Supervision of animals in Bukittinggi Zoo needs serious
improvements. From monitoring of Scorpion Investigator in the zoo today (Sunday,
15 May 2016), visitors were free to make direct contact with the orangutans.
This can pose a health problem because human diseases can be transmitted to the
orangutans as human DNA has 97% similarity with orangutans.’
Other sight which is less fun in the Bukittinggi zoo
is the condition of the elephants. The Elephants are chained on two legs (front and back
leg) causing the elephants unable to move freely. This is a form of animal
cruelty. It is very unfortunate in the Bukittinggi Zoo as this zoo has been
designated as a pilot project for
the revitalization of government-owned zoo in Indonesia.
Selection of Bukittinggi Zoo to be the pilot
project is the result of a meeting between the Association of Zoos Indonesia
(PKBSI), and Southeast Asian Zoo Association (SEAZA), and Indonesian President
Joko Widodo in September 2015.
Bukittinggi Zoo will be renovated on a large scale
and will be redesigned. After the renovation, it expected that this zoo will be
able to accommodate 800,000 visitors per year. The amount is double the current
number of visitors (400,000 per year).
As reported by http://www.infosumbar.net,
renovation has now entered the stage of making grand design and preparation of
Detailed Engineering Design (DED) which are all performed by a team of
consultants from overseas.
Renovation of Bukittinggi
Zoo is funded by the central government budget at a cost of approximately IDR105
billion (approximately US$8,000,000)
This figure subjects to change depending on the result
of survey by consultants.
Work on the renovation itself will start in mid of this
year and is expected to complete in two years. While under renovation this zoo
will be closed to public.
It is hoped that cruelty to animals in this zoo can
be ended very soon.
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