Zoo visitors queueing under the hot sun to wait for the free shuttle from the zoo.
Visitors to the newly refurbished Johor Zoo want to see improvements in its crowd management, especially during weekends and public holidays
Lee Jin Yap, 51, a mother of three, said the zoo was overcrowded during her visit and suggested that the number of visitors be limited.
“Inside, there is no personal space. You end up bumping into everyone. Parents, especially those with young children, need to be extra cautious about their children’s whereabouts.
“I felt sorry for the kids having to queue and wait a long time under the sun. Even the queue for the free shuttle bus was so long that I decided to walk to the ticket counter,” she said when met at the old Ayer Molek prison that has been repurposed as a parking lot for zoo visitors.
Lee, who is from Kuala Lumpur, said it was her first visit to the attraction.
The Johor Zoo reopened on Aug 31 after undergoing a three-year, RM9.6mil upgrade.
Another visitor M. Mala, 40, called for the relocation of the food trucks near the zoo’s entrance.
“People queuing get confused about whether they are in line for food or tickets, since there is no clear partition between them,” said the housewife.
She also called for enforcement against drivers and queue-jumpers coming from Jalan Gertak Merah as they worsen congestion in the area.
“If they want to keep the food trucks, they should block the road off from private vehicles, creating more space for people to walk and queue,” she noted.
“Other than these concerns, it was a pleasant experience for my family at the zoo.
“The place looks more vibrant and cleaner now. It took us about an hour to see all the animals,” she added.
Azmi Rahmat, 56, suggested that the entrance from Jalan Gertak Merah be closed and moved to Jalan Ayer Molek instead.
“This way, there will be a single flow of traffic leading to the old Ayer Molek prison. Those leaving the zoo and the parking area can head straight to Jalan Yahya Awal.
“This would help reduce congestion and allow the shuttle buses to move faster.
“At the moment, bus movements are hindered by vehicles entering from Jalan Gertak Merah.”
Azmi, a father of four, also wants more benches and tents for visitors waiting for the shuttle bus.
Johor housing and local government committee chairman Datuk Mohd Jafni Md Shukor said Johor Zoo was nearing the final phase of implementing a new online ticketing system, which was expected to launch by November.
“This initiative is part of the zoo’s efforts to tackle the main issue of overcrowding and long queues, especially on weekends.
“The new online ticketing system is expected to cut congestion by more than 50%.”
Mohd Jafni said the ongoing promotion of free admission for children under 12 years, senior citizens over 60 and individuals with disabilities had led to an unprecedented rise in visitors, with current weekend attendance surpassing 15,000 people.
He also spoke about plans to upgrade the zoo’s public announcement system.
“Only 30% of the zoo is currently covered by loudspeakers; we are planning to have 100% coverage.
“These upgrades are crucial for announcements about lost children.
“Although there have been cases of children getting separated from their families, the zoo’s staff managed to reunite them by bringing the children to the ticket counter,” he said.
To ensure visitor safety, the zoo has also deployed undercover police officers on-site.
“Visitors need not worry about safety but we do urge them to keep an eye on their children and help maintain the cleanliness of the zoo,” added Mohd Jafni.
