Zoo Negara was a part of many Malaysian’s childhoods.
Remember when coming here was like paradise, as we would get to see the animals that we only see in documentaries and hear in stories.
via GIPHY
Sadly, the Internet allows you to view compilations of other animals doing quirky things at the comforts of your home, and so many other distractions.
This decreases people visiting the zoo, and according to New Straits Times, Zoo Negara are in desperate need of sponsors and visitors.
Deputy President of Zoo Negara has expressed the decline over years since 2015 from 708,000 visitors to 368,000.
This affects the Malayan tigers, as they are running out of resources and finances for the operational costs and expansion line with its status as a national zoo.
It costs RM100 a day to feed the Malayan tigers while the Bengal ones eat 10kg of meat, or RM200 worth, a day. This boils down to RM40,000 per tiger a year, including their medicine.
Factoring in the zookeepers’ expenses, we need about RM500,000 a year. Ideally, to expand and make the zoo a focus of Asian tiger observation, we need about RM1 million annually.” – New Straits Times
Rosly mentions that they will be meeting with Prime Minister, Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad, and Economic Affairs Minister, Datuk Seri Azmin Ali, to discuss conservation, education and research facilities.
“We also hope that they actively campaign to publicise our zoo in Malaysia and internationally as it is the emblem for conservation.”
In the meantime, we encourage and urge people to go and support our local animals.
