TEMPO.CO, Surabaya - Chief of ProFauna Indonesia Institute, Rosek Nursahid, said the death of a lion in Surabaya Zoo is out of legal context, "unless the city administration or zoo management filed the case to the police for its criminal element".
Recently, Michael, a barely adult lion (panthera leo) was found strangled with a steel sling. Michael's death can actually be a subject of investigation, as it resembled more like a murder.
The lion, however, is not an endangered animal, as he was taken from Africa, instead of having bred in domestic population. "The legal framework only regulates Indonesian-origin animals," said Rosek. Moreover, Rosek said whatever caused the death, Surabaya Zoo is in terrible condition due to a string of internal conflicts.
DAVID PRIYASIDHARTA