East Java Tourism News

Surabaya Zoo Has 3.500 Animals

May 31st, 2006

Once in Surabaya, you need not to go to other regions in Indonesia to see the specific animals in those areas. The Zoo in Surabaya is not only the biggest in Indonesia but also the biggest in Asia. No less than 3.500 heads of animals from 400 species of mammals, birds and reptiles are being kept there. The Surabaya Zoo was formarlly opened on August 31, 1916 when a group of animal lovers gathered together and decided to open a zoological garden on an area of approximately 16 ha downtown.

Later it was moved to the present site uptown. The Surabaya Zoo’s collection includes animals from Indonesia as well as from many parts of the world.

For instance, you need not go to Irian Jaya to see the bird of paradise. There is the komodo, a giant lizard from the island of komodo in Eastern Indonesia; the jalak (type of parrot) from Bali; the anoa from Sulawesi; the bekantan monkey from kalimantan; the peacock from Ponorogo, East Java and the elephants as well as tigers from Sumatra. From Africa there is the ostrich, recently obtained from an exchange program with the Zoo in Singapore. From an exchange with Poland, there are two Zebra’s, a couple of African deer, four European silverjackals and five South American flamingoes.

Located on the fringe of the city, the skyscrapers in the Zoo are tall trees with their tops swinging softly in the windy air. Here the musical world is represented by the melodious chirps of the birds, the shrieks of the primates and even the roars of the kings of the beasts. In the center of the Zoo is an island, inhabitated by monkeys and birds, and surrounded by a lake. Visitors may take a circular trip by boat on the lake.

A tower provides an opportunity to have an overview on the entire Zoo and its surroundings. An unforgettable experience, particularly for children, is riding on an elephant or camel (Rp.2.000 per person).
The Zoo also has an aquarium and a hall with stuffed animals.
Annually the number of visitors to the Zoo reaches approximately 2 1/2 million. Among the foreign visitors are tourists from Taiwan, Singapore, Hongkong, Thailand, Australia, The Netherlands and Germany.

Facilities and special services offered to visitors include: first aid care, insurance for accidents, service for lost children, restaurants, cafe, ice cream parlor, soft drinks and snacks stands, children’s playground. Outside the Zoo there are a number of eating houses, serving Indonesian food. Visitors, however, are recommended to ask about the price or observe the price list before placing an order to prevent overpricing.
The Zoo is easily to be reached by Taxi or public transportation (buses, bemo, etc). It is daily open from 07.00 - 17.00. The en- trance fee is Rp. 1.500,- per person.
Source: Panorama, January 1996, page 4-5.

Entry Filed under: East Java News