Malacca Zoo is a zoological park located besides Ayer Keroh Highway in Ayer Keroh, Malacca, Malaysia. More than 1200 animals of 215 species can be found at the Malacca Zoo. It is the second-largest zoo in Malaysia behind the National Zoo of Malaysia. In 2007, along with the "Visit Malaysia" campaign, Malacca Zoo was visited by 619,194 visitors; the highest number ever recorded.
History
The zoo was established in 1963, along with the National Zoo of Malaysia, but its management was later taken over by the Department of Wildlife and National Parks of Malaysia in 1979. This enhanced its operations and upgraded its services for the public's benefit. It was used as a wildlife rescue base before it was opened to the public by the then Prime Minister, Tun Dr. Mahathir bin Mohammad on 13 August 1987. Although it has long been opened to the public, its primary roles as a rescue base and an animal sanctuary remain unchanged. It now houses many birds, amphibians, reptiles, mammals, insects, and is the second largest zoo behind the National Zoo in Ulu Klang.
The zoo
Malacca Zoo was the first zoo in Malaysia to exhibit the critically endangeredSumatran rhinoceros. It also houses overseas as well as local beauties such as the white rhinoceros, Asian elephants, red panda, Malaysian gaur, the serow, the squirrel monkey, the molurus python, the grey wolf, the Mongolian wild horse, the green tree python, the giraffe, the blue-and-yellow macaw and also the Indochinese tiger as well as the Malayan tiger Now, it is visited annually by 400,000 visitors; averaging 1093 visitors a day. Although, in 2007, the zoo was visited by 619,194 visitors with an average of 1619 visitors per day; the highest number since it was opened. In that year, the zoo collected as much as RM 3.99 million ; collecting a gain of RM 130,000. It also maintains a healthy, cool green background by planting exotic and rare plants while labelling them. This can potentially cool the zoo in very hot days and symbolically mimics the rainforest. It also has a tram facility to help its visitors get from one place to another with the ticket prices as low as RM 2.00. In addition to that, it also has eating facilities at the A&W restaurant and a cafeteria near the watch tower at the Mini Safari located near Marina Zenorai.
Breeding plans
The zoo is planning some programmes to ensure the survival of some endangered species. Some of them are captive breeding. Since the Malayan tiger was found as a tiger sub-species, the zoo had raised over 40 tiger cubs and sent them to various types of places such as the United States. Two of them were Mek Degong and its mate Awang Relak; Malayan tigers that were sent to San Diego Zoo in 2004. Besides that, it has also been used as a captured animal sanctuary for a temporary time until it is sent locally or abroad.
