Zoo Negara looking to enhance programmes

Visitors looking at giant panda Fu Wa at Zoo Negara in Ampang. — Photos: AZMAN GHANI/The Star

Officials to strengthen collaboration with British zoo for more robust education, conservation projects

THERE are plans to enhance Zoo Negara’s partnership with United Kingdom’s Chester Zoo after both parties met at a meeting.

In a sharing session, representatives from both zoos exchanged views on their respective volunteering programmes.

Zoo Negara deputy president Datuk Rosly @ Rahmat Ahmat Lana said through the strengthened collaboration with Chester Zoo, the national zoo was looking to also join forces with other members of the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (Waza) for more robust wildlife education and conservation projects.

“Both Zoo Negara and Chester Zoo are Waza members who are dedicated to the care and conservation of animals and their habitats around the world.

“The augmented partnership between both zoos raises the benchmark for our future programmes while further increasing the possibility of collaborating with other Waza members,” he said.

During the session held at the zoo in Ampang, its education head Junaidi Omar spoke about the Keeperku (My Zookeeper) project and its volunteer programme.

He said Keeperku allowed Malaysians aged 13 and older to gain hands-on experience in managing zoo animals through participation in a half or full-day programme.

These programmes equip volunteers with skills to beautify the zoo’s landscape, maintain its facilities, manage animals in captivity and clean public areas.

Chester Zoo volunteer manager Lindsay Marston spoke on the British zoo’s focus in empowering youths to venture into volunteerism.

Marston (left) receiving a token of appreciation from Zoo Negara president Datuk Seri Zaharin Md Arif.

“Currently, there are 13 youths aged 18 to 25 in Chester Zoo’s board of trustees. They provide valuable opinions to leverage the zoo’s youth-centric wildlife education.

“We are also actively engaging with young people in north-west England to survey what they know about wildlife conservation.”

Marston also heads Chester Zoo’s wildlife conservation and education team.

During the session, she explained how Chester Zoo’s 10-year wildlife conservation master plan was aimed at preventing animal extinction.

The master plan, she said, is meant to protect an additional 150 species and reverse or halt the decline of at least 200 species of wildlife by 2031.

Separately, Rosly said all Zoo Negara staff were prepared to face any flood incidents that may occur.

He urged Selangor government to address problems associated with Sungai Kemensah which flows near the zoo.

“The main cause of floods in Zoo Negara has always been Sungai Kemensah breaking its banks during the monsoon season.

“Its riverbank should be further widened so that water can flow easily during downpours, minimising the chances of flooding,” he told StarMetro.

Touching on the approximately 20% drop in number of visitors since giant panda cubs Yi Yi and Sheng Yi returned to China in August, Rosly emphasised that their parents, Fu Wa and Feng Yi, were still available for public viewing.

He said many visitors were not aware of Fu Wa and Feng Yi’s presence at the zoo.

Fu Wa and Feng Yi were loaned to the Malaysian government in 2014 for 10 years, in conjunction with the 40th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Malaysia and China.