The Johor Zoo was temporarily closed in 2020 for upgrades. -THOMAS YONG/The Star
JOHOR BARU: The temporarily closed 95-year-old Johor Zoo is set to reopen by the end of this year, says Mentri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi.
He said the zoo - the oldest in the country - has been closed since 2020 for upgrading work.
“It is expected to reopen soon with the consent of Johor Ruler Sultan Ibrahim Ibni Almarhum Sultan Iskandar,” he said in his opening speech at the Johor Smart City Forum at the Persada Johor International Convention Centre here on Monday (June 12).
The event was also officiated by Johor princess Tunku Tun Aminah Maimunah Iskandariah Sultan Ibrahim.
In February, Sultan Ibrahim said in a Facebook post that the zoo needed to be made into one of the new tourist locations in the state to attract visitors from home and abroad.
He reportedly said 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 on His Majesty’s official Facebook.
The zoo, located on Jalan Gertak Merah, was opened in 1928 and at that time it was named ‘Kebun Binatang’.
The current ticket price is RM2 for adults and RM1 for children.
