D

ozens of die-hard Persebaya soccer fans visited Surabaya Zoo in East Java in a show of support for efforts to end a prolonged dispute within the zoo’s management, which has apparently led to the deaths of many animals due to neglect.

“We don’t care about the conflict in the zoo management. What matters to us is the well-being and safety of the animals,” said one of the fan club members, Bonita, as quoted by kompas.com on Tuesday.

Surabaya Zoo has announced that 14 of its animals, including a babirusa, a Bawean deer, a koala, an American black bear, a camel and a Sumatran tiger, are currently on the brink of death.

The news comes just weeks after two Komodo dragons at the zoo died from diseases resulting from neglect.

Bonita called on the zoo management to focus on taking care of the animals rather than waste energy on the dispute.

The fans, better known as bonek, short for bondo nekat (prepared for anything), are usually considered to be penniless soccer hooligans who hitch rides to matches and trash facilities.

The visit to the zoo was also attended by members of the East Java branch of the Wild Animal Conservation Forum (Foksi), the Environmental Journalists Community (KPJL), academics, artists and other elements of society.

During the visit, which was led by Daniel Lukas Rorong, participants bathed an elephant as a symbol of love for the animals at the zoo.

“Separate from the management conflict, we want to show the public that we care about conservation
and love the animals at the zoo,” Daniel said.

Meanwhile, East Java’s coordinator of Wild Animal Conservation Forum, Indra Harsaputra, said the joint visit was aimed at campaigning for conservation causes among Surabaya residents so they would care more about animals, especially endangered ones. (iwa)