in the town's only zoo.

Today only three of the animals remain alive.

Accounts from various sources suggest the death of the others was due to mismanagement, neglect or plain ignorance.

The tragic story began in July 1997 when PT Solo Citra Perkasa received permission from the Ministry of Forestry's Directorate General for Protection and Conservation of Nature to capture and keep the dolphins at Taru Jurug Zoo which the company manages.

The exact number of the mammals kept in captivity remains a source of contention.

The company claims that it captured nine bottle-nosed dolphins off the north coast of Java and that six died due to digestive and respiratory problems in the past six months.

However, the head of an investigation team from the Association of Indonesian Zoos, Ismu Sutanto Suwelo, said the company should not have been given permission to keep the animals in captivity since it lacked the necessary skills and knowledge for their care.

"There are strong indications that the death of the dolphins in the zoo was caused by mismanagement and ignorance, apart from the fact that the facilities available were completely inappropriate," Ismu said recently.

The Kartika Chandra Legal Aid Institute, representing vendors in the zoo, also disputed the zoo's claim about the number of animals.

The institute's director, Boyamin, said he knew of two former keepers of the dolphins who said 15 of the 18 dolphins in the zoo died.

According to information he received, the animals died of iodine poisoning from the salt mixed in their pool.

Based on a complaint filed by the Legal Aid Institute, Surakarta Police are investigating the deaths.

He said remains of three dolphins were exhumed for autopsies to be performed at the biology laboratorium at Gadjah Mada University in Yogyakarta.

Ismu added that the company violated its permit, which stipulates keeping the dolphins at the zoo, by allowing them to be used in circuses.

He said that two dolphins were currently in Palembang, South Sumatra, and another in Purwakarta, West Java.

He urged the government to take strong action against PT Solo Citra Perkasa for the violations, including revoking their licenses and disciplining the zoo managers. (44/06)