All cool, all new: The Johor Zoo is set for upgrades to attract more tourists to the state. — THOMAS YONG/The Star
JOHOR BAHRU: The Johor Zoo, which is almost 95 years old, will have a new look with upgrading works to be done soon.
Sultan of Johor Sultan Ibrahim Almarhum Sultan Iskandar said the Johor Zoo, which is the oldest zoo in Malaysia, needed to be made into one of the new tourist locations in the state to attract visitors from home and abroad.
“The Johor Zoo is a legacy of the late Sultan Sir Ibrahim Ibni Almarhum Sultan Sir Abu Bakar and is the oldest zoo in the country.
“The state government needs to focus on various facets when restoration works are carried out, among them the drainage system, animal placement, ticket prices and many more in order to attract visitors.
“It needs to be promoted as one of the new tourist locations in Johor that can attract visitors from within and outside the country,” said Sultan Ibrahim in a statement issued by the Royal Press Office (RPO) on His Majesty’s official Facebook.
Sultan Ibrahim said this after granting an audience to state housing and local government committee chairman Datuk Mohd Jafni Md Shukor, who presented a proposal to upgrade the Johor Zoo.
Johor Zoo, located in Jalan Gertak Merah was opened in 1928 and at that time it was named ‘Kebun Binatang’.
Meanwhile, Mohd Jafni said the zoo is expected to operate again at the end of this year after upgrading work was completed.
“We will also review the ticket price, but will ensure that the new rate does not burden visitors and is lower than other zoos in the country,” he said, Bernama reported.
The current ticket price is RM2 for adults and from RM1 for children.
He said the state government allocates nearly RM1mil every year for maintenance costs, staff salaries and animal feed.
