The Conditional Movement Control Order (CMCO) announced recently has brought a huge impact towards the tourism industry in Perak.
According to the director of Taiping Zoo and Night Safari (ZTNS), Dr Kevin Lazarus, the effects of CMCO are not only experienced by the management of the zoo, but also the tourism industry in Malaysia as a whole.
“Taiping Zoo is still operating as usual from 8.30am to 6pm, while visiting hours for the Night Safari have been shortened to 8pm to 10pm.
“Visitors are required to abide by SOPs set by the National Security Council (MKN) and health department,” he said in a media statement dated today (January 14).
Speaking on revenues earned since the initial enforcement of MCO on March 15, 2020, Kevin mentioned that ZTNS was closed to the public for three months. In that duration, no revenues were earned from entrance tickets.
However, when ZTNS was reopened on June 15, 2020, the amount of visitors had shown a very positive increment. Unfortunately, after the re-implementation of CMCO yesterday (January 13), visitors reduced once more.
“During the first day of CMCO, we had only received 65 visitors, despite the management having set the maximum number of visitors at only 2,500 per hour to guarantee visitors’ safety.
“The number of visitors may have decreased but that will not weaken the spirit of ZTNS staff. Provision of animal food is still under control and providers are still able to contribute the food according to set animal specifications and diets,” Kevin added.
Over the course of MCO, ZTNS achieved their best record by welcoming three Harimau Malaya tiger cubs and successfully breeding multiple species of animals near extinction, such as the milky stork, red dhole and smooth-coated otter, among many more.
Rosli Mansor
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