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Zoos to be standardized to combat animal abuse
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Sun bears spend time in their enclosure in Bandung Zoo, West Java, on Jan. 18. (JP/Arya Dipa)
T
he government plans to standardize all zoos and conservation institutions in the country following a series of reports of animal abuse at several zoos.
Environment and Forestry Minister Siti Nurbaya Bakar said standardization would be stipulated in a ministerial regulation that was being prepared.
“Because [if there’s no standardization], it could create problems, such as those at Surabaya Zoo and Bandung Zoo. These zoos have been criticized by the community,” she said in Banjarmasin, South Kalimantan, on Saturday.
Siti was referring to mismanagement plaguing the Surabaya and Bandung zoos.
(Read also: Plastic found in Surabaya zoo's giraffe stomach)
Surabaya Zoo attracted local and international attention in 2012 following the death of many its animals. In one example, up to 20 kilograms of plastic was found in the stomach of a giraffe named Kliwon that was found dead in its enclosure.
In response to the problem, an online petition calling for the zoo's closure was soon initiated and obtained more than 100,000 signatures.
Bandung Zoo, meanwhile, is being widely criticized following a video on YouTube showing sun bears at the zoo apparently begging visitors for food.
(Read also: Zoo defends condition following video of sun bears begging for food)
The same zoo came under fire last year when a Sumatran elephant, Yani, died after being sick for a week without receiving proper medical treatment. The zoo at the time did not have an in-house vet. (evi)
