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Internal row, poor enclosure blamed for deaths of animals
Internal bickering has been blamed for a flurry of deaths at East Java’s Surabaya zoo, with 20 animals, including a rare Sumatran tiger and 13 young Komodo dragons, dying between June and August this year
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nternal bickering has been blamed for a flurry of deaths at East Java’s Surabaya zoo, with 20 animals, including a rare Sumatran tiger and 13 young Komodo dragons, dying between June and August
this year.
The latest casualty was only the tip of the iceberg. Last year, 327 animals died, and 362 more died in 2008 at the zoo, which has been praised for having the most complete collection in Southeast Asia. It is home to 4,200 animals from 315 species.
Most of the deaths were said to result from different illnesses such as pneumonia, enteritis and malnutrition, as well as poor conditions inside the zoo.
The zoo’s acting head Tony Sumampouw said the zoo was established on Aug. 31 in 1916 by a group of animal-loving Dutch residents in Surabaya. It was named Soerabaiasche Planten-en Dierentuin, or Surabaya Zoo and Botanical Garden.
The Dutch residents, he said, had worked hard to raise funds for the zoo, which was initially
located in Kaliondo area in Surabaya before being relocated to Jl. Groedo in September 1917.
However, when the management was taken over by Indonesians, the local executives were caught up seeking profit from the zoo, he added.
“This [profit-making focus] has sparked extended internal conflict,” Tony said.
The internal row, which was first sparked in 1998, was also blamed for the death of two cheetahs, which were presented by South African President Thabo Mbeki in 2007 and had been living in the zoo for a year. The cheetahs died after being attacked by a Bengal tiger when they were released for mating.
The conflict culminated in 2007 when zoo executive Basuki Reksi Wibowo uncovered the sale of rare animals, including lions and white tigers, during the leadership of Stany Soebakir, who denied the allegation. Stany was replaced by Basuki in 2009 but Stany’s camp insisted he was the rightful zoo administrator.
Early this year, zoo management was taken over by a temporary management team, comprising members from the Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BKSDA), Indonesian Zoo Association, Surabaya city administration, Surabaya Flora and Fauna Park Association and Surabaya Flora and Fauna Foundation.
The conflict may likely intensify after Surabaya Mayor Dwo Hartono urged the Forestry Ministry to hand the zoo over to the administration, which plans to convert it into a regional company, since the 15-hectare zoo is built on government-owned land.
Tony highlighted the poor condition of the zoo’s enclosures, despite the fact the zoo earns more than a billion rupiah in profits annually. Last year, the zoo earned some Rp 1.1 billion in profit.
“The conflict also involves a number of employees, who often held protests against the management’s policies. Frequent protests make the employees more familiar with the conflict with management than taking care of the animals,” Tony said.
The zoo’s animal keeper, Suladi, however, continued taking care of the tigers and lions despite the internal row. “I do my job out of my love and devotion to animals,” he said.
Supadi’s role involves feeding the tigers and lions. “The tiger will only roar when it’s hungry and attack when disturbed..,” said the man who also works freelance as a dog trainer to earn extra income.
Surabaya resident Danny Kurniawan raised hope the conflict would end. “Don’t let more animals die in the zoo. Such a situation will justify people wanting to keep them as pets. If a zoo can’t carry out its educational and conservation roles, maybe it’s better for the animals to live in the wild.”
