Guest guest Posted January 24, 2006 Report Share Posted January 24, 2006 Zoo Negara needs reform- New Straits Times DR W.V. PERERA Kuala Lumpur Jan 20: -- IT is mind-boggling how the Zoo Negara management thinks. The fundamental role of our national zoo, that of education, conservation, research and entertainment has apparently been abandoned. It is sad to read of the zoo management's callous reply that their snakeman's advice " to hit snakes on the head and throw them on the road to be run over " was just a joke. In your report " Zoo Negara under fire over snake show " (NST, Jan 17), they claimed it was also to ensure people would be wary of snakes. This remark is disheartening for environmentalists the world over who strive hard to do away with the myths and misconceptions surrounding snakes. People should be taught to protect snakes and not harm them. Does the zoo management think that a ghastly circus-like snake show, with medicine- man-like performances and poor content impresses the Malaysian public? It assumes that the Malaysian public is silly, naive and uninformed. A good factual commentary in Bahasa Malaysia and English would be far more entertaining and educational. Zoo Negara should take note of the Singapore Zoo's snake show which is right on the mark — educational, interactive and entertaining. Or take the cue from its close cousin, the Taiping Zoo, which is commendable for its efforts to become a modern zoo in Asia. It is high time the right people (veterinarians, zoologists, wildlife biologists) managed the zoo to make the right changes, or we might as well close it down. The animals at Zoo Negara plead silently for reform. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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