North Sumatra DPRD Chairman Asks Bobby Nasution To Focus On Fixing Medan Zoo

Medan Zoo/ANTARA

The chairman of the North Sumatra Provincial DPRD, Baskami Ginting, asked the government to focus on fixing the Medan Zoo or Medan Zoo because the conditions are already concerning.

"In my opinion, this issue cannot be handled partially, this Medan Zoo is not only a matter of animal feed burdens, but also about conservation, asset management to digitalization problems," Baskami said in Medan as reported by ANTARA, Monday, February 5.

Baskami said, Medan Zoo must play a more role as a natural protection and preservation effort than just demonstrating a collection of endangered animals.

"We regret that many rare animals died, including Sumatran tigers, I think this could be a concern for the world, if there is omission," he said.

Baskami said that if conditions require temporary closure, then according to him, all remaining animals will be given to the ideal conservation agency.

"I ask that in the near future there will be concrete steps and comprehensive handling of all stakeholders on this issue," he said.

Previously, the Regional Public Company (PUD) for Development, one of the BUMDs belonging to the Medan City Government, North Sumatra said the Medan Zoo or Medan Zoo was still operating to serve tourists today.

"As of February 4, 2024, we have not been ordered to do that (turn it off, ed.). There has been no letter from the city government to close it," said Acting Director of PUD Pembangunan Bambang Hendarto.

He admitted that the last four months Medan Zoo has been in the spotlight due to the financial crisis that left four tigers dead in this zoo cage.

As many as four animals, two Sumatran tigers named Erha on November 3, 2023 and on behalf of Nurhaliza on December 31, 2023, respectively.

Medan Mayor Bobby Nasution last month planned to temporarily close Medan Zoo following investor improvements and improvement plans.

"This is a regional company, even though it is the power of the Medan City Government's capital owner. So if you really want to close it, there must be a letter and rules like that," he said.

According to him, the closure of the Medan Zoo is an option that has long been echoed, especially in response to the financial crisis in recent years.

"Friends at the DPRD also disagree, if Medan Zoo is closed. In fact, the Minister (Living and Forestry Center Siti Nurbaya Bakar) stated that the Medan Zoo should not be closed," he said.

Medan Zoo recorded the last few months the number of tourist visits ahead of the weekend, Saturday and Sunday, around 50 people per day, while Monday to Friday dozens of people per day.