Human Acts Cause Death of Animals at KBS Zoo

Surabaya (Antara Bali) - Surabaya City councilor M Machmud suspected the death of animals at Surabaya Zoo (KBS) were caused by acts of individuals of KBS employees.

"Over the last one month, more than five animals died. This is an indication that something has gone wrong in side the zoo," M. Machmud told reporters here on Sunday.

A series of animal death have been taking place in the KBS. The first death was found with lion named Michael and an African gnu.  
    
After the death of Michael and Gnu early this month, they are followed by the deaths early this month of a barking deer (muntiacus muntjak, a male komodo and a Bawean deer, he said.

Mahmud therefore  appealed to the management of PT Taman Satwa to take firm actions against employees who had been the sources of the problem.

He also hoped that the management would be able to recruit loyal employees. The city councilor believed that the root of the problem was caused by the fact that many employees were still taking side with the old management. The board of directors should cut naughty employees.

He said that if the acts that caused the death of the animals came from inside the zoo, it would be difficult to carry out anticipatory steps towards the death of animals in the zoo.

This is regardless of the fact that in side the zoo, a total of 53 units of CCTV have been installed to monitor the situation around animal cages. This is because employees already know the presence the CCTV.

"They know the positions of the CCTV. So, this is a weakness," Machmud said.

On January 20, 2014, Surabaya Mayor Tri Rismaharini reported the alleged mismanagement and graft in the Surabaya Zoo leading to the disappearance or death of around 420 rare animals, to the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK).

"We still need a zoo," the mayor asserted while reporting the case to the KPK in Jakarta, in response to a call to close down the zoo.

Among the animals that had gone missing from the Surabaya Zoo, were two Komodo dragons and 50 Bali starling (Leucopsar rothschildi) birds, she pointed out. (*/DWA)