Visitors to zoo may have to pay more
By SALINA KHALID
Metro, 10 Nov 2005

VISITORS to Zoo Negara may have to pay a higher entry fee soon due to higher operations cost. 

Malaysian Zoological Society president Datuk Ismail Hutson said the fee hike was necessary to cover the escalating cost that the zoo was facing currently. 

“If possible, we would not want to increase the fee as most of our visitors are local,” he said. “But, we have no choice as cannot pay for the expenses from our own pockets. It is unavoidable.” 

Ismail (right) receiving a mock cheque from Chew (second from right) and Abdul Rais (third from right, front row) as students and teachers crowd around them at the zoo recently.

Ismail was speaking to reporters after receiving a cheque for RM18,900 from Sekolah Sri Kuala Lumpur, Subang Jaya, for its sponsorship of Mamba, the Bengal tiger, and two mouse deer at the zoo. 

The school’s principal, Chew Teck Ann, and OM Education Sdn Bhd director Abdul Rais Manas presented the cheque.  

The zoo has been owned and operated by the society since 1963. Currently, visitors pay RM10 for adults, RM5 for children aged three to 12 years old and RM3 for school children. 

Ismail said though the new rate was yet to be finalized, the society was proposing RM15 for adult visitors.  

“The zoo needs about RM7mil a year to cover its operations cost, which includes RM2mil in staff salaries alone,” he said.

“No zoo in the world makes profit. Most are running at a lost,” he added.  

Ismail said the zoo had to undergo constant renovations and offer new features to entice visitors. “If we do not do these, people will shy away from the zoo.”  

He said the new rate would contribute to upgrading works and for the addition of new attractions.  

“We have already put aside RM2.5mil to renovate the aquarium and hope that it will be ready by Chinese New Year,” he added.  

Ismail said, the gate collection (entry fees) contributed to about 80% of the zoo’s revenue and the society depended on donations and sponsorship for the remainder.  

The zoo is situated on a 40ha land. It has about 4,000 animals of which are 400 species of mammals, reptiles, amphibians, birds and fish. 

The school, which was established by Tan Sri Othman Merican and a group of friends in 1979, is owned by OM Education. Currently, it has a student population of 2,000.