Zoo Negara the only zoo in the world to breed 100 Milky Storks

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BREEDING animals one loves may seem natural for humans, but for Zoo Negara staff, it is much more than that. 

“We have four major roles to play – conservation, education, research and recreation,” said Zoo Negara director Dr Mohamad Ngah. “They are all related to one another.”  

Endangered: The Malayan Tiger is also an endangered species but the zoo does notbreed any of them as there would not beenough space to house them in captivity andreleasing the tigers into the wild is precluded because of their shrinking natural habitat.

The zoo is understandably proud of the success of some of its captive breeding programmes.  

Perhaps more than its other achievements, Zoo Negara takes pride in being the only zoo in the world that has bred more than 100 Milky Storks, a species that is found locally. With the assistance of the Malaysian Nature Society and the Department of Wildlife and National Parks, eight were released at the Kuala Gula Bird Sanctuary in Perak on March 4 to mark World Wetlands Day. It is estimated that there are fewer than 20 birds in the wild in Malaysia now.  

But, Dr Mohamad is wary of bird flu. 

“We have managed to breed 460 free-flying Painted Storks but if there is an outbreak, we will have to kill them all, including the Milky Storks,” he said. 

Free-flying: A Painted Stork with its fledgling (left, greycoloured) looking for food. The storks change to their white withpink plumage only when they are grown.

He added that the last time an outbreak of bird flu occurred – in Wangsa Maju – they were lucky as they were not within a 5km radius of the area, as all birds within the radius had to be slaughtered. It was a close call, though, as the zoo lies within a 10km radius of the point of infection.  

The Zoo has given the birds the most important conditions for breeding – food and a nesting place away from prying eyes. The birds are free to roam and they fly as far as Shah Alam before re-turning in the evening to the Zoo to roost.  

“We have made an island for the Painted Storks to nest and it has proven a success,” he added. 

Another animal that needed some help in mating is the Malayan False Gharial (buaya jenjulung) that is threatened due to encroachment of their habitat.  

“We used to clean their enclosure all the time before, but in 2003 we had a staffing problem so the crocodiles were left on their own. The weeds soon became overgrown and that’s when they started breeding,” Dr Mohamad said,  

Recreation purpose: Dr Mohamad feeding a tame Axis deer as zoo visitors watch.

“We decided to leave the weeds because they (the crocodiles) prefer that kind of surroundings, so if the enclosure is dirty, there is a reason behind it,” he said. 

The zoo is a non-governmental organisation that is managed by the Malaysian Zoological Society, so expenses have to monitored. Food tops the list of expenses.  

The food bill comes to RM1.2mil annually, but this is an essential, as the animals have to be given the best vegetables and meat. However, Dr Mohamad tries to trim costs at every opportunity and has managed to save RM300,000 by breeding small fishes for the storks to eat. 

Gibbon island: One of a pair of gibbons resting on a tree in anisland reserved for the pair.

Bird-seed and meat for the tigers (which, incidentally, are also endangered) are the most expensive food items, but Dr Mohamad feels that the animals have to have a balanced diet with all the vitamins and minerals they need.  

“Electricity also costs a lot, especially as we have pumps in the aquaria,” he added.  

Dr Mohamad believes that tender loving care is the reason for the success of Zoo Negara's breeding programme. 

“Good staff members who are willing to work long hours just to make sure the animals are all right is the secret behind our success,” he said.