Zoo Negara Zoo Negara's 45th anniversary

Chlidonias · 13 Nov 2008

Celebrate zoo’s 45th birthday

LET’S go to the zoo, there are lots of things to do. Remember this jingle from the famous fried chicken fast food advertisement not many years ago.

The fast-food outlet is no longer operating at Zoo Negara but you can still hear people singing the catchy tune when they set off for a visit to the national zoo in Hulu Kelang.

Tomorrow, which the first day of the year-end school holidays, is a good reason to take the children there as Zoo Negara is celebrating its 45th anniversary.

To commemorate and honour this iconic institution, Zoo Negara with the support of insurance firm, ING Insurance, is offering free entry to the first 4,500 children between the ages of three and 12.

Entry fees for adults remain the same.

Both ING and Zoo Negara have promised a day filled with plenty of educational and fun activities for the public from 10am onwards.

Zoo director Dr Mohamad Ngah said activities for both children and adults had been lined up for tomorrow.

“Children will have the opportunity to indulge in healthy outdoor activities.

“This special event is also to encourage the public to become more aware and better educated about zoology and wildlife conservation through exhibits and other educational materials,” he added.

Mohamad, who took over zoo’s helm two years ago, said he was giving himself another seven years to make the place a world-class zoo.

“My target is to bring Zoo Negara to world-class standards by 2015,’’ he said,

“Strategic steps which have been planned and implemented at the zoo have produced exciting results last year.

“We have been able to increase sales and reduce costs by 20%, resulting in three consecutive years of financial surplus.

“These steps include creating activities for children and adults, newly- acquired animals, new or modified exhibits, revised animal presentations and outreach education programmes,” he said.

One of the bold steps taken by Mohamad to create a new image for the zoo is the introduction of interactive wildlife enrichment programmes for visitors at various sections of the zoo.

These programmes have replaced the orang utan in the daily multi-animal presentations.

“These changes have tremendously increased the number of visitors to the zoo. Eight per cent of our profits are from the sale of tickets while seven per cent is from sponsorship.

“On an average we receive about one million visitors a year. This is the direction we are moving towards,’’ said Mohamad.

The zoo has also proposed to the federal government for a RM70mil allocation for refurbishment and rehabilitation programme under the Ninth Malaysia Plan.

“We have championed 45 years of education and conservation of wildlife and research in zoology, biology and veterinary science.

“It has been a long and fruitful journey for us in the last 45 years,’’ said Mohamad.

Meanwhile, ING Insurance Berhad branding and corporate communications head Geraldine Wong said ING was proud to be associated with the zoo and being a willing partner in contributing towards this significant milestone.

“We believe in being part of your celebration and the ING Day is one of the ways in which we are giving back to the community,’’ said Wong.

She added that the ING Day held a week earlier at the zoo was a volunteer programme for employees to raise awareness of the importance of being responsible to the environment and protecting the natural habitat of animals.
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Zoo Negara Zoo Negara's 45th anniversary

Chlidonias Moderator Staff Member 15+ year member

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Zoo Negara Zoo Negara's 45th anniversary

Chlidonias Moderator Staff Member 15+ year member

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