Mohd Jafni (second from right) looking at children getting up close with an albino python at Johor Zoo.
THE night safari at Johor Zoo is expected to open by the end of this year, says state executive councillor Datuk Mohd Jafni Md Shukor.
The Johor housing and local government committee chairman said Mentri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi had approved RM5mil for phase two of the zoo’s upgrading works, scheduled to begin in the first quarter of this year.
“We recently presented a proposal to upgrade facilities such as parking spaces and animal enclosures, which has been approved.
“Once the upgrades are complete, we expect 80% of the zoo to become more accessible for the elderly, people with disabilities and parents with strollers.
“Additionally, we aim to launch the night safari in the fourth quarter of this year,” Mohd Jafni said when met by StarMetro at his office in Kota Iskandar.
To accommodate the anticipated rise in visitors and vehicles, Johor Baru City Council (MBJB) is planning to invest RM10mil to transform a plot of land opposite the zoo, near Jalan Gertak Merah, into a carpark.
“There is currently a slight bend in the road that will be straightened to make way for the new parking area,” he said.
A study is also underway to explore the use of a parking area in front of the Sultan Abu Bakar Mosque, although that land is privately owned.
“We are also looking into creating a pedestrian crossing between these parking areas and the zoo before the night safari officially opens.”
Mohd Jafni added that there were plans for an additional 200 parking bays at the Ayer Molek Prison site.
“The prison grounds now serve as the main parking area for zoo visitors, with around 400 parking bays available.
“MBJB also intends to convert the old prison into a night market to complement the night safari,” he said, adding that the night market would only be held during weekends.
Earlier, Onn Hafiz was reported as saying that the state government was considering introducing a night safari at Johor Zoo to attract more visitors.
He had said that 500,000 local and international visitors had visited the zoo since its reopening on Aug 31 last year.
Johor Zoo reopened following RM9.6mil upgrading works over the past three years.
The zoo currently has 373 animals from 65 species.
