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Visitors enjoy new elephant ride at safari park in Bogor
Jumbo ride:: Visitors ride elephants at Taman Safari Indonesia
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Jumbo ride:: Visitors ride elephants at Taman Safari Indonesia. JP/Theresia Sufa
Taman Safari Indonesia (TSI) zoo in Bogor, West Java, recently launched a new attraction, allowing visitors to ride elephants to explore the forest that surrounds the zoo.
TSI director Jansen Manansang said that besides exploring the forest by cars or trains, visitors could now also choose to hop on an elephant and enjoy a 30–40 minute ride.
“The jumbo safari adventure is available every day. Visitors can feel the sensation of observing the wild animals closer, and maybe learn more about medicinal plants. They can also feel the atmosphere of a tropical forest,” he said.
He said that the management had provided 14 elephants for the new adventure, and visitors needed to pay Rp 350,000 (US$36.9) per person for a ride.
Taman Safari Indonesia zoo is located on a 165-hectares of land, 70 percent of which is covered by the forest. The rest of the area is used for animals’ shelters, recreation areas, and lodgings. It has at least 2,600 animals that comprise 272 species.
Jansen said that the new attraction was one of the zoo’s success programs in preserving endangered species, both plantations and animals, in their natural habitats.
The Forestry Ministry’s forests and nature conservation directorate general has awarded Taman Safari Indonesia for its achievement in protecting wild animals and plantations. TSI has also played a great role in returning wild animals to their habitats, including Sumatran tigers and rare Bali Starling birds (Leucopsar rotschildi); has built a Sumatra Rhino Sanctuary through its cooperation with the Australian Zoo and the ministry; and has built Asia’s biggest hospital for elephants in Way Kambas in Lampung and Riau.
“The new adventure is part of our way to help conserve Sumatran elephants. Based on our records, there have been 20 elephant births here,” Jansen said.
A visitor from Banten, Citra, said that she was looking forward to riding the elephant and exploring the forest.
“It must be so fun to explore the forest by riding an elephant. I believe there will be so much to see as the forest is integrated with Mt. Gede Pangrango National Park.”
Since the first day of Idul Fitri, the zoo has become the choice for people to spend their holidays. More than 15,000 visitors have visited the zoo every day during the holiday period.
The peak was recorded during the second day of Idul Fitri, in which around 20,000 people flocked to the zoo, built in 1982.
During the holiday, the management increased the entrance fee ticket for local tourists from Rp 100,000 to Rp 130,000. For that price visitors can enjoy 24 attractions, nine animal shows and entrance to the water park.
