Kemaman Mini Zoo
M’sian zoo to follow S’pore’s open concept
Mon, Feb 16, 2009
The New Straits Times
By Sean Augustin and Nurul Mardiana Abdul Alim
KEMAMAN, TERENGGANU: There are great expectations of the Kemaman zoo, touted to be the largest on the east coast, which is due to open by the end of next month.
Located on a 54-ha site in Bukit Takal, bordering the popular firefly colony in Kampung Yak Yah, it will house animals of about 100 species, including bears, seladang (Malayan gaur), kijang (barking deer), wild goats, orang- utan, crocodiles and tigers.
These animals are among the 100 species to be featured at the new zoo in Bukit Takal, Kemaman, which is due to open at the end of next month.
Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents Terengganu Chapter Committee member and tour operator Alex Lee said the opening of the zoo would bode well for the tourism industry here.
This is because it will help shift the focus of the industry to Kemaman since most of the popular sites in the state are located up north, he added.
“I hope the zoo will also serve as a rehabilitation and conservation centre. This will attract more visitors.”
Lee hoped there would be efficient management and promotion of the place. He also hoped it would have an open zoo concept like in Singapore as tourists tend to skip zoos that caged up animals.
Malaysian Nature Society Terengganu chairman Wan Adnan Ismail said he also preferred the open zoo concept.
He hoped the zoo would be popular for being a well-managed animal kingdom instead of being the biggest.
“It has to be attractive. We don’t want people leaving the zoo feeling sorry for the animals.”
Restaurant operator, Latifah Mohd Razi, hopes the zoo will help boost business here with the high number of tourists expected.
Nazariah Mustafa, 33, who operates a sundry shop in Jalan Saga, said: “I hope the infrastructure, especially the road, will also be upgraded.”
-The New Straits Times