"One of the most beautiful zoos I have ever seen. You can find animals living in different weather zones. The Panda house was the most amazing area. You need to be careful about weather. If it is raining then most of the animals will be inside their houses and you can’t see them. Also as it is an open zoo you have to choose a good weather day. You may need a half day to see the whole zoo."
The Zoo Negara, once set in
virgin jungle, now stands like an oasis amidst a concrete jungle. It was officially opened to the public in
1963.
The zoo features about 400 species of Malaysian and exotic
mammals, reptiles and birds. Of these, the majority are fish and bird
species while about a hundred are mammals and the reptiles.
The National Zoo is situated 13 km from the centre of
Kuala Lumpur. Its aquarium
"Tunku Abdul Rahman Aquarium" is
a very popular attraction. It displays
over 80 species of aquatic animals, both marine and freshwater,
including invertebrates.
In the Zoo are numerous paths
meandering between wooded groves and tree-lined enclaves where the animal
enclosures are located. Among the more exotic exhibits are the Sumatran tiger,
orang-utans and gibbons. All are extremely rare outside this part of the world.
There are also scheduled elephant shows in the elephant Amphitheatre and a
"Multi-animal show in the "Main Amphitheatre". There's also a possibility make a
ride on an elephant.
xx
You can take a taxi or go by
the Putra Line. The last one departs every half an hour.
On arrival you have to buy a ticket at the "kaunter ticket" for
RM10.-
We have decided to go to the
main attraction of the Zoo: the elephant show! Twice a day there is a show,
but there are some more shows.
Near the gate is a bulletin board with a poster, which tells us, that the
elephant show starts at 10.30 and at 14.30 in the elephant Amphitheatre.
There's another poster with the times of
the Multi- animal show. We can enjoy that one in the "Main Amphithatre".
Starting at: 11.00 and 15.00 uur
Visitors are asked not to feed the animals. They do that by funny board: a
hand with a banana and an elephant. And a big cross right through it.
Many animal are adopted by a company. The tiger is sponsored by Esso (!).
A clever way of doing advertising, because your company name is on a board
near the cage. Everybody can read this.
Sponsoring to keep the cost low!
Visitors of the Zoo behave respectful towards the animals. You don't see
them feed the animals.
The elephants are the pride of the zoo.
What we can't make in our zoo's, they can do in the Far East.
Even in the Zoo Negara you can make a ride on an elephant (RM3,-).
They wouldn't approve that in my country.
xx
Normally the elephant training for the zoo is restricted to a practical training.
The zoo elephant has to know the commands,
which are important for every day training and for hygiene.
E.g. it has to learn to stand patiently, to lift its
feet for pedicure and to lay down for washing.
These elephants must additionally learn some tricks that are to be
shown in the program later on.
There are good and impressive elephant
numbers, which enable the animals to show their strength and swiftness
or rather their sensitivity.
But there are also many bad acts,
which force the elephants to show exercises absolutely unnatural for
elephants.
Among these are the two- and even one-armed handstands, as well as the
standing on the hind legs.
This experience teaches the little
elephant the first respect for its keeper.
But the elephant keeper has to show
the baby also confidence and
he must stroke it. Stroking is important.
Not only because elephants are
contact animals, but this
way the little elephant learns to let
itself touch from head to foot.
The whole training is accompanied
by commands. The most important ones
are "Yes";, "No"; and "Good".
So the little elephant knows what it
is expected to do, what it is allowed
to do and what it is not
allowed to do.
The African lion has found a place in the
shade.
Later on he jumps on the platform and gives a very big roar. He's the king
of the jungle.
xx
The Lion Group has adopted
this African
lion at Zoo Negara under a sponsorship programme costing RM17,000 per annum
which covers feeding, medication and maintenance of the lion.
Many of Malaysia's most endangered species have found a home in the
Zoo Negara.
There
are only 600-1000 sun bears left in Burma, Thailand , Sumatra and Malaysia.
It is the most endangered of the and the smallest bear species and not much
studied. Habitat loss, forest fragmentation and hunting have decimated its
numbers.
Please note that all shows are subject to
cancellation without prior notice. A training session will be held if show
is cancelled
Reservation for special occasions can be
made at 03-41083427
Address:
Zoo Negara Malaysia
Jalan Ulu Kelang
68000 Ampang
Selangor Darul Ehsan
Tel: +60 3 4108 3422
Fax: +60 3 4107 5375
xx
xx