(MY) KL Zoo relocation - letters to the editor of The Star

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http://thestar.com.my/lifestyle/story.asp?file=/2001/4/17/features/17zoomail

& newspage=Search

 

Tuesday, April 17, 2001

Environment

 

Capers come under fire

 

Readers certainly have a lot to say about Zoo capers, cover story last

Tuesday on plans to relocate Zoo Negara to Paya Indah in Dengkil, Selangor.

While the poll at thestar.com.my shows a suspicious skewing in favour of the

move to Paya Indah (at noon yesterday, 55% of 6,324 people had voted for the

move), letters have totally been against relocation.

Those who could not reach the Zoo Negara's volunteer programme with the

telephone number published in last Tuesday's story, please call 03-4108 2219

instead.

 

IT IS very disappointing to see how our leaders give opinions without

supporting them with facts.

 

The reasons for moving Zoo Negara given by several Selangor mentris besar

over the years, and Science, Technology and Environment Minister Datuk Law

Hieng Ding recently are far from convincing. The inconsistency in the

government's position over the years only casts suspicion about the real

reasons for moving the zoo now. One cannot help but instinctively conclude

that economic interests are behind the order to relocate.

 

The zoo is a source of education to the public, especially to those people

who hardly venture beyond the boundaries of our concrete city. It also

functions as a support to wildlife conservation efforts with its breeding

programmes. Therefore the welfare of the animals is as important as that of

the public.

 

I cannot see how moving the zoo can benefit me as a member of the public,

nor how it would help the animals. If a bigger zoo is required, then build

another one and leave this alone.

 

It would be unacceptable if the zoo is moved and houses, condominiums and

commercial development take over even a part of the existing zoo land.

 

A note on the poll run by thestar.com.my: by the looks of the results thus

far (12.43am, April 11), it is apparent that people voting for the zoo to be

moved to the Paya Indah wetland (35%) do not understand the unsuitability of

a peat swamp for forest dwelling creatures.

 

Or could it be that someone who is bidding for the project at Paya Indah is

rigging the results? Otherwise, no reasonable person would vote for the move

to Paya Indah when all the issues have been clearly laid out in the Section

2 article last Tuesday.

 

Then again, this is Malaysia ... where fair reason is often ignored.

 

Khaw Soon Hoe

Taman Zooview, Selangor

 

 

It's a social duty

IT IS a secret no more that the Federal Government is going to build a new

zoo, as Datuk Law Hieng Ding, the Science, Technology and Environment

Minister, announced last Monday in The Star (Nation, page 22, Malaysia to

have world class zoo). But the plans for the new zoo seem to be a

secret--the public certainly hasn't seen them. Shouldn't we know more about

such a big plan that can affect the quality of our lives?

 

Is there even a need for a new zoo--other than the need real estate

developers have for Zoo Negara's land so they can build more houses and golf

courses as mentioned in the Section 2 article?

 

Secondly, have feasibility and market studies been carried out to figure out

how much the new facility will cost and how much the public would have to

fork out for an outing to the new zoo? The Paya Indah wetland in Selangor

that has been proposed as the site of the new zoo is about 40km from Kuala

Lumpur. Many schools within the Klang Valley would probably find it too far

for school outings; even adults might find the distance daunting.

 

And what of the cost? It may cost about RM25 per person to visit the new zoo

at Paya Indah in terms of entrance fee, food and travel. However, an average

Malaysian family of four needs spend only about RM50 for an outing to Zoo

Negara in Hulu Kelang.

 

Perhaps, then, the new zoo could cater to upmarket tourists with more money

and time to spend on leisure activities.

 

Zoo Negara must be kept within an urban environment to serve as a relatively

cheap public recreational area for the 2.3 million people in the Klang

Valley. It would be rather absurd to move Zoo Negara 40km away from its main

source of visitors.

 

Furthermore, a zoo is an expensive investment intended to meet a nation's

social responsibilities in research and education.

 

From my experience as director of the Malacca Zoo (1989-1992), for every RM1

collected from a visitor, the government was subsidising about RM4. The gate

collection then was not enough to pay for animal feed, workers' wages or new

enclosures. However, the government has kept the zoo going because the zoo

has managed to create an appreciation among visitors for the need to

conserve endangered animals and their environments; the zoo has also managed

to attract increasing numbers of local and foreign visitors. But in terms of

business, it did not make any profit during my tenure. (Note: the Malacca

Zoo is a Federal Government operation while Zoo Negara is essentially a

private one.)

 

Mohd Tajuddin Abdullah

Faculty of Resource Science and Technology

Universiti Malaysia Sarawak

 

 

A part of Klang Valley life

I TOTALLY disagree with plans to relocate Zoo Negara.

 

The exercise of relocating a large number of animals is not only very

costly, but is extremely stressful to the wildlife involved. Even humans are

stressed when forced to relocate; animals will experience an even higher

stress level which could result in a high mortality rate, especially among

smaller animals and birds.

 

Paya Indah's habitat and ecology is not conducive to the well-being of the

wildlife at the present zoo. The relocation plan looks like a short cut to

an " instant zoo.''

 

Zoo Negara is an integral part of life for people in the Klang Valley.

Taking it away will deprive ordinary citizens of a means of enjoying

wildlife and improving the quality of life through interactions with nature.

 

While I do not totally support zoos, I do feel they have a role to play in

the captive breeding of endangered wildlife, such as the milky stork. And

that brings up another concern if the zoo is relocated: the free-flying

birds at Zoo Negara will be disoriented and stressed when disturbed.

 

If the authorities are desperate for a zoo elsewhere, I suggest a new zoo be

created. As suggested in Zoo capers, the new zoo can have a night safari or

wetland theme.

 

Paya Indah, if proper plans are made, can be a natural wildlife park (not a

safari park!) for water birds and native wetland animals--minus cages and

fences (and hippos) except on the perimeter, of course. Natural habitats

should not be transformed into landscaped " deserts.''

 

Many tigers are captive-bred at the Malacca Zoo. These can be provided to a

new zoo, along with other captive-bred birds and animals. I do not support

the capture of wild animals to supply zoos. If a new zoo is created it must

have provisions for captive breeding, which most modern zoos practise

nowadays.

 

Mike Chong

Asian Raptor Research & Conservation Network,

Information Centre, Kuala Lumpur

 

 

It's a ploy

ZOO Negara should definitely not be relocated. It would be an utter waste of

public funds to do so and it is obviously a ploy by certain quarters to once

again exploit the environment for their own selfish ends.

 

Linda H.

Taman Tun Dr Ismail, Kuala Lumpur

 

 

A step backwards

ZOO Negara should not move.

 

I virtually grew up in Zoo Negara's grounds. I've seen it grow from a small

place to what it is today. I've met famous people there--the President of

Egypt, the late Anwar Sadat; our own Sultan of Selangor; our Prime Minister

Datuk Seri Dr Mahathir Mohamad; the country's first PM, the late Tunku Abdul

Rahman Putra Al-Haj--as well as rediscovered an old family friend. In fact,

I know that countless famous politicians and heads of state have graced the

zoo with their presence. It is truly full of history.

 

If we are going to lose such a heritage in the name of progress, then I

believe that is not progress but a step backwards.

 

Chris Lee

Kuala Lumpur

 

 

Urbanites need nature's touch

I WAS shocked to see the photo of a house right up against the back of Zoo

Negara! Especially as I have fond memories of the trip my family and I made

to the zoo and its green surrounds when I was 12.

 

I live in Seattle in the United States now where there is a wonderful zoo

next to a residential area. It is also close to a major road, but you never

hear any noises other than that of the animals and people in the zoo.

 

I think it is very important to have a zoo within city limits that is

accessible to the public. I take my children to the Seattle zoo very often

and it is always a great outing! It is never a major " haul'' to get to the

zoo.

 

I think Zoo Negara should stay where it is and be accessible to the growing

population of the still-developing Klang Valley.

 

The New York City Zoo in Central Park is an example of having a bit of green

in the middle of a concrete jungle. It is not a very big zoo but it helps

put us back in touch with nature.

 

Irene Ng Swanberg

Seattle, Washington

United States

 

 

Don't repeat mistakes

I AM a Malaysian who has been living in Australia for the past 12 years; I

was a KL-ite for 35 years before that. I plead with all Malaysians: do not

develop land just for the sake of the mighty ringgit.

 

Learn from the mistakes of other countries like Australia. During the early

part of the last century, Australians cleared land like there was no

tomorrow. Now they are having to live with their errant ways. Problems like

salinity, the green house effect and uncultivatable land are just the tip of

the iceberg.

 

They are now replanting, gazetting parklands, cleaning up creeks and rivers

and reducing the logging of old growth forests. They make sure there are

green lungs all over their cities. In the middle of Melbourne, for instance,

there are plenty of parks and reserves for everyone to enjoy. You can walk

for more than two hours and never hear a car go by. All you hear are birds

chirping and, if you are lucky, you might spot a koala and other wildlife!

 

I hope more thought is put into the idea of relocating Zoo Negara just

because it sits on prime development land.

 

Jim

Australia

 

 

Are we going overboard?

IS IT not enough now that we see fatal landslides in Cameron Highlands as a

result of greed that can even level hills? Are we not going overboard by

draining wetlands to turn them into commercial areas?

 

Let us not relocate Zoo Negara. Let us not degrade the quality of our lives

even more.

 

Ahmad Suhaimi Hassan

Kuala Lumpur

 

 

Don't mar our image

IF THE people living around Zoo Negara aren't complaining, why should anyone

else?

 

I boast to my expatriate colleagues that Kuala Lumpur is one of the greenest

cities in the world, that in this country we know how to live harmoniously

with other races, that we are the best of the developing countries. Please

don't mar our image by forgetting our caring society vision and torturing

those animals in the zoo with an unnecessary move.

 

Besides, shouldn't Zoo Negara be within Kawasan Ibu Negara (Federal

Territory)?

 

Zoo Negara Lover

Kuala Lumpur

 

 

National pride

I AM surprised that Zoo Negara only has a 99-year lease on its land. Hey,

come on, this is our national zoo, a zoo for the Malaysian people! Why can't

the Federal Government change the land's status to freehold and make it

clear that developers cannot use this land?

 

chong74

Japan

 

 

Maintain and conserve

WE BOAST of having some of the world's oldest rainforests in this country

but we can't even maintain a simple imitation of nature's work? Maintain and

conserve what we have and I know we and future generations will not live to

regret doing so.

 

Ahmad Shahar Zakaria

Kajang, Selangor

 

 

World's best

WHY not just leave Zoo Negara as it is? Transfer all relocation costs

towards upgrading it so it becomes the world's best urban zoo!

 

softswitch

Taman Datuk Keramat, KL

 

 

Consider the environment

I BELIEVE the final decision on whether Zoo Negara should be relocated

should rest with the Malaysian Zoological Society without any pressure

brought to bear on that decision.

 

The society, being a non-profit organisation, will have the best interest of

the zoo animals at heart. It also has the expertise, experience and hands-on

knowledge to decide on the best option for the zoo.

 

Ultimately, Zoo Negara should only be relocated if the new zoo will improve

the living conditions of the zoo animals, the location is easily accessible

to Klang valley residents and the entrance fee remains affordable.

 

I urge the Federal Government to consider the wildlife and the environment

instead of developers by purchasing all the agricultural land surrounding

the zoo and donating it to the society which can hold it in trust for all

Malaysians in perpetuity.

 

Everyone will benefit: the zoo will have more land to enlarge animal

enclosures and make other improvements, animal lovers will have a better

zoo, the zoo animals' lives will not be put at risk from relocation and an

unsuitable habitat, the area will remain a wildlife sanctuary and green

lung, and the government can save money to be used on other projects since

it will surely cost more to relocate Zoo Negara than to build a new zoo.

 

Let reason and not greed prevail!

 

Animal Lover

Damansara Jaya, Petaling Jaya

 

 

Why the silence?

I'M SURE most of us would balk at the idea of being " relocated'' from a job,

house, etc. It's stressful, even traumatic, so can you imagine how it will

feel for animals which won't know what is going on? I feel that no one seems

to want to address this issue seriously.

 

I would like to ask the Malaysian Zoological Society this: why the silence?

Don't you have a stand on this issue? Or have you given up on the animals

and their well-being?

 

Most of the animals at the zoo have already lost their natural homes and

have managed to adapt to their present artificial surroundings--please don't

take even that away from them. Are we willing to lose any of these precious

animals for the sake of this relocation? Please don't go through with this.

 

Claire Thambu

Taman Nirwana, Selangor

 

 

The small things that matter

I SPEAK for myself and for the animals in Zoo Negara which, like all

animals, God created for a reason. Leave the zoo alone and leave the animals

there for our kids to enjoy.

 

I hope the government will consider the extra miles, extra money, extra

toll, extra time we would take to go to Paya Indah in Dengkil if the zoo is

relocated there. Do not overlook what poor people like us want. Small things

in life do matter to us. Even small visits to the zoo. Do not relocate the

zoo.

 

White Mousedeer

Taman Rapat Setia, Ipoh