With no visitors, zoo sees increase in mating behaviour

MELAKA: A tranquil atmosphere prevails at the Melaka Zoo due to the movement control order.

Without the daily intrusion of visitors, there is much-needed space for zoo animals to express their natural behaviour and interact freely with their kind.

Its zoology unit head Azman Ghazali said when visitors were allowed in, the animals were often seen to be passive and would even shy away.

Changes in the behaviour of the animals are evident now even in the mating behaviour of a group of six black panthers.

“There are six panthers at the Melaka Zoo and we have observed the mating pattern of four of them recently, ” he said.

This development may mark history for the conservation centre if the female panther becomes pregnant and gives birth at the zoo.

So far, the Melaka Zoo has not had a birth of a panther despite preserving the species from 12 years ago in various stages including keeping a female panther that was taken in about six months ago.

“My hope is for the two (couples) to have healthy cubs so that after this we can design a programme to release these members of a valuable species into their original habitat.

“The chances for the female panther getting pregnant are high because the animal caregiver is more focused on making observations, preparing a nutritious diet, providing a better play area as well as being able to make preparations for the birth, ” he said.

Azman said other animals also display the potential to breed more in the new quiet surroundings at the zoo.

“For example, parrots are among the ‘key species’ at the Melaka Zoo and there are more than 20 species – six species such as the blue-and-gold macaw and scarlet macaw need a calm atmosphere to incubate their eggs.

“If the bird is depressed or feels disturbed by visitors, it will leave its nest thus causing the egg to not hatch, ” he said.

The zoology unit’s wildlife assistant Muhammad Aizad Faizatul Azreen said although the zoo was not open during the MCO, a total of 40 trained animal keepers still had to work daily to ensure the welfare, safety and health of the animals.

Muhammad Aizad, who serves as the zoo’s supervisor, said during this period, animal caregivers could spend more time to strengthen relationships and improve interaction, and understand more clearly the behaviour of each animal under their care. — Bernama