Conservation activities are a norm at Taiping Zoo. As a facility that upholds worldly principles and aims to achieve accreditation as a world-class zoo, Taiping Zoo and Night Safari conducts activities for the wellbeing of its occupants.
Director Dr Kevin Lazarus, insists that Taiping Zoo places equal importance on the stimulation of physical and mental growth. Besides making sure the animals have proper protection, an environment which reflects its original habitat, continuous healthcare and food supply are also given equal emphasis.
“Nearly 41 Milky Stork chicks have been successfully bred in captivity through this conservation programme,” he announced during a media conference on April 13.
Originally, there were only ten Milky Storks from Zoo Negara and two from the Jurong Bird Park in Singapore. The 12 birds were released at the zoo’s compound as our initiative. Another ten still remain in the vicinity of the zoo.
They built their nests around the zoo’s compound in preparation for the mating season. Taiping Zoo hopes this will help increase the population of Milky Storks, thereby avoiding the bird’s demise.
The zoo witnessed the arrival of a new family member – a male Orangutan born in captivity on December 22 last year. Wasabi, a 16-year old adult female Orangutan, gave birth to a 1.4-kg baby. Orangutans normally live up to 35-45 years.
The zoo is home to a female Black Tufted Marmoset and a male Common Marmoset. The marmosets are from the Kadoorie Farm and Botanical Garden, Hong Kong.
The Taiping Zoo’s capability to breed these animals in captivity is an asset for the conservation of animals, especially those listed as endangered.
Luqman Hakim
