Gorilla at Jakarta Ragunan Zoo Throws Stick at Visitors; Management Explains
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3 January 2024 13:13 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Footage of a gorilla throwing wooden sticks at visitors at Ragunan Zoo, South Jakarta, has gone viral on social media. It was shot during the Christmas holidays when the wildlife park was packed with visitors.
The gorilla was filmed sitting in his cage facing visitors who were standing near the fence. Suddenly, he grabbed a small piece of branch and threw it at the visitor.
Zoo officials clarified that the gorilla, named Komu, was protesting against the visitors as he felt disturbed.
“I’d like to ask you, when you are relaxing and you are disturbed, do you get mad? The same with Komu, he was relaxing and people were disturbing him and shouting at him, so he got angry,” a spokesperson for the wildlife park, Wahyudi Bambang, told reporters on Tuesday, January 2.
Bambang explained that Komu did not go berserk, but reacted to being disturbed.
“We have warned visitors that they are not allowed to disturb the animals and they are not allowed to feed them. So that's the effect when visitors disturb the animals, they make a reaction, trying to survive,” he explained.
Bambang reiterated that if Komu was not disturbed, he would calm down. “Komu is now fine and not stressed,” he added.
Visitors are advised not to disturb the animals
Bambang further appealed to the visitors of Ragunan Zoo to be considerate and not to cheer or shout in front of the animals. “Let's learn to care for the animals together. Don't let the animals become a joke. These animals are a very expensive wealth that we must preserve,” he stressed.
Signs are already installed near the cages to remind visitors of the prohibited activities. According to the official website of the Ragunan Zoo, visitors are prohibited from throwing plastic or anything into the cages, teasing the animals with sounds or movements, and feeding them.
ANTARA | JAKARTA.GO.ID
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