TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Gembira Loka Yogyakarta Zoo will have a new zone at the beginning of 2019, namely the Zona Cakar (Claw Zone).

The Zona Cakar is a special zone of carnivorous animals initiated by the zoo’s management since 2014. The zone will be inhabited by dozens of types of big cats, from lions, tigers, and hyena. There are also leopards and panthers.

“In total, there will be around 30 carnivorous animals in the Zona Cakar, some from Africa,” said Gembira Loka’s Directors Staff Agung Wibowo when met by Tempo, Wednesday, December 26.

Agung said that to bring the animals, Gembira Loka’s management spent around Rp1,5 billion. Not including the cost of building the zone.

The Zona Cakar is on the west side of the zoo, with an area of around 2,000 square meters. The concept is like a garden on a small island. The mainland in the middle surrounded by rivers.

“The zone making phase is currently reaching 70 percent, the target for January 2019 will be completed and inaugurated,” said Agung.

Agung stated that there were indeed obstacles when managing the animal permits to fill the Zona Cakar.

“The management of the permit to bring in the Tigers had a problem because it was sent from Africa,” he said.

Agung said some of these animals had arrived in Indonesia. Before inhabiting the Gembira Loka Zoo, these animals will go through the stage of climate adaptation in Indonesia.

“Some animals are ready, some are already here, some are not yet, because of climate adaptation from Africa and Europe to Indonesia,” he said.

Even though there is an additional zone, the visitor’s entrance tickets would not increase. It is still at Rp25,000 to Rp30,000 on weekdays and during the holiday season at Rp35,000 per person.

“There is no additional ticket purchase to enjoy the Zona Cakar, it still applies to one ticket at the time of entry and a fixed price,” Agung said.

PRIBADI WICAKSONO