Ragunan Zoo

Ragunan Zoo ( Indonesian: ''Kebun Binatang Ragunan'') is a zoo located in Pasar Minggu, South Jakarta, Indonesia. The zoo has an area of . The zoo has an aviary and a primate centre, and employs over 450 people. Many of the animals in the zoo are endangered and threatened from all parts of Indonesia and the rest of the world. There are a total of 2,288 animals inside the zoo. Laid out in a lush tropical habitat, rare animals such as crocodile, gorilla, orangutan, tapir, anoa, sumatran tiger, babirusa and peacocks are given ample room. The zoo is located in South Jakarta and is easily accessible through the Jakarta Outer Ring Road and TransJakarta Corridor 6 bus (grey color).

Ragunan Zoo originally opened on 1864. Therefore, the zoo is 158 years old. It is the oldest zoo in Indonesia.

History

The zoo was established in 1864 by a Dutch East Indies flora and fauna lovers organization, the ''Vereneging Planten en Dierentuin'' of Batavia. Raden Saleh, a prominent Indonesian painter in the 19th century, donated about of his land for the establishment of Batavia first zoo in the Cikini area of Central Jakarta. The zoo moved to its present location in 1966, and was officially opened on 22 June 1966, managed by the city administration. The former location was turned into the Taman Ismail Marzuki performing art center and Jakarta Art Institute.

Ragunan Zoo used to keep a pair of Sumatran rhinoceros, named Jalu and Dusun, from 1986 to late 1990's. The male Jalu is a wild rhinoceros caught from Sumatra, while the female Dusun came from Malacca Zoo. Jalu died at the zoo in 1994, Dusun is sent to the Way Kambas National Park and died there in 2001.

In July 2002, four western lowland gorilla arrived from Howletts Wild Animal Park, the four male gorillas are: Kumbo, Komu, Kihi, and Kidjoum. Kidjoum died in February 2008 following a fight with the other gorillas. The three remaining gorillas now become the zoo's main stars, housed in the Schmutzer Primate Center.

On 19 September 2005, following the order of the city's governor, the zoo was temporarily closed for about three weeks after various birds were found to have been infected by the avian influenza.

On January 1, 2015 Ragunan Zoo was visited by 186,456 visitors, the highest among the New Year days, the previous highest record was about 175,000 visitors on January 1, 2011.

In 2015, The Head of General Service Division of Ragunan Zoo said that in 2018, Ragunan Zoo is predicted to become an international standard for zoos, with the hiring of experts to improve the welfare and life quality of the animals, improving the quality of the cages, and improving facilities for visitors. Later that year, the zoo received 209 billion rupiah for subsidy from the local government.

As of April 2021, there are 2,288 animals and 335 animal species inside the zoo.

The Schmutzer Primate Centre

The Schmutzer Primate Centre was opened in 2002, within the Ragunan Zoo but privately funded and managed separately. It is one of the largest of such centers in the world. The special enclosure houses various primates, including gorillas, chimpanzees and orangutans. The center was named after the late Pauline Antoinette Schmutzer, who donated her estate to the center. Dr Willie Smits of the Borneo Orangutan Survival Foundation designed the orangutan enclosure so that the orangutans have as natural an environment as possible. Thick dark glass allows visitors to see the orangutans while being invisible to them.

Exhibits

Beginning in February 2014, the zoo will be closed every Monday for maintenance and to provide a quiet day for the animals. If Monday is a holiday, the zoo will be open but will be closed on another day in lieu of the holiday.

*Reptiles
Turtles and Komodo dragon are well as the crocodile in this zoological garden
*Mammals
Primate cages house several kinds of langurs, gibbons, and macaques, while gorillas and orangutans are located in the Schmutzer Primate Centre.

Small mammal compounds display raccoon, binturong, beaver, Asian palm civet, Java mouse-deer, Javan porcupine.
Other mammals on display such as babirusa, llama, eland, camel, Arabian oryx.
Ragunan also hosts carnivore large cats such as Sri Lankan leopards and tigers. The cage of Sumatran tigers, black bear, and sun bear located on southeastern end of the zoo near the lake.
*Birds
The pool with pelicans and swans, located near the entrance. Several large aviary and smaller bird cages host the zoo's bird collection, including Javan peafowl, Javan hawk-eagle, brahminy kite, white-bellied sea eagle, crested serpent-eagle, Bali starling, Sulawesi hornbill, palm cockatoo, common hill myna, crowned pigeons, cockatoos, and pheasants. Large birds such as cassowary and ostrich are displayed in separate compounds.
*Open ranges
The river valley located on the eastern side of the zoo provides natural landscape of wetlands, swamp, and river environment that features crocodiles and gavial The eastern open plain recreates the savanna environment with various kinds of deers such as the rare Bawean deer, muntjac, sambar deer and wild buffalo including anoa
*Other animals
Other popular animals on display are hippopotamus, white tigers, Banteng, Sumatran Elephant and proboscis monkey

Other attractions

Special attractions for the children include a Children's Zoo, playground and rides, along with the Sunday events of pony cart and boat rides on Ragunan lake.

References

External links

Official website (in English)

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Zoos in Indonesia
Buildings and structures in Jakarta
Tourist attractions in Jakarta
South Jakarta