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Tiger dies at Medan Zoo, three more severely ill
Medan Zoo has been facing a financial crisis as a result of low visitor numbers.
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A Sumatran tiger lies seriously ill on Jan. 15, 2024, in its dilapidated enclosure at Medan Zoo, in Medan, North Sumatra. The 30-hectare zoo is in a state of neglect. (Antara /Yudi)
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male Bengal tiger named Wesa in Medan Zoo in North Sumatra has died after months of being severely ill, adding to the list of tigers that have died at the zoo.
In the past three months, four tigers have died at the zoo, which has struggled with funding and mismanagement.
Bambang Hendarto, acting president director of city-owned development firm Pembangunan Kota Medan, which oversees Medan Zoo, said Wesa died on Jan. 22. The tiger was about to turn 17 years old on Feb. 25.
“We received the Bengal tiger from Ragunan [Zoo] in Jakarta. He was supposed to be 17 years old next month,” Bambang told The Jakarta Post on Saturday.
He said more tigers at the zoo were in danger, namely three Sumatran tigers Manis, 20, Anggi, 19 and Sorik, 12. The zoo currently has nine tigers in its care.
He said Medan Zoo was still trying to treat the sick animals with the help of the North Sumatra Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BKSDA) as the zoo could not do it alone due to a financial crisis.
He said that up to 116 animals were kept at the zoo, and for their food the zoo relied on help from the Indonesian Zoo Association.
“We can no longer afford to feed the animals at Medan Zoo, thankfully there’s a third party that is willing to help,” Bambang said, referring to the association.
He said Medan Zoo only received Rp 50 million (US$3,162) per month in revenue from ticket sales. However, the zoo needed roughly Rp 200 million per month to pay staff salaries and for animal food.
Bambang said one of the options was to close the zoo down, however, the management was still trying to find ways to keep it afloat, through finding “foster parents” for the animals at the zoo.
“Medan Mayor Bobby Nasution already has their names [of the animal foster parents], just wait for the announcement,” Bambang said, adding that he hoped the animal foster parents could help alleviate the financial crisis.
Ahmad Arfan, a Medan Zoo staffer, said activities at the zoo went on as usual, however there were only a few visitors and they were disappointed at seeing the poor condition of the animals at the zoo.
“We are also ashamed, but what can we say? Medan Zoo’s is in difficulties,” Ahmad said on Saturday.
A nine-year-old female Sumatran tiger named Nurhaliza was found dead in its enclosure at the zoo on Dec. 31, 2023. And in November 2023, a Sumatran tiger Erha and a Bengal tiger Avatar also died at the zoo. (ami)
