The Malaysian Association of Zoological Parks and Aquaria (Mazpa) is appealing to the government to consider the plight of private zoos and to provide aid to enable them to continue surviving to look after the welfare of their wildlife.

Its vice-president Gerard Wong Woon See said if these zoos were not given aid during current difficult times, they may find it difficult to continue operating.

“Wildlife (care) is in the list of essential services during the movement control order period, enabling zoological parks to continue caring for them.

“The wildlife have to be fed and managed by workers during the usual working hours. The private zoological parks will continue to give the best service for their care even in times of crisis, but the remaining funds are very limited,” Wong said in a statement released in Kuala Lumpur today.

He added that Mazpa was very worried about its members, especially the private zoological parks, some of which have been operating for more than 30 years.

The parks that have been badly affected are the Penang Bird Park; Penang Entopia by the Penang Butterfly Farm; Langkawi Wildlife Park; Selangor Farm In The City; Selangor KL Tower Mini Zoo; A Famosa Safari Wonderland; Malacca Butterfly and Reptile Park; and the Malacca Crocodile and Recreation Park.

Wong said many of the private zoological parks were involved in wildlife research, breeding and conservation efforts, and a huge amount of money was spent on building laboratories, conducting research, employing and training laboratory staff, veterinarians and zoologists.

He added that the zoological parks also worked with the Wildlife and National Parks Department (Perhilitan) in efforts to care for the wildlife and share critical information on conservation programmes involving species that are nearing extinction in Malaysia.

“For instance, the A Famosa Safari Wonderland, which has 19 Malayan tigers, is an important partner in the effort to preserve the gene pool of the species,” he said.

- Bernama