Ragunan And Several Tourist Attractions In Jakarta Closed September 14th

Elephants at Ragunan Wildlife Park (doc. Antara)

JAKARTA - The Ragunan Wildlife Park in South Jakarta City will be closed again for visitors on September 14, 2020. This is done in line with the continued implementation of Large-Scale Social Restrictions (PSBB) by the DKI Jakarta Provincial Government.

"We just followed the leader's direction, we were instructed to close our doors, instructed to open us to open," said Ketut Widarsana, Head of the Ragunan Wildlife Park Promotion Unit, as quoted by Antara, Sunday, September 13.

Ketut said the instructions for the closure of tourist and entertainment places, including Ragunan, had been conveyed through a press conference by the DKI Jakarta Governor. Ketut continued, his party is still waiting for official instructions from the Central Government regarding the further enforcement of the PSBB in DKI Jakarta, including the closure of Ragunan.

"From the leadership, it was actually directed to close on September 14, but I also got information from the media, he said there would be a joint announcement by the central government maybe later in the afternoon, what kind of announcement the local government will follow from the central government," said Ketut.

Ketut explained that the closing of Ragunan this time was the same as the beginning of the PSBB which was set for March 14, 2020, namely the closing of all services for visitors. But for animal care, cages, environmental cleanliness and infrastructure in Ragunan, they are still running according to PSBB regulations.

"All visitor services are closed, but maintenance as usual returns to the arrangement at the initial PSBB, there will be officers who will be arranged through an assignment letter," he said.

There are also officers who enter or work from home (WFH), there are those who take care of cages, clean cages, take care of animals, parks and cleanliness of infrastructure and facilities. "Only visitor services are closed," he said.

Since its reopening on June 20, 2020, Ragunan has been visited by the public for tours in the midst of the pandemic, with a limited visitor capacity of only 1,000 visitors. Ketut added that Ragunan was ready to follow the government regulations if asked to close.

"We are following the rules of the government if we are advised to close, so we are ready to close again, provided that even though we are closed the maintenance will continue as usual," said Ketut.

Not only Ragunan, the closure applies to all tourist destinations in the capital, totaling 27 tourist attractions, including the Monas area, Ancol, TMII, a number of museums, Proclamation Monument, Cipir Island, Onrust Island and so on.