(MY) new zoo and aquarium in Sabah

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The Star - Friday, July 5, 2002

 

Zoo and aquarium being built for Sabahans

 

KOTA KINABALU: Beginning next year,

Sabahans need not come to Peninsular Malaysia to

see animal performances and various species of

aquarium fish in zoos.

 

Efforts are being made to set up such facilities at

Sabah Zoological and Botanical Garden in Lok

Kawi and Borneo Marine Research Institute in

Universiti Malaysia Sabah.

 

Sabah Zoological and Botanical Garden will be

open to the public on March 3 while the Marine

Research Institute is expected to receive visitors

early next year.

 

The institute's head Assoc Prof Dr Ridzuan Abdul

Rahman said they were collecting various fish

species for the aquarium.

 

" We have not decided on the opening date for the

aquarium as water tests and collection of fish is

expected to take about six months, " he told a

group of journalists on a study tour of the institute

organised recently by the Japanese Embassy in

Kuala Lumpur.

 

Dr Ridzuan said the institute was collecting reefs

for exhibition to the public, adding that 300 reefs

had been collected so far.

 

The institute's exhibition gallery can accommodate

20,000 to 300,000 reefs at a time, he said.

 

Sabah Zoo and Botanical Garden superintendent

Fidelis K. Gusin said the 283ha park had 13

species of mammals, 29 species of birds and

reptiles.

 

He said the first phase of the five-phase park

development covering 20ha had, among others, a

bird aviary and a 5km garden track.

 

The park is open to primary school pupils under

the Wildlife Education Programme organised by

Sabah Wildlife Department and Volunteers of

Japan International Co-operation Agency (Jica)

aimed at introducing Borneo elephants and the

importance of environment conservation.

 

The five-year programme focusses on biodiversity

and ecosystem preservation in Sabah.

 

It consists of four components namely research and

education, park administration, habitat management

and public awareness. - Bernama