Taman Satwa Gajah Mungkur

[Rizz Carlton]

Earlier this year, Taman Satwa Gajah Mungkur in Wonogiri (Central Java) has been under fire for their mistreatment of their two Sumatran elephants. The two elephants are chained in an already small exhibit. The zoo management and even the local BKSDA (wildlife agency) justified the action to avoid aggression from the elephants due to them being in an mating season. Other justification given are that the elephants are often "taken out" for a walk and are always accompanied by four keepers and two veterinarians.

The facility has also been under fire in the past for their maintenance of the single male orangutan. The lonely adult orangutan, named Jacko, attacked one of the keeper. Further analysis found that Jacko lived in a barren enclosure with virtually no enrichment, lack of clean water to drink, and being filled with plastic waste from guests.

The place appears to be notorious for incidents. Reportedly, an intern veterinarian was killed by a elephant in 2015. While those previous elephants were sent back to Sumatra after that tragic incident, after the relaxation of restrictions attributed to the Covid-19 pandemic, a pair of elephants has returned to Wonogiri. There's even a belief that the elephants are continuously chained due to "trauma" from local visitors after the 2015 incident, though this is likely an exaggerated and even condencending detail.

Why do they insist on keeping elephants are beyond me. Not to mention the many incidents occured in this place.

Photo sc: detikjateng


Source
https://www.liputan6.com/lifestyle/...nogiri-yang-dirantai-dengan-kandang-tak-layak

BKSDA Ungkap Alasan Gajah di Taman Satwa Waduk Gajah Mungkur Dirantai

ANIMAL PARKS WADUK GAJAH MUNGKUR ARE INVITED TO IMPROVE THE ORANGUTAN’S WELFARE | COP Centre for Orangutan Protection

Warganet Prihatin Hewan di Taman Satwa Waduk Gajah Mungkur Tak Terawat

 

[Rizz Carlton]

This is a YouTube video from 2022, this might visualize the living conditions and general situation of the zoo in recent years.

 

[Kifaru Bwana]

Tiny aviaries for the birds, most seem to be kept alone (Javan hawk Eagle, yellow crested cockatoo ....). The elephant exhibit is basically a hard concrete standing with keeper attending at all times to the 2 adult elephants. The cow showed stereotype behaviour bc of the chained status of them. The best exclosure remains the Timor deer one ....

Is there a way/method/tools/legal regulations to clean up their act with help from PKBSI or some public authority like the Municipality?

 

[Rizz Carlton]

Is there a way/method/tools/legal regulations to clean up their act with help from PKBSI or some public authority like the Municipality?

One of the clear pattern with this situation is the lack of funding and education to improve the standard of small, regional zoos. While education can be improved overtime, funding is something that can't come instantly.

Actors like PKBSI and often even BKSDA are not particularly strict when enforcing modern regulations towards zoos, sometimes even downplayed actual critical issues (As seen in this news). Taman Satwa Gajah Mungkur is already very popular for the local in the area, before them went national for the elephant controversy. With national publicity, we'll see how Taman Satwa Gajah Mungkur will end up in the future, though it seems like there won't be any positive progress it seems like.

 

[Kifaru Bwana]

One of the clear pattern with this situation is the lack of funding and education to improve the standard of small, regional zoos. While education can be improved overtime, funding is something that can't come instantly.

Actors like PKBSI and often even BKSDA are not particularly strict when enforcing modern regulations towards zoos, sometimes even downplayed actual critical issues (As seen in this news). Taman Satwa Gajah Mungkur is already very popular for the local in the area, before them went national for the elephant controversy. With national publicity, we'll see how Taman Satwa Gajah Mungkur will end up in the future, though it seems like there won't be any positive progress it seems like.

I agree there needs to be a positive outcome for the place and improve it ..., a facility to do just that is urgently needed and PKBSI and the Ministry of the Environment may play a role in setting up a Zoo Licensing Act or common wildlife laws for public exhibition of wildlife in private/public facilities.

On the other hand - and where you speak of local popularity .... The place will certainly have a role for local people unable to go into nature and raise public awareness as to our connectedness to Nature.