TheJakartaPost
Please Update your browser
Your browser is out of date, and may not be compatible with our website. A list of the most popular web browsers can be found below.
Just click on the icons to get to the download page.
Ragunan Zoo expects 800,000 visitors over Idul Fitri
The zoo generally sees a high influx of visitors during the family holiday.
Change Size
Visitors throng the Sumatran elephant enclosure at South Jakarta's Ragunan Zoo during Idul Fitri in 2017. Holidaymakers visit Jakarta's popular attractions en masse during the Idul Fitri holiday season. (Antara/Reno Esnir)
T
he Ragunan Zoo management said on Saturday that it expected 800,000 people to visit the South Jakarta zoo during the long Idul Fitri holiday from June 6 to 16.
"Over the years, the number of visitors has always exceeded our expectations. This year, we are [projecting] 800,000 visitors," Ragunan Zoo spokesperson Ketut Widarsana said, as quoted by Warta Kota on Saturday.
"[Visits] will peak on June 8 and 9, over the weekend. We estimate 150,000 visitors per day," he added.
Ketut said the zoo was offering a special "feed the animals" program to attract visitors over the Idul Fitri holiday season.
"It only applies to certain animals that we have chosen. The point is, we want to teach people how to feed the animals the right way, with the assistance of our staff," he said.
To ensure security and enhance the zoo's services during the holiday, Ketut said that the zoo had partnered with the Indonesian Military (TNI) and the National Police, along with Jakarta's Public Order Agency (Satpol PP), Transportation Agency and Fire and Rescue Agency, as well as the Indonesian Red Cross (PMI) and medical staff for visitors.
In addition, the Jakarta Environment Agency was providing portable toilets.
The zoo's staff had already pruned trees to avoid any branches from falling and injuring visitors, and the zoo management would be providing additional parking for the holiday season.
"Our parking lots will be enough to accommodate 6,000 cars and 30,000 motorcycles," said Ketut.
Ragunan Zoo, however, is to be closed on the first day of Idul Fitri, as stipulated in Jakarta Governor Decree No. 63/2018. The actual date depends on the government's final decision at the isbat (confirmation) meeting on June 3.
Ketut advised people who held JakCard cards from Bank DKI to make sure they had a sufficient balance on the cards for paying the zoo's entrance fee.
Ketut also urged all visitors to look after their belongings and all parents to keep their children close.
"Do not litter. And lastly, do not feed the animals without our staff's supervision," he said. (vla)
