The Prevalence of ASCOs in Indonesian Zoos

Mossman Joe

Mossman Joe

Well-Known Member
After mulling it over, I've come to the conclusion that Asian Small Clawed Otters (ASCOs) may be the "perfect" Indonesian zoo animal and it could explain why they are so prevalent in many of the major Indonesian zoos including Taman Safari (Bali, Bogor, Prigen and Solo), Surabaya Zoo, Semarang Zoo, Bandung Zoo, Bali Zoo, Ragunan, BSZ, Gembira Loka and both of Jakarta's new aquariums (BXSea and JAQS). This is not mentioning smaller roadside zoos, though they are usually kept in less than ideal conditions. The Semarang tourist attraction, Dusun Semilir even has a relatively large pack of them if I remember correctly.

By "perfect" here, I don't mean that they are the center attractions in many of these zoos, I don't think many people come to zoos specifically for them? However, I believe they provide a lot of value to a zoo experience for relatively little cost, making them perfect animals to fill out a zoo's roster.

Here are my reasons:
- As small mammals, they are generally regarded as cute and recognisable.
- They are active both on land and in water. They frequently use slides and other enrichment items when provided. This also means they are likely to use up the space in more elaborate enclosures such as the two-enclosure complex in Gembira Loka and the tubes in BXSea.
- They can be kept in large groups, and zoos frequently do so. It's rare to see groups below 10 individuals in many of the larger zoos. This large group size allows for a lot of interaction with each other and is fun to watch.
- Otters are frequently used for feeding presentations, and some zoos (like Solo Safari) even allow visitors to feed the animals through a small hole that allows their hands to pick up food from the other side, simultaneously allowing visitors to feel what an otter's hands feel like. Many of the people I go to the zoo with cite this as a memorable part of their experience.
- Legally Small-clawed otters are not protected by Indonesian law. Probably meaning zoos can procure them easily and cheaply.

Of course there are still some downsides to keeping a pack of otters. I've observed that they can be very messy eaters, often leaving fish heads uneaten at the bottom of their water area, they're also apparently very smelly and can be aggressive, hence you see them have limited interactions with visitors. But these traits are shared with a lot of other zoo animals.

What do you all think of this assessment? Would you say there is another animal that would be "perfect" in this regard?
 
Mossman Joe said:
After mulling it over, I've come to the conclusion that Asian Small Clawed Otters (ASCOs) may be the "perfect" Indonesian zoo animal and it could explain why they are so prevalent in many of the major Indonesian zoos including Taman Safari (Bali, Bogor, Prigen and Solo), Surabaya Zoo, Semarang Zoo, Bandung Zoo, Bali Zoo, Ragunan, BSZ, Gembira Loka and both of Jakarta's new aquariums (BXSea and JAQS). This is not mentioning smaller roadside zoos, though they are usually kept in less than ideal conditions. The Semarang tourist attraction, Dusun Semilir even has a relatively large pack of them if I remember correctly.

By "perfect" here, I don't mean that they are the center attractions in many of these zoos, I don't think many people come to zoos specifically for them? However, I believe they provide a lot of value to a zoo experience for relatively little cost, making them perfect animals to fill out a zoo's roster.

Here are my reasons:
- As small mammals, they are generally regarded as cute and recognisable.
- They are active both on land and in water. They frequently use slides and other enrichment items when provided. This also means they are likely to use up the space in more elaborate enclosures such as the two-enclosure complex in Gembira Loka and the tubes in BXSea.
- They can be kept in large groups, and zoos frequently do so. It's rare to see groups below 10 individuals in many of the larger zoos. This large group size allows for a lot of interaction with each other and is fun to watch.
- Otters are frequently used for feeding presentations, and some zoos (like Solo Safari) even allow visitors to feed the animals through a small hole that allows their hands to pick up food from the other side, simultaneously allowing visitors to feel what an otter's hands feel like. Many of the people I go to the zoo with cite this as a memorable part of their experience.
- Legally Small-clawed otters are not protected by Indonesian law. Probably meaning zoos can procure them easily and cheaply.

Of course there are still some downsides to keeping a pack of otters. I've observed that they can be very messy eaters, often leaving fish heads uneaten at the bottom of their water area, they're also apparently very smelly and can be aggressive, hence you see them have limited interactions with visitors. But these traits are shared with a lot of other zoo animals.

What do you all think of this assessment? Would you say there is another animal that would be "perfect" in this regard?
Click to expand...

Well, other local Indonesian otters aren't ready to be found, like smooth-coated and hairy-nosed otters. However, ASCOs are readily available, thus explains why there aren't many zoos in Indonesia that keeps SCOs and HNOs. The only ones that kept them are TSI Csarua (SCO), Lembang Park & Zoo (SCO) and Batu Secret Zoo (HNO). Batu Secret Zoo also kept GOs, which came from South America.
 
Fargusno said:
Well, other local Indonesian otters aren't ready to be found, like smooth-coated and hairy-nosed otters. However, ASCOs are readily available, thus explains why there aren't many zoos in Indonesia that keeps SCOs and HNOs. The only ones that kept them are TSI Csarua (SCO), Lembang Park & Zoo (SCO) and Batu Secret Zoo (HNO). Batu Secret Zoo also kept GOs, which came from South America.
Click to expand...
Even then, the ASCO is already very popular and recognizable for ordinary guests. With the exception of the giant otter, pretty much, if you're not a hardcore ZooChatters, you would saw the other native otters as basically just "another ASCO". I feel like Indonesian zoos keep the smooth-coated and hairy-nosed otter for either conservational breeding reason or these being confiscated animals.
 
Rizz Carlton said:
Even then, the ASCO is already very popular and recognizable for ordinary guests. With the exception of the giant otter, pretty much, if you're not a hardcore ZooChatters, you would saw the other native otters as basically just "another ASCO". I feel like Indonesian zoos keep the smooth-coated and hairy-nosed otter for either conservational breeding reason or these being confiscated animals.
Click to expand...

AFAIK, Ragunan also kept SCOs off display back in 2017
 
Mossman Joe said:
After mulling it over, I've come to the conclusion that Asian Small Clawed Otters (ASCOs) may be the "perfect" Indonesian zoo animal and it could explain why they are so prevalent in many of the major Indonesian zoos including Taman Safari (Bali, Bogor, Prigen and Solo), Surabaya Zoo, Semarang Zoo, Bandung Zoo, Bali Zoo, Ragunan, BSZ, Gembira Loka and both of Jakarta's new aquariums (BXSea and JAQS). This is not mentioning smaller roadside zoos, though they are usually kept in less than ideal conditions. The Semarang tourist attraction, Dusun Semilir even has a relatively large pack of them if I remember correctly.

By "perfect" here, I don't mean that they are the center attractions in many of these zoos, I don't think many people come to zoos specifically for them? However, I believe they provide a lot of value to a zoo experience for relatively little cost, making them perfect animals to fill out a zoo's roster.

Here are my reasons:
- As small mammals, they are generally regarded as cute and recognisable.
- They are active both on land and in water. They frequently use slides and other enrichment items when provided. This also means they are likely to use up the space in more elaborate enclosures such as the two-enclosure complex in Gembira Loka and the tubes in BXSea.
- They can be kept in large groups, and zoos frequently do so. It's rare to see groups below 10 individuals in many of the larger zoos. This large group size allows for a lot of interaction with each other and is fun to watch.
- Otters are frequently used for feeding presentations, and some zoos (like Solo Safari) even allow visitors to feed the animals through a small hole that allows their hands to pick up food from the other side, simultaneously allowing visitors to feel what an otter's hands feel like. Many of the people I go to the zoo with cite this as a memorable part of their experience.
- Legally Small-clawed otters are not protected by Indonesian law. Probably meaning zoos can procure them easily and cheaply.

Of course there are still some downsides to keeping a pack of otters. I've observed that they can be very messy eaters, often leaving fish heads uneaten at the bottom of their water area, they're also apparently very smelly and can be aggressive, hence you see them have limited interactions with visitors. But these traits are shared with a lot of other zoo animals.

What do you all think of this assessment? Would you say there is another animal that would be "perfect" in this regard?
Click to expand...
To summed it up, in my perspective:
  • Being very available to acquire in the exotic pet trade (Especially for mini zoos)
  • This factor lead them to be somewhat 'easy' to took care of, being captive house pets after all in some of these facilities
  • Incredibly popular and very recognizable for ordinary guests, as well as the cute factor
  • Somewhat interactable with guests
Thank you for making this thread! Talking about other animals that are very prevalent in public facilities (In both large zoos and mini zoos, as well as aquarias), so much so these animals cannbe found in almost every facilities in Indonesia. While this aren't exactly not always a bad thing, I feel like there are just so much (Can be explained with the four factors above, as well);
  • Blue-and-yellow and green-winged macaw
  • Eclectus parrot
  • Sulphur-crested cockatoo
  • Sun conure
  • Barred eagle-owl
  • Buffy fish owl
  • Indian and Java peafowl
  • Black swan
  • Fischer's and yellow-collared lovebird
  • Cockatiel
  • Budgerigar
  • Java myna
  • Javan pied starling
  • Chital
  • Serval
  • Capybara
  • Binturong
  • Asian palm civet
  • Meerkat
  • Saltwater crocodile
  • Green iguana
  • Hydrosaurus celebensis
  • Indonesian blue-tongued skink
  • Reticulated python
  • Burmese python
  • Ball python
  • Corn snake
  • Alligator and common snapping turtle
  • Amboina box turtle
  • Red-eared slider
  • African spurred tortoise
  • Alligator gar
  • Florida gar
  • Asian and silver arowana
  • Piaractus brachypomus
  • Red-bellied piranha
  • Redtail catfish
 
Last edited:
Rizz Carlton said:
To summed it up, in my perspective:
  • Being very available to acquire in the exotic pet trade (Especially for mini zoos)
  • This factor lead them to be somewhat 'easy' to took care of, being captive house pets after all in some of these facilities
  • Incredibly popular and very recognizable for ordinary guests, as well as the cute factor
  • Somewhat interactable with guests
Thank you for making this thread! Talking about other animals that are very prevalent in public facilities (In both large zoos and mini zoos, as well as aquarias), so much so these animals cannbe found in almost every facilities in Indonesia. While this aren't exactly not always a bad thing, I feel like there are just so much (Can be explained with the four factors above, as well);
  • Blue-and-yellow and green-winged macaw
  • Eclectus parrot
  • Sulphur-crested cockatoo
  • Sun conure
  • Barred eagle-owl
  • Buffy fish owl
  • Indian and Java peafowl
  • Black swan
  • Fischer's and yellow-collared lovebird
  • Cockatiel
  • Budgerigar
  • Java myna
  • Javan pied starling
  • Chital
  • Serval
  • Binturong
  • Asian palm civet
  • Meerkat
  • Saltwater crocodile
  • Green iguana
  • Hydrosaurus celebensis
  • Indonesian blue-tongued skink
  • Reticulated python
  • Burmese python
  • Ball python
  • Corn snake
  • Alligator and common snapping turtle
  • Amboina box turtle
  • Red-eared slider
  • African spurred tortoise
  • Alligator gar
  • Florida gar
  • Asian and silver arowana
  • Piaractus brachypomus
  • Red-bellied piranha
  • Redtail catfish
Click to expand...

As of the 2020s or so, there have been an uptick of servals and capybaras kept in Indonesian zoos. As for the servals, I put the blame on the Kemono Friends anime series. And for the capybaras, I put the blame on those masbro memes on Instagram and Tiktok.
 
Fargusno said:
As of the 2020s or so, there have been an uptick of servals and capybaras kept in Indonesian zoos. As for the servals, I put the blame on the Kemono Friends anime series. And for the capybaras, I put the blame on those masbro memes on Instagram and Tiktok.
Click to expand...

As big of a Kemono Friends fan I am, I don't think that was a large contributing factor to its popularity, it seems to be more from exporters bringing them in and Indonesian influencers obtaining and showcasing them.
 
Fargusno said:
As of the 2020s or so, there have been an uptick of servals and capybaras kept in Indonesian zoos. As for the servals, I put the blame on the Kemono Friends anime series. And for the capybaras, I put the blame on those masbro memes on Instagram and Tiktok.
Click to expand...
The popularity of serval are generally attributed to popular exotic pet keepers and even from the more advanced cat owners, including Fardhan Khan.

Almost all of the factor making these species prevalent in Indonesian facilities are due to popularity within pet-keeping and interactions with notable influencers as well, like Alshad Ahmad or Irfan Hakim.
 
Mossman Joe said:
As big of a Kemono Friends fan I am, I don't think that was a large contributing factor to its popularity, it seems to be more from exporters bringing them in and Indonesian influencers obtaining and showcasing them.
Click to expand...

Considering the hype for Kemono Friends sunk in the end of 2017 because of the Tatsuki resignation drama, so influence from Indonesian YouTubers is more likely.
 
Rizz Carlton said:
To summed it up, in my perspective:
  • Being very available to acquire in the exotic pet trade (Especially for mini zoos)
  • This factor lead them to be somewhat 'easy' to took care of, being captive house pets after all in some of these facilities
  • Incredibly popular and very recognizable for ordinary guests, as well as the cute factor
  • Somewhat interactable with guests
Thank you for making this thread! Talking about other animals that are very prevalent in public facilities (In both large zoos and mini zoos, as well as aquarias), so much so these animals cannbe found in almost every facilities in Indonesia. While this aren't exactly not always a bad thing, I feel like there are just so much (Can be explained with the four factors above, as well);
  • Blue-and-yellow and green-winged macaw
  • Eclectus parrot
  • Sulphur-crested cockatoo
  • Sun conure
  • Barred eagle-owl
  • Buffy fish owl
  • Indian and Java peafowl
  • Black swan
  • Fischer's and yellow-collared lovebird
  • Cockatiel
  • Budgerigar
  • Java myna
  • Javan pied starling
  • Chital
  • Serval
  • Capybara
  • Binturong
  • Asian palm civet
  • Meerkat
  • Saltwater crocodile
  • Green iguana
  • Hydrosaurus celebensis
  • Indonesian blue-tongued skink
  • Reticulated python
  • Burmese python
  • Ball python
  • Corn snake
  • Alligator and common snapping turtle
  • Amboina box turtle
  • Red-eared slider
  • African spurred tortoise
  • Alligator gar
  • Florida gar
  • Asian and silver arowana
  • Piaractus brachypomus
  • Red-bellied piranha
  • Redtail catfish
Click to expand...

Some of these, like the Saltwater Crocodile, Javan Peafowl, Binturong and Eclectus are actually protected but I would guess their prevalence in zoos is due to surplus stock. I remember Jurug had about 5 or more Saltwater Crocodiles as they were relocated from nearby areas due to being a citizen concern.
 
Mossman Joe said:
Some of these, like the Saltwater Crocodile, Javan Peafowl, Binturong and Eclectus are actually protected but I would guess their prevalence in zoos is due to surplus stock. I remember Jurug had about 5 or more Saltwater Crocodiles as they were relocated from nearby areas due to being a citizen concern.
Click to expand...
Newer zoos and some other public facilities are more than capable to gain a permit from BKSDA, which is why they're (Especially the birds and binturong) prevalent there. These animals are available in BKSDA-approved farms that sold them both for private keeping and public attractions.
 
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