TEXT and PHOTOS BY JENNEE GRACE U. RUBRICO
Malaysia National Zoo: Exotic menagerie
There are no proboscis monkeys in the Malaysia National Zoo.
Sights At The Zoo: Storks walk around
the roads at the Malaysia National Zoo
The irony of not being able to see the primate with the bulbous nose that is the symbol of the island of Borneo hung in the air and somewhat deflated the enthusiasm we had been feeling on the way to the place.
The Zoo Negara, as it is called, is in Ulu Klang, around 45 minutes away from the Malaysian capital of Kuala Lumpur by car, and we had gone there mainly to see the shy, comical-looking, light-haired monkey.
Although somewhat put off when we were told that the apes didn’t take up residence in the menagerie, we decided to go in just the same, so as not to waste our trip.
We were glad we did.
The zoo, which covers 110 acres of land, hosts 4,000 other animals, many of them endemic to the land. It is managed by the Malaysian Zoological Society, a nongovernment organization that aims to “conserve, teach and research” wildlife “while providing recreation for local and foreign tourists.”
Sights At The Zoo: Zoo Negara’s resident puma
is among the mid-sized cats found in the menagerie
Perhaps its most remarkable residents are the tapir, the shy, stubby-legged, long-snouted, two-toned massive mammals that are endemic to Malaysia and other countries in southeast Asia. The endangered creatures, with their black and white stripes and gentle if heavyset demeanor, looked adorable in their enclosure while they took a nap under the afternoon sun.
If the tapir are the most remarkable species in the zoo, the Malayan tigers, whose roar could be heard before they could be seen, have to be the most majestic. It is no wonder that the animal, called harimau in Malay, is Malaysia’s national icon. Everything about the tigers, from their roar to the rippling of their muscles as they walk around their enclosure, oozes power and beauty.
Completing the great cats section of the zoo are the lions, the panthers and their spotted siblings, the leopards, who were not to be outdone when it came to beauty. Like the Malayan tigers, the leopards, endemic to Asia and Africa, are also in critical danger of being wiped out as poachers hunt them for their coat and farmers drive them out of their habitat.
Malayan sunbears, which are classified as vulnerable because of the destruction of their natural habitat, are also residents of the zoo. The black, droopy-eyed bears, the smallest of their kind, walk around an electric enclosure that houses a cave, tire swings and a pool. Perhaps because they only eat insects, small animals and honey, the honey bears, as they are also called, do not appear menacing. If anything, they look cute, especially the one who was paddling in the pool it appeared to have outgrown.
Sights At The Zoo: penguins have found their
way to tropical Malaysia.
Housed along with the civets are mid-sized and small cats that will impress any cat lover. Included in this section are leopard cats, which, true to their name, look like a miniature leopard; a puma, which is on the endangered species list; and, for some reason, raccoons.
A surprise find at the Zoo Negara are penguins, which are penned in air-conditioned aquariums. The flightless birds do not fail to elicit surprised reactions from visitors, presumably because the cold-loving birds are not a common sight in tropical countries.
The zoo’s savannah provides a refreshing contrast to the usual enclosed aviaries. At Zoo Negara, storks cross the road without a care about the tram that waits for them to pass. Flamingos provide color to the lake, swans glide on the water in full view of passersby, and egrets fly unimpeded from perch to perch.
Many of the other animals enjoy various degrees of freedom in their pens. The management takes pride in having an “open concept zoo,” claiming that over 90% of the animals are kept in spacious exhibits.
Sights At The Zoo: Malayan sunbears ar
e housed in an enclosure that includes a cave,
a pool and tire swings.
Apart from the exotic, the menagerie also hosts conventional zoo animals like elephants, giraffes, buffalo, hippopotamuses, snakes and other reptiles. Among the more notable animals are the barking deer, whose bark can be quite disturbing if one didn’t know what it was. The ape center, which houses the great primates, appeared deserted when we visited because we got there at around their feeding time.
The zoo also has a section for insects, which requires a separate entrance fee. It is worth mentioning mostly because it houses live tarantulas.
Like many other zoos, Zoo Negara has animal shows scheduled at different times throughout the day. Watching one would mean seeing a sea lion performing the usual tricks, a civet walking at a leisurely pace on a bamboo pole, and birds suddenly appearing in front of the pool.
For those in the mood to have their pictures taken with a bird perched on their arm, the show provides a chance for this. All one needs to do is hold up a ringgit note, and the bird will swoop down, pick up the note with its beak, and pose on the benefactor’s arm for the photo before flying back to its handler to deposit the money.
Sights At The Zoo: A tram can take passengers
around the zoo
There are no proboscis monkeys in Zoo Negara, but there are 4,000 other animals that are just as interesting, and just as vulnerable to human abuses.
As one leaves the zoo, one may feel a mixture of awe at just how much beauty and diversity there is in the planet, pity for the enclosed beasts, and sadness at the thought that these beautiful creatures are in danger of never being seen again.
But if these mixed emotions lead one to become more environmentally conscious, the zoo will have accomplished its primary goal.
Zoo Negara is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. It charges an entrance fee of 30 to 35 ringgit per person, depending on the package one avails of. More information is available at its Web site, http://www.zoonegaramalaysia.my.
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