To commemorate the international clouded leopard day on August 4th, the zoo introduced two clouded leopard species, the Mainland clouded leopard (Neofelis nebulosa) and Sunda clouded leopard (Neofelis diardi). There is no information of where did they came from.
This is fantastic news, but why is it called Secret Zoo? Are they trying to keep it hidden from people?
I was curious to find out about this zoo (since I am a cat fanatic who has not seen Sunda clouded leopard). I found this English language promotional video: It appears to be part of a complex known as Jawa Timur Park 2 (on Java) that consists of a small carnival ride section and then two main sections: a natural history museum (Museum Satwa) and the zoo (Batu Secret Zoo). The zoo appears to be of decent (but not outstanding) quality. There are in my opinion some discrepancies in the narration. For example while the narrator states they exhibit animals in natural habitats based on the latest zoological standards, they show marmosets in somewhat small boxes (with branches, but boxes nonetheless). Later when the narrator states they adhere to modern standards of care, they show someone getting an elephant ride followed immediately by them playing with an orangutan. Of interest to us travelers is the very end that shows a hotel with rooms overlooking the zoo.
I'm pretty sure one of the Taman Safaris had both species at the same time, but they rotate animals on and off exhibit a lot so it is difficult to tell what they actually keep.
Knowing the Jatim Park group, they probably add the word "secret" to the zoo name to make it sound cool and attract young visitors. "Batu Zoo" kinda sound weird to me.
I've seen that video before. Since it was filmed in 2015, the marmoset boxes now only houses pygmy marmoset, while the cotton-top tamarin is moved to a larger exhibit. I think they replace the elephant ride with a camel ride based on the zoo map (You can see them on their website). During the new normal, visitors aren't allowed to interact with animals (although several Indonesian zoos and aquarium have violated these regulations)
The only Taman Safari park that currently own a clouded leopard is Taman Safari Prigen (or Taman Safari II). There are no information on the internet that I can found regarding Mainland clouded leopard on one of the Taman Safari parks. Also, another info. The clouded leopard exhibit at Taman Safari Bogor currently houses caracal (caracal caracal).
Just found out what the "Secret" means in Batu Secret Zoo. "Why is it called the Secret Zoo? Because our zoo collections are animals that are rarely seen in ordinary zoos. Having unique shapes, and many are rare and endangered species". - Yokka Rhismadora, the Marketing Executive of the Jatim Park group.
Batu Zoo sounds el lamo to me. Like Nandito said, it's called Secret because they have rare species that are seldomly seen in other zoos, including their business rival Taman Safari. TBH, Taman Safari's collection has gone downhill lately since they phased out some of their rarer animals like dorcopsis, bongos, snow leopards and even dingisos in favor of commoner replacements like hedgehogs, sugar gliders, white lions and red-eared siders.
There are not really that common in Indonesian zoos, especially in 2017-2018 (Where Indonesia started to acquired white lions, Taman Safari acquired their white lions in 2018 from Canada).
Yeah, but white lions has became mainstream lately, almost as mainstream as white tigers back in the early 2000s
The Sumatran clouded leopard, an male named Captain, was apparently rescued by the authority from the illegal wildlife trade and was sent to the Cikananga Wildlife Center before being sent to the zoo. While the mainland clouded leopard, an unnamed female, came from the Ústí nad Labem Zoo in the Czech Republic. She was born on July 16, 2014. https://www.instagram.com/tv/CSJ7IjvJBzp/?utm_medium=copy_link
Clouded leopard pair at Usti Zoo had 4 cubs born between 9pm on 15th July to 1am on 16th July 2014 - three females and one male. The female cubs were christened by names Bethari, Indah and Satria, the boy by Ascher. Father of the cubs is Cayan (born in Menagerie du Jardin des Plantes, Paris) and mother Lenya (born at Howletts, UK) and both since retired from breeding and 2019 came from Usti to Prague zoo where you can see them in the big cat pavilion (left side).
It's looks that Sumatran Clouded Leopards became important species for Batu Secret Zoo. There is a large construction project of breeding cages for this species and several smaller Indonesian cats (Marbled, Golden and Flat headed). Complex will be not accessible for visitors to provide calm environment for animals.
That is brilliant news. I am glad that local native fauna from Sumatra gets center stage as many of these carnivores are rare and in need of captive-breeding and support for in situ work from zoos is vital to their survival.
I know that they want to do artificial insemination for leopards but pandemic and lockdown in Indonesia postponed this plans as specialist vets cannot come to Indonesia now. Besides cats there is few other breeding projects located in new breeding facility outside the main zoo. Unfortunately I don't know more details. I think it's good that zoo try to develop breeding programs for conservation not only exhibition.
