Managing Night Zoo is Not Easy, Ragunan Zoo Management Explains the Challenges

JAKARTA - Ragunan Zoo (TMR) Public Relations Officer Wahyudi Bambang admitted that his office is still reviewing Jakarta Governor Pramono Anung's plan to open Ragunan Zoo at night.

"It needs to be reviewed because there are many things that need to be prepared for the plan to have Ragunan Zoo at night," Bambang told reporters on Wednesday, August 20.

Bambang revealed that there are several obstacles and considerations that need to be taken into account when operating a zoo at night.

There are differences in the habitat habits of animals that are active during the day and those that are active at night. Most diurnal animals need to rest at night, and vice versa. Therefore, not all animals can be exhibited at night.

"So, it must be regulated so that they don't have to perform 24/7 or exhibit in their enclosures. They also need to rest at certain times," Bambang explained.

Furthermore, the crowds of visitors at night also have the potential to disrupt the rest time of animals that are active during the day.

"So, if it's opened at night, we're afraid it will disturb the animals, whose resting time is supposed to be. Some animals are active during the day, while others are active at night," he said.

Therefore, Bambang said his team will collaborate with experts to formulate a study and implement a mechanism for Ragunan's nighttime operations.

"If there's a proposal for Ragunan at night, it will certainly be included in the master plan. For example, regarding parking areas or vehicle lanes within the area, all of that will be considered in the master plan," Bambang explained.