Is there a reason why Hluboká didn't send them somewhere else in Europe? Too little interest from other Czech or EU colleagues? Or is Batu paying sweet money that Hluboká (unfortunately) desperately needs?
Batu Secret Zoo Batu Secret Zoo news
- Thread starter vogelcommando
- Start date
It’s better for a EU zoo to use its space for bears species that are a part of an EEP or take brown bears that are in need of rescuing such as orphaned cubs or ex-circus animals.
But there are plenty of extra-EAZA places to which bears can go to, the HBB is a Critically Endangered subspecies that is doing far worse in its home range than our common bears, I'm just curious if yours is the same reasoning of most EAZA zoos or there's something more to it.
I am actually 180 degrees the other way. For far too long European region has put emphasis on brown bear rescue. The latter is better done in specialised rehabilitation facilities. Further the current crop is much too focussed on rescue and provide a functional dead end for the rescued bears while doing nothing - zilch - zero for ex situ in the countries where the bears were rescued from and thus not put a stop to undesirable animal husbandry and keeping practices in range countries nor any public awareness nor even improving the local zoo environments ....
Conservation wise there are several European brown bear subspecies that really do need conservation ex situ breeding from the zoo community. Now, at present those spaces are taken up by rescued bears that should be otherwise used .... Even these Himalayan brown bears should be part of an European ex situ conservation breeding program on the basis of the their status in the wild.
To put insult to injury .... Personally, sending off these brown bears to a tropical range country is as baddest you can code to like sending polar bears into an arid 45-50 degrees country.... It could not get any worse than this!
Rizz Carlton
Well-Known Member
I have no idea that sending certain taxa like the Himalayan brown bear to foreign zoos would be controversial in the eyes of Europeans. I don't think, in term of climate and such, the bears would not fare well since Batu generally have cooler climate compared to major cities in Indonesia. I suppose that this subspecies aren't that needy of very cold living enviroment, compared to the polar bears, not to mention that Batu already have a couple of brown bears, but I'm still open minded to learn more about the issue.
To add an Indonesian perspective in this conversation, major zoos in the country aren't unfamiliar in maintaining temperate-climate species, including Batu Secret Zoo (Which have Eurasian brown bear, Chinese red panda, etc.), and we mostly don't just add them in instantly without acclimation & quarantine period like you would a goldfish (A lot of our bigger zoos are well-aware and are used to that process). For context, zoos like Batu have done several breeding projects for foreign species, including the scimitar oryx which had a stable breeding growth since 2011 at Batu.
I think the main issue is that we don't know whats Batu's plan and interest are with the bears. The news site mentioned the the two bears are siblings, so breeding are out of the question. These are the same problem with Apollon and Diana (Eurasian brown bear), which are also siblings. Batu's management of their brown bears are weird to say the least.
To add an Indonesian perspective in this conversation, major zoos in the country aren't unfamiliar in maintaining temperate-climate species, including Batu Secret Zoo (Which have Eurasian brown bear, Chinese red panda, etc.), and we mostly don't just add them in instantly without acclimation & quarantine period like you would a goldfish (A lot of our bigger zoos are well-aware and are used to that process). For context, zoos like Batu have done several breeding projects for foreign species, including the scimitar oryx which had a stable breeding growth since 2011 at Batu.
I think the main issue is that we don't know whats Batu's plan and interest are with the bears. The news site mentioned the the two bears are siblings, so breeding are out of the question. These are the same problem with Apollon and Diana (Eurasian brown bear), which are also siblings. Batu's management of their brown bears are weird to say the least.
Zero interest shown by European zoos.
Unfortunate, but expected
One word: EAZA ... inexcusable. Where did we lose it?
Rather bold to wave guilt left and right without knowing all the organisation that goes behind EEPs and extra-EU import-exports, by all means criticism should always be allowed to improve (I'm EAZA n.1 critic), but You've been rather vocal about minor inconveniences as of recent...
Also, this comment gives the impression of, as goes an old Italian saying, "we were better when we were worse"...
Actually, I do know what goes behind EAZA and the organisation of EEP's .... and their operation! My criticism is focussed specifically at the operation of the Brown Bear EEP and I do not think it is exactly the model I would like to see prosper. Other than the Brown Bear EEP I have little to comment in some critical fashion and by-and-large the EAZA organisation does a really good job given all the challenges with the limited number of zoos available, the ever growing number of EEP's and focus on ex situ conservation breeding and of course the One Plan Approach. To put my views away as being rather easy and or bold is not quite right. But I am happy to disagree with You, dear @Mickey.
Further on the Brown Bear EEP: For far too long the various endangered or threatened brown bear subspecies have remained low on a list of priority species. In the case of Italia for example ....: What about the Marsicano bear? Same goes for Pyrenean brown bear that was allowed to go functionally almost extinct under our (European) watch. The latter was only saved thanks to introduction of non endemic/native genetics from the Balkan Slovenian brown bear populations. Zoos with capacity for or spaces with brown bears within Europe should have been more forward thinking in creating a facility and part program for one of these, both ex situ conservation breeding, public awareness building and support for in situ both in financial, operational and technical know-how.
Rizz Carlton
Well-Known Member
In exchange for the red pandas and reticulated giraffes from the Tama Zoological Park in Japan, Batu Secret Zoo sent an female Malayan tapir named Mbak Sila in exchange.
Mbak Sila has been designated as an "Wildlife Ambassador" of Indonesia, which aside from introducing Indonesian faunas to Japan, make her technicaly-speaking still owned by Indonesia, so she can be brought back anytime it needed like breedings and such.
Direktorat Kesehatan Hewan on Instagram: "MBAK SILA PINDAH KE JEPANG ⁉ Eh, siapa sih Mbak Sila? Yuk, #KawanKeswan kenalan sama Mbak Sila. Mbak Sila ini adalah tapir (Tapirus indicus) yang selama ini tinggal di Jatim Park, Batu, Malang. Kepindahan Mbak Sila ke Jepang ini dalam rangka pertukaran satwa dengan kebun binatang Tama Zoological Park. Sebagai gantinya, Pemerintah Jepang memberikan 2 ekor Red Panda dan 2 ekor Jerapah untuk koleksi kebun binatang di Indonesia. Di Jepang, Mbak Sila akan menjadi duta Indonesia dalam mengenalkan keragaman hayati Indonesia. Kalian gak usah khawatir, sebagai duta Mbak Sila tetap berstatus WNI, jadi bila dibutuhkan sewaktu-waktu bisa dipanggil pulang ke kampung halamannya, alias mudik. Oiya, agar bisa pindah ke Jepang, Mbak Sila ini sudah dipastikan sehat oleh Dokter Hewan dan Otoritas Veteriner di Indonesia. Sehat selalu ya di Jepang, Mbak Sila . #Tapir #JatimPark #KesehatanHewan #Ditkeswan #DitjenPKH #KementanRI"
Mbak Sila has been designated as an "Wildlife Ambassador" of Indonesia, which aside from introducing Indonesian faunas to Japan, make her technicaly-speaking still owned by Indonesia, so she can be brought back anytime it needed like breedings and such.
Direktorat Kesehatan Hewan on Instagram: "MBAK SILA PINDAH KE JEPANG ⁉ Eh, siapa sih Mbak Sila? Yuk, #KawanKeswan kenalan sama Mbak Sila. Mbak Sila ini adalah tapir (Tapirus indicus) yang selama ini tinggal di Jatim Park, Batu, Malang. Kepindahan Mbak Sila ke Jepang ini dalam rangka pertukaran satwa dengan kebun binatang Tama Zoological Park. Sebagai gantinya, Pemerintah Jepang memberikan 2 ekor Red Panda dan 2 ekor Jerapah untuk koleksi kebun binatang di Indonesia. Di Jepang, Mbak Sila akan menjadi duta Indonesia dalam mengenalkan keragaman hayati Indonesia. Kalian gak usah khawatir, sebagai duta Mbak Sila tetap berstatus WNI, jadi bila dibutuhkan sewaktu-waktu bisa dipanggil pulang ke kampung halamannya, alias mudik. Oiya, agar bisa pindah ke Jepang, Mbak Sila ini sudah dipastikan sehat oleh Dokter Hewan dan Otoritas Veteriner di Indonesia. Sehat selalu ya di Jepang, Mbak Sila . #Tapir #JatimPark #KesehatanHewan #Ditkeswan #DitjenPKH #KementanRI"
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A female Sumatran elephant was born April 21:
In pics: baby Sumatran elephant in Batu Secret Zoo, Indonesia
In pics: baby Sumatran elephant in Batu Secret Zoo, Indonesia
Rizz Carlton
Well-Known Member
An brand new individual of Sumatran hog badger has been on-display, which is a younger and a lot more active compared to previous female elderly badger. Due to this, photography should be mostly succesful for future guests 
The zoo appears to had released an new individual of Sumatran clouded leopard to the exhibit, which was a lot shy and reclusive compared to the other individual, named Captain, that was on-display since 2020. One of the staff, which I briefly talked with, mentioned that this leopard was "new", supporting that claim.
This is likely one of the two individual that had came from Bukit Kinantan Zoo, which were off-display since their arrival in 2020.
One of the siblings that came from Zoo Hluboka has arrived. This bear was still under an habituation period in the former sun bear exhibit, this is one of the first release habituation attempt by the zoo for one of the bears, which is how I able to photograph it.
For me, this is a case of in the right place, at the right time! No clue on the timeline on their offical display, or if that would be announced by the zoo.
For what's likely to be the first in Indonesia, in an unnannounced reveal, Batu Secret Zoo now have African wild dogs! Taking over the former babirusa exhibit, the trio on-display were very active. I have no clue on where they came from or even when they arrived, it's interesting that they came unnannounced at all despite the significances.
Though, them being largely ignored by guests likely the reasoning on why it was somewhat unnannounced, which is lack of popularity and interests by local guests. Gembira Loka Zoo, which had officially announced that they're planning to have these dogs, likely will get their wild dogs from Batu Secret Zoo or atleast the same source as Batu.
The zoo appears to had released an new individual of Sumatran clouded leopard to the exhibit, which was a lot shy and reclusive compared to the other individual, named Captain, that was on-display since 2020. One of the staff, which I briefly talked with, mentioned that this leopard was "new", supporting that claim.
This is likely one of the two individual that had came from Bukit Kinantan Zoo, which were off-display since their arrival in 2020.
One of the siblings that came from Zoo Hluboka has arrived. This bear was still under an habituation period in the former sun bear exhibit, this is one of the first release habituation attempt by the zoo for one of the bears, which is how I able to photograph it.
For me, this is a case of in the right place, at the right time! No clue on the timeline on their offical display, or if that would be announced by the zoo.
For what's likely to be the first in Indonesia, in an unnannounced reveal, Batu Secret Zoo now have African wild dogs! Taking over the former babirusa exhibit, the trio on-display were very active. I have no clue on where they came from or even when they arrived, it's interesting that they came unnannounced at all despite the significances.
Though, them being largely ignored by guests likely the reasoning on why it was somewhat unnannounced, which is lack of popularity and interests by local guests. Gembira Loka Zoo, which had officially announced that they're planning to have these dogs, likely will get their wild dogs from Batu Secret Zoo or atleast the same source as Batu.
Raikou
Well-Known Member
An brand new individual of Sumatran hog badger has been on-display, which is a younger and a lot more active compared to previous female elderly badger. Due to this, photography should be mostly succesful for future guests
The zoo appears to had released an new individual of Sumatran clouded leopard to the exhibit, which was a lot shy and reclusive compared to the other individual, named Captain, that was on-display since 2020. One of the staff, which I briefly talked with, mentioned that this leopard was "new", supporting that claim.
This is likely one of the two individual that had came from Bukit Kinantan Zoo, which were off-display since their arrival in 2020.
One of the siblings that came from Zoo Hluboka has arrived. This bear was still under an habituation period in the former sun bear exhibit, this is one of the first release habituation attempt by the zoo for one of the bears, which is how I able to photograph it.
For me, this is a case of in the right place, at the right time! No clue on the timeline on their offical display, or if that would be announced by the zoo.
For what's likely to be the first in Indonesia, in an unnannounced reveal, Batu Secret Zoo now have African wild dogs! Taking over the former babirusa exhibit, the trio on-display were very active. I have no clue on where they came from or even when they arrived, it's interesting that they came unnannounced at all despite the significances.
Though, them being largely ignored by guests likely the reasoning on why it was somewhat unnannounced, which is lack of popularity and interests by local guests. Gembira Loka Zoo, which had officially announced that they're planning to have these dogs, likely will get their wild dogs from Batu Secret Zoo or atleast the same source as Batu.
In fact, African wild dogs appeared in the zoo in February.An brand new individual of Sumatran hog badger has been on-display, which is a younger and a lot more active compared to previous female elderly badger. Due to this, photography should be mostly succesful for future guests
The zoo appears to had released an new individual of Sumatran clouded leopard to the exhibit, which was a lot shy and reclusive compared to the other individual, named Captain, that was on-display since 2020. One of the staff, which I briefly talked with, mentioned that this leopard was "new", supporting that claim.
This is likely one of the two individual that had came from Bukit Kinantan Zoo, which were off-display since their arrival in 2020.
One of the siblings that came from Zoo Hluboka has arrived. This bear was still under an habituation period in the former sun bear exhibit, this is one of the first release habituation attempt by the zoo for one of the bears, which is how I able to photograph it.
For me, this is a case of in the right place, at the right time! No clue on the timeline on their offical display, or if that would be announced by the zoo.
For what's likely to be the first in Indonesia, in an unnannounced reveal, Batu Secret Zoo now have African wild dogs! Taking over the former babirusa exhibit, the trio on-display were very active. I have no clue on where they came from or even when they arrived, it's interesting that they came unnannounced at all despite the significances.
Though, them being largely ignored by guests likely the reasoning on why it was somewhat unnannounced, which is lack of popularity and interests by local guests. Gembira Loka Zoo, which had officially announced that they're planning to have these dogs, likely will get their wild dogs from Batu Secret Zoo or atleast the same source as Batu.
Rizz Carlton
Well-Known Member
Interesting, I wasn't aware. How did you know? Had you visited during that time?
Raikou
Well-Known Member
Yes, my friends and I went to Batu the next day after visiting PCBA. However, African wild dogs are not very rare animals for Chinese tourists, so we didn't pay much attention to it at that time.
Wow, that's really exciting news. It seems like I have to find time to go to eastern Java once.An brand new individual of Sumatran hog badger has been on-display, which is a younger and a lot more active compared to previous female elderly badger. Due to this, photography should be mostly succesful for future guests
The zoo appears to had released an new individual of Sumatran clouded leopard to the exhibit, which was a lot shy and reclusive compared to the other individual, named Captain, that was on-display since 2020. One of the staff, which I briefly talked with, mentioned that this leopard was "new", supporting that claim.
This is likely one of the two individual that had came from Bukit Kinantan Zoo, which were off-display since their arrival in 2020.
One of the siblings that came from Zoo Hluboka has arrived. This bear was still under an habituation period in the former sun bear exhibit, this is one of the first release habituation attempt by the zoo for one of the bears, which is how I able to photograph it.
For me, this is a case of in the right place, at the right time! No clue on the timeline on their offical display, or if that would be announced by the zoo.
For what's likely to be the first in Indonesia, in an unnannounced reveal, Batu Secret Zoo now have African wild dogs! Taking over the former babirusa exhibit, the trio on-display were very active. I have no clue on where they came from or even when they arrived, it's interesting that they came unnannounced at all despite the significances.
Though, them being largely ignored by guests likely the reasoning on why it was somewhat unnannounced, which is lack of popularity and interests by local guests. Gembira Loka Zoo, which had officially announced that they're planning to have these dogs, likely will get their wild dogs from Batu Secret Zoo or atleast the same source as Batu.
Rizz Carlton
Well-Known Member
Zoo update: July 2025
- To fix an error in my past reporting, the rhinoceros hornbill aviary is still standing. The capuhin aviary is built on what I believe is the old sitatunga exhibit land.
- Within the Amazonian Jungle walkthrough (Which only open for walkthrough at 10-12 AM) include four glassed exhibits, only one is occupied with several farm-breed freshwater angelfish. A pair of empty vivariums are present and apparently supposed to house several species of dart frogs, though they're not present.
- Additionaly, it appears the single sloth is only on-display on certain occasion only, and even then it mostly stayed on the branches of a large tree, making it quite challenging to spot.
- Despite being signed, apparently the kinkajous are yet to be on-display, in which one of the staff mentioning problems due to the largely nocturnal life of the animal.
- To fix some possible misconceptions, the large flying fox and crowned pigeons are held togethed within an very tall aviary, not separated. The flying foxes could be clearly visible in the upper area (The first view of the aviary).
- Half of the fennec fox exhibit has been separated and are taken over by a group of banded mongooses.
- Within the Reptile Garden, here are some updates
- The plumed basilisk has been phased out for display, their terrarium is now housing an boa constrictor
- The former Biak tree monitor terrarium now houses an black tree monitor, as the Prevost's inhabitant now live in the adjacent terrarium with several Forsten's tortoise
- Several species appears to not be present, such as the central bearded dragon and northern caiman lizard
- The terrarium that supposed to house Brongersma's short-tailed python apparently housing an Burmese python
- Within the nocturnal house, signages for short-beaked echidna and silvery greater galago is seen, but unfortunately both animals are nowhere to be seen. Additionaly, the zoo's common brushtail possum is not on-display, despite still being signed.
- The amphibian terrariums are a mess, with practically all of them but one being innacurately labelled, here are the species that are present here
- Polypedates pseudotilophus
- Rhacophorus reinwardtii
- Megophrys montana (Two exhibits)
- Ranoidea caerulea
- Within the African Savannah hall, the current inhabitants include;
- Scimitar oryx + Chapman's zebra + waterbuck
- Chapman's zebra
- Common impala (Off-display)
- An southern white rhinoceros, in which an interaction/feeding area appears to be planned though the rhino is still appears to be under habituation. This new exhibit appears to be on the site of the previously black-backed jackal exhibit
- The zoo's sable antelope and gemsbok appears to had been taken off-display for unspecified reasons
- Within the rock hyrax exhibit, several African spurred tortoises which had lived within the exhibit has been taken elsewhere and their signage removed.
- The zoo's Himalayan brown bears are officially on-display and are quite active, though no signages are present.
- A pair of bobcats has recently take over the former ocelot exhibit. This is the second zoo in Indonesia to display bobcats, after Suraloka Interactive Zoo in Yogyakarta which had them for a brief time.
- The zoo's snow leopards appears to no longer be present, atleast on-display. The outdoor exhibit instead have a pair of northern lynx, former inhabitants of the now common brown lemur exhibit.
Attachments
In exchange for the giraffe from Toyohashi/ Nonhoi Park, BSZ has sent an aardvark and a serval to Nonhoi Park. Both animals are males and were bred in South Africa before being sent to Indonesia.
ツチブタお披露目＆名前募集！｜【公式】のんほいパーク（豊橋総合動植物公園）
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Rizz Carlton
Well-Known Member
Aardvark? The first time I'm aware that this species did present in Indonesian facilities from a foreign news casually talking of it being sent elsewhere, with the species possibly not going to be seen again here publicly for a while? I definitely need more friends in that field here
