The city administration offered Ragunan Zoo in South Jakarta the financial support it needed to become a world-class tourist destination, but the offer was refused by the management.

Governor Joko '€œJokowi'€ Widodo offered to disburse up to Rp 500 billion (US$45.5 million) for the project, with the only requirement being a master plan that would be valid for a century.

'€œThe preparation to make the blueprint and macro design for the zoo should start now. The administration is ready to release the funds as long as there is a clear program,'€ he said on the sidelines of the public dialogue at the zoo on Tuesday.

The newly installed zoo supervisor, business tycoon Hashim Djojohadikusumo, declined the offer, saying that the blueprint could only be formulated next year.

'€œWe can request budget funds the following year, once we finish collecting public feedback,'€ said the younger brother of Great Indonesia Movement Party (Gerindra) patron Prabowo Subianto.

Zoo director Marsawitri Gumay said that the zoo was in dire need of more funds to improve infrastructure, such as animal enclosures.

Marsawitri said the zoo needed at least Rp 50 billion to cover its annual operational costs. She said it relied mainly on the city fund of Rp 33.5 billion and ticketing revenue. The zoo, which welcomed 4.2 million visitors in 2012, hopes to reap Rp 28.5 billion from ticketing this year. The current amount collected this year is Rp 20 billion as of this month.

On regular days, the 147-hectare zoo is visited by around 3,000 people, this number rises to 20,000 people on weekends and can reach 60,000 during school holidays. During peak seasons, such as Idul Fitri, visitors can number over 140,000 each day.

'€œWith such a tight budget, we cannot make infrastructure improvements. Most of the enclosures need to be replaced, not to mention street vendors who enter the zoo and littering visitors,'€ Marsawitri said.

She told The Jakarta Post that the zoo might need to build more attractions to bring in more money.

Hashim said the zoo'€™s management planned to address 12 infrastructure projects, including filtering dirty water from the 6.8 hectare lake, fixing the cinema, improving electronic security devices and fence maintenance.

He said the zoo management was deciding if it was feasible to increase the entrance fee, which he said was the cheapest in the world.

'€œWe need to study the hike first. Rp 4,000 is than a pack of cigarettes and the ticket price affects the facilities and employees'€™ welfare.'€

Currently, weekday tickets at Ragunan Zoo only cost Rp 4,000 for an adult and Rp 3,000 for children. The prices are doubled on weekends and holidays. A ticket to Surabaya Zoo costs Rp 10,000 and one to Gembira Loka Zoo, Yogyakarta, costs Rp 15,000.

During the one day public discussion, Taronga Conservation Society Australia CEO Cameron Kerr said although the animals were special, the zoo must teach people about nature, so they could appreciate what a privilege it was to see the animals.

'€œVisitors need a context. They need a story and it must be engaging,'€ he said.

Many wildlife activists have criticized the zoo for its failure to educate visitors as it lacks comprehensive information on boards or in guides. It only provides basic information such as the species'€™ names, origins, food and habitats.

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