Desolation at the Ragunan Zoo, Jakarta
More than twenty years ago, I went to Ragunan Zoo quite often with my children. the idea made for a pleasant walk, shaded by trees as well as the animals adding to the fun. the idea even became the venue of a birthday party where the children had to find the answers to multiple-choice questions I had drawn up as well as printed on a map of the route we were to follow: what’s the difference between a leopard as well as a tiger?—(1) a tiger has dots, a leopard is actually striped, (2) a tiger carries a tail, a leopard carries a tail, (3) a tiger is actually striped, a leopard has dots, was one of them.
A few months ago, I went there again, This specific time with the subsequent generation, my grandson. We must have taken not only a wrong entrance however also a wrong turn because we found ourselves in a rather empty part of the zoo, as well as the only attraction in which excited him was a children’s playground in which required one more entrance fee. the idea did tire him out as well as we had to head home before we could find more animals or the Schmutzer Primate Centre I had heard so much about.
Ragunan Zoo, covering 147 hectares is actually huge, however its 50,000 trees provide sufficient cooling shade to make the idea a wonderful park for wandering around leisurely. The Primate Centre was officially opened on 20 August 2000 as well as is actually promoted as an international-class zoo with an important role in primate conservation. As I had not even been near the idea on my previous visit, I decided to visit Ragunan again.
After paying the Rp.4,500 entrance fee I entered, This specific time by the North Gate, as well as with the map obtained at the ticket counter, I soon found myself in front of the Schmutzer Primate Centre where one pays one more fee of Rp.6,000 to enter. I climbed the stairs to the sky-walk over the gorilla enclosure by where the view is actually of lush vegetation. So much lush vegetation in fact, in which the idea’s rather difficult to spot a gorilla. however at last I found one, a large silverback, totally uninterested in his surroundings, slowly plucking tiny leaves by a little stem as well as nibbling them.
as well as then, after descending by the sky-walk, I discovered another one. Not inside lush enclosure, however in a sorry concrete cage at the back. Equally indifferent to the planet, staring without wish at the wall outside his cage as well as a tire-swing he can’t reach. Such loneliness, as well as such utter desolation. Gorillas, in fact all primates, are very social animals, living in groups, or troops, led by an alpha-male. Forcing them into a solitary existence must be stressful to say the least.
Apparently the gorillas were born in Howletts Zoo, England, as well as arrived in Ragunan in 2002, which made Ragunan the only zoo in Asia to house these animals. Originally there were four, all males, however one died.
Without any females, a social hierarchy was not established among the four. The males then commenced to fight as well as had to be separated. A severe blow for the well-intended enclosure. Visitors’ comments on the webpage generally voice regrets in which the beautiful enclosure is actually not conducive to the viewing of the animals.
One comment argues: “…indeed a beautiful enclosure however not a successful one. Exhibits can be designed such in which the animals prefer to frequent certain spots as well as so can be seen by visitors. Apparently in which has not been done here.”
Similar remarks can be made about the orangutan enclosure. Of similar size as well as similarly dense vegetation as the one for the gorillas, the idea is actually nearly impossible to catch a glimpse of Indonesia’s beloved national treasure, the orangutan.
The enclosure does not boast a sky-walk, however instead has glassed openings inside outer wall for viewing—the windows through which I peeped remained, unfortunately, empty of orangutans. however for ‘visitor-satisfaction’ a mother as well as child could be viewed in a concrete sort cage! A less satisfying arrangement would likely be hard to conjure up! as well as as with the gorillas, mother-as well as-child evoke nothing however desolation as well as despair.
however there is actually more! Ragunan has hidden away a large number of orangutans, their number could even be close to 50! These animals live in even worse conditions than the orangutans as well as gorillas ‘on display’ in their annex to the enclosures. They are kept in tiny, miserable concrete cages inside sunless quarantine area south-west of the Schmutzer Centre. as well as even more incomprehensible, they do not have access to drinking water. Only when for the purpose of cleaning, the floors of the cages are sprayed, are the animals able to lap up some water. as well as This specific situation has been going on for years as well as years.
Have these apes been forgotten; are they terminally contagious; are they awaiting sunnier destinations? Difficult to say. however the idea certainly is actually an indication of a serious lack of attention, which under the current organisational arrangements is actually not surprising. Ragunan staff are civil servants as well as typically are liable to be moved to different assignments as well as functions during their career, as well as the zoo would likely not necessarily be a favourite assignment. These frequent modifications of position as well as moving around also results in serious loss of knowledge as well as skills. Acquired specialist proficiencies, for instance in enclosure design as well as maintenance, are lost when the staff member is actually moved to an unrelated function in another division of the ministry.
First as well as foremost, Ragunan should be taken out of the government administration.
The most suitable organisational structure would likely be in which of a non-profit organisation. This specific NPO could consist of three divisions: (1) animals, (2) house as well as garden (infrastructure) as well as (3) public relations. Each of these divisions would likely have numerous sections. The animals division could, for example, be grouped into large carnivores, primates, birds, reptiles as well as the like, with each group responsible for the well-being as well as health of the animals in their section.
Restructuring Ragunan will also ensure in which specialist staff, using a specific interest inside zoo, its animals as well as its operations, can be hired, while opportunities for interns by relevant educational backgrounds could be created, too. in which is actually, not only aspiring zoologists as well as veterinarians, however also those interested in public relations, marketing, botany, engineering design as well as others, could become trainee-interns.
The NPO-Ragunan would likely be funded by the entrance fees as well as donations by individuals as well as corporations. The public relations division would likely have an important role to play in securing a steady flow of funds. Additionally, the division would likely advise senior management on the cost to be charged for entrance. The current Rp.4,500 will most likely need to be adjusted upwards to balance the cost of running a zoo the size of Ragunan as well as the educational as well as recreational needs of especially the lower income classes of the population.
The Ragunan zoo can be turned into an object of national pride. The current set-up does, unfortunately, not contribute to This specific aim.
Comments
Desolation at the Ragunan Zoo, Jakarta
Desolation at the Ragunan Zoo, Jakarta