Zoo relocation plan opposed

SEMARANG: Residents of the Central Java capital of Semarang strongly oppose the mayor's plan to relocate the Tinjomoyo Zoo to Mijen.

Psychology and Environmental Study Foundation chairman Wijanarko said here on Thursday that relocation of the zoo was unnecessary.

"Unstable land and low visitor numbers could not be the reason for relocating the zoo," Wijanarko said.

Not all of the zoo area sits on unstable land according to Wijanarko, while he says that existing land problems could be solved with architectural technology.

"Many buildings are still standing there," he said.

Tinjomoyo, where the zoo complex is now standing, is environmentally more sound than Mijen, which is located between Lemah Mendah and Tambangan, areas rich in teakwood, he said.

"If the zoo complex is moved to Mijen, deforestation will take place in Lemah Mendah and Tambangan. This will lead to a natural disaster as the teakwood forest is a water catchment area for Semarang and its surrounding areas," he said.

Another protest came from Pteropus Vamiyus Indonesia Foundation chairman Thomas Fery, who said that the mayoralty could not arbitrarily move the zoo to Mijen.

"Thorough studies must be conducted before deciding to move the zoo," Thomas said. --Antara