Gorillas at Ragunan Zoo, Indonesia

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http://www.thejakartapost.com/yesterdaydetail.asp?fileid=20030103.G03

Gorillas fail to attract visitors

City News - January 03, 2003

 

 

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

 

African gorillas at the city's Ragunan Zoo in South Jakarta failed to attract

Jakartans and only contributed Rp 600 million to the city's revenue from its

target of Rp 1.5 billion, the zoo's general affairs manager Allen Marbun said on

Thursday.

 

" We missed the target, since not many visitors came to watch the gorillas as we

predicted earlier, " Allen told a hearing with the City Council Commission B for

Economic Affairs.

 

He said Rp 600 million had been raised since the male gorillas arrived here in

August from the Howletts and Port Lymphne Animal Park of Britain.

 

The target was missed even though the primate center with its giant apes'

enclosure, which cost Rp 10 billion, is quite attractive. It is unclear whether

the low number of visitors may be due to an additional entrance fee of Rp 5,000

for the primate center, besides the zoo's entrance fee of Rp 3,000 for adults

and Rp 2,000 for children.

 

The enclosure, which is home to four gorillas named Kihi, Kimbou, Kijou and

Kumao, was founded by the late Mrs. Puck Schmutzerbuilt and built by the Gibbon

Foundation.

 

The apes had initially created controversy as the city administration announced

that it would allocate Rp 3 billion annually for the gorillas in the midst of

the economic crisis. Further controversy arose because the foundation had stated

that it would cover the cost of the apes, including their food.

 

The administration later canceled the proposed funds, saying estimated ticket

sales would generate enough money to cover the apes' maintenance costs.

 

Zoo director Edy Setiarto revealed on Thursday that the zoo had raised Rp 9.8

billion from entrance fees collected from 2.8 million visitors last year.

 

" With a routine expenditure of Rp 13 billion, we still needed a subsidy from the

city administration of about Rp 4 billion last year, " Edy said.

 

He claimed the entrance fee should be increased to Rp 15,000 from the current Rp

3,000 if the administration expected the zoo to be self-reliant.