Don’t forget the green at the zoo

Silent heroes: A selection of palm and herb species found on the grounds of Zoo Negara. (From left) Eurycoma longifolia Jack (tongkat ali), Cycas rumphii (queen sago palm), and Johannesteijmannia altifrons (daun payung). — ZOO NEGARA

WHEN most of us visit a zoo, our eyes are immediately drawn to the animals, the majestic tigers, the mischievous monkeys, the beautiful birds. We tend to ignore another very important exhibit that stands quietly all around us: trees, palms, orchids, and shrubs that often go unnoticed.

These plants are not just there for landscaping, they are living and breathing foundations of every ecosystem, including the green spaces in our zoo.