Critics demand improvements at Indonesia's "Zoo of Death"

Record ID: 103769

  • Title: Critics demand improvements at Indonesia's "Zoo of Death"
  • Date: 12th May 2016
  • Summary: SURABAYA, EAST JAVA PROVINCE, INDONESIA (RECENT - APRIL 28, 2016) (REUTERS) (SOUNDBITE) (Bahasa Indonesia) SURABAYA ZOO DIRECTOR, ASCHTA BOESTANI TAJUDIN, SAYING: "The first problem is overpopulation and the second problem is the conditions of the pens, which is related to the assets we have. We've been trying to resolve these issues one by one. Right now we've already found some solutions but we're still trying to get a clearer picture about what went wrong. I hope in three to four months from now we can finally solve the problem." SURABAYA ZOO DIRECTOR, ASCHTA BOESTANI TAJUDIN, TALKING TO REPORTER (SOUNDBITE) (Bahasa Indonesia) SURABAYA ZOO DIRECTOR, ASCHTA BOESTANI TAJUDIN SAYING: "We should be aware that there are still many people who have an interest in the Surabaya Zoo but with their own agendas, that's what has complicated our efforts and other issues." JAKARTA, INDONESIA (MAY 10, 2016) (REUTERS) EXTERIOR OF FORESTRY AND ENVIRONMENT MINISTRY DIRECTOR OF BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION AT THE MINISTRY OF FORESTRY AND ENVIRONMENT, BAMBANG DAHONO ADJI. WORKING AT HIS DESK ADJI'S HANDS FLICKING THROUGH PAPERS BADGE ON ADJI SHIRT, BADGE READING (Bahasa Indonesia): "FORESTRY AND ENVIRONMENT MINISTRY" (SOUNDBITE) (Bahasa Indonesia) DIRECTOR OF BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION OF FORESTRY AND ENVIRONMENT MINISTRY, BAMBANG DAHONO ADJI, SAYING: "Sometimes (the process) is not too smooth because the local government and (zoo) management team have different interests, this (issue) should be dealt with more intensively." SURABAYA, EAST JAVA PROVINCE, INDONESIA (RECENT - APRIL 24, 2016) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF WORKERS LAYING FOOTPATH OVERPOPULATED PELICAN PEN PELICAN PELICANS IN CAGE ZOO KEEPERS WHEELING IN CRATE FILLED WITH FISH VARIOUS OF ZOO KEEPERS POURING BOX FULL OF FISH INTO PELICAN PEN PELICANS RUSHING TO FEED ZOO VISITOR, ALMAQSUDI, STANDING WITH HIS HIS SON (SOUNDBITE) (Bahasa Indonesia) ZOO VISITOR, ALMAQSUDI, SAYING: "Now the atmosphere here is more enjoyable, cooler, and more organized and comfortable compared to the past," ELEPHANT WALKING THROUGH ZOO DURING TOUR ELEPHANT'S FEET WALKING ELEPHANT WALKING AWAY
  • Embargoed: 27th May 2016 07:04
  • Keywords: Surabaya Zoo Indonesia zoo reputation Zoo of Death overpopulation mortality
  • Location: SURABAYA, EAST JAVA PROVINCE / JAKARTA, INDONESIA
  • City: SURABAYA, EAST JAVA PROVINCE / JAKARTA, INDONESIA
  • Country: Indonesia
  • Topics: Human Interest/Brights/Odd News,Society/Social Issues
  • Reuters ID: LVA0054HI4CW5
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Smiling visitors stream into Indonesia's biggest zoo in the city of Surabaya, hoping to catch a glimpse of the caged residents.
    But activists say many of the more than 2,200 animals here are far from happy, crowded into cages and enclosures far too small for them, and fed measly amounts of proper feed.
    So many animals have perished at Surabaya Zoo that wildlife activists and local media have dubbed it the "zoo of death".
    One of the latest losses was a rare Sumatran tiger that died unexpectedly last month.
    "They need to put in efforts to thin the overpopulation of animals," Petrus Riski of the Indonesia Wildlife Communication Forum said while at the zoo, suggesting animal exchanges, and sending some to conservation institutes. "There's also a need to improve the zoo's facilities," he said.
    Zoo keepers attribute most of the deaths to natural causes, and said the tiger's death was still unexplained. But activists point to a string of unusual incidents that undermine their confidence in the zoo, which was founded in 1916.
    In the six years since the zoo's ownership was transferred to the city government, an 18-month African lion was found hanging dead in its cage and a dead giraffe was found with about 18 kg (40 lb) of plastic in its stomach - rubbish thrown into its cage by visitors.
    About 45 Komodo dragons, a large species of lizards only found in eastern Indonesia, died in battles they fought against each other in their overcrowded cage.
    "The first problem is overpopulation and the second problem is the conditions of the pens, which is related to the assets we have," said zoo director Aschta Boestani Tajudin. "We've been trying to resolve these issues one by one."
    Tajudin blamed bureaucratic hurdles hampering efforts to improve conditions. "We should be aware that there are still many people who have an interest in the Surabaya Zoo but with their own agendas, that's what has complicated our efforts."
    An official from Ministry of Forestry and Environment, Bambang Dahono Adji, acknowledged that more should be done to communicate different interests.
    He added that they were ultimately responsible for conservation efforts, and that the central government had now stepping in to assist investigations into what needs to be done.
    Tajudin says she hopes that problems will be solved within three to four months and at the zoo, workers are hard at work relaying footpaths or wheeling out crates of fish into a congested pen of pelicans.
    One visitor, Almaqsudi, said things had improved. "Now the atmosphere here is more enjoyable, cooler, and more organized and comfortable compared to the past," he said.
    But critics remain unconvinced. They say poor staff training and outdated facilities are to blame for the zoo's woeful record.
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