JAKARTA: Surabaya Zoo in East Java is set to receive four animal species from Japan’s largest reptile park, iZoo, under a breeding loan agreement that will see the Indonesian zoo exchange its Komodo dragons.
The confirmed arrivals include a pair of red pandas, a pair of giraffes and four Aldabra giant tortoises, while one additional species is being kept under wraps as a surprise for visitors.
Surabaya Mayor Eri Cahyadi hinted at the arrival of a pair of red-coloured animals that could become the zoo’s new icon.
“It will be a surprise for Surabaya residents. They are red and not reptiles,” he said. He added that the partnership had been in the works for nearly a decade before finally materializing this year, and expressed the hope it would boost public interest while reinforcing Surabaya Zoo’s status as a modern, internationally recognised conservation destination.
“Hopefully this loan programme will generate greater interest both in Surabaya and in Japan, where people have long dreamed of seeing Komodo dragons,” he said.
Surabaya Zoo’s operations and general director, Nurika Widyasanti, said that under the agreement, the zoo would loan a pair of Komodo dragons aged between 8 and 12 years, both bred in-house, to iZoo for a period of five years.
“Unlike animal exchanges, a breeding loan ensures that ownership remains with the country of origin. This means the Komodo dragons sent to Japan will continue to belong to Indonesia, even if they reproduce,” she said. Nurika added that the plan had been reviewed by the central government and would not disrupt the zoo’s Komodo breeding program.
“Even after the loan, we will still have more than 50 Komodo dragons at Surabaya Zoo,” she noted. She said the program would be closely monitored by both parties, with Surabaya Zoo conducting regular oversight of the animals’ condition, while iZoo will be required to provide updates within 24 hours in case of emergencies.
The administrative process is still underway, with the Komodo dragons expected to be shipped after some of the Japanese animals arrive in Surabaya.
“Some of the animals will be sent to Surabaya Zoo first, after which we will dispatch the Komodo dragons to fulfill the agreement,” she said.
Forestry Ministry director for species and genetic conservation Ahmad Munawir confirmed that Japan had prepared facilities to support the Komodo dragons’ adaptation.
“They have built special enclosures with controlled conditions,” he said, emphasizing that the animals’ welfare would remain safeguarded outside their native habitat.
He added that the breeding loan agreement between Surabaya Zoo and iZoo was a follow-up to a memorandum of understanding signed in March between Forestry Minister Raja Juli Antoni and Shizuoka Governor Suzuki Yasutomo.
“This agreement reflects a shared commitment to strengthening mutually beneficial international collaboration, particularly in protecting endangered species,” Ahmad was quoted as saying by Beritajatim.com.
Established on Aug 31, 1916, Surabaya Zoo is one of the oldest and most extensive zoos in South-East Asia. Covering around 15 hectares, the facility houses 211 species, comprising more than 2,236 individual animals. - The Jakarta Post/ANN
