Hello!
I hope everyone is staying safe during this Covid-19 pandemic.
Humans have suffered during this pandemic and animals have too, especially the ones held captive in zoos world over.
The Bandung Zoo is no different. They have had to lay workers off and have closed their gates to visitors since March 23rd due to the pandemic. It is currently scheduled to reopen on May 29th. Whether this happens remains to be seen.
The tabloid newspaper THE SUN published on May 1st 2020 describes the possibility of some very harrowing consequences for many animals as zoos income stream from animal exploitation have dried up due to the pandemic. This is another reason why animals should never be kept in zoos.
Zoo protectionist Sybelle Foxcroft of Cee4life excoriated the tabloid papers and accused them of sensationalism. As always, she caps for the Bandung Zoo. She reassured everyone that the Bandung Zoo is "OK" and criticized road side zoos in Indonesia. She rationalized that zoos are necessary to keep animals from going extinct, therefore it is acceptable to imprison the animals. Foxcroft also claimed that she spoke with the Bandung Zoo management and was informed that they have 3 months of food supply for the animals, but her words mean nothing as she has lied time and time again.
I have cross referenced many Indonesian newspapers to verify that what is being published by the Sun newspaper is accurate. The Bandung Zoo spokesman, who also happen to be the spokesman for PKBSI (Indonesian Zoos and Aquarium Association), said that food is being rationed for the animals to reduce operating cost. He also told the local papers that if the pandemic continues, the herbivores in the zoo may be fed to the carnivores as suggested by PKBSI Secretary General Tony Samampau (Foxcroft's pal) as these animals reproduce easily. In addition, he said that some animals may have to be put down, especially those that are not in the endangered or protected list to "save" the big cats. My guess is, they will be fed to the big cats.
https://www.bbc.com/indonesia/majalah-52466812
https://today.line.me/id/pc/article/Satwa+di+Kebun+Binatang+Bandung+Jalani+Puasa+Daud-3lvoqM
Samampau has submitted assistance request to the Government citing that the zoo animals belong to the state. Whether assistance would be given remains to be seen as we know that animals are not a priority.
According to BBC Indonesia, "a survey of the Indonesian Zoo Association (PKBSI) of 60 members, revealed that more than 90% of zoos in Indonesia are unable to survive feeding animals for more than one month. Whereas only about 5% are able to provide feed for up to three months."
Wildlife and environmental observer from the Bogor Agriculture Institute, Professor Hadi Alikodra has also expressed his concern for the animals welfare during this pandemic.
The animals in Bandung Zoo and other zoos in Indonesia have been on a food ration for nearly 2 months now. As always, Foxcroft has not been truthful. She twisted the facts to imply that there is 3 months of food supply as of May to purposefully mislead. She also deliberately left out BBC Indonesia news article as it would be much more difficult for her to trash the BBC. (She had previously praised BBC Indonesia)
The Bandung Zoo has also been expanding, adding an African theme where two endangered giraffes are being held captive.
I DO NOT suggest you contact Foxcroft. She will only accuse you of being a troll and more. Also, can you trust an "animal activist" who traffics tiger parts www.sybelleunmasked.com and stepped on a defenseless little non venomous snake in her attempt to capture it for relocation? The picture can be seen https://sybelleunmasked.com/magnetic-island-wildlife-under-threat/ She claims she has a video of the capture but despite calls from animal advocates to release the video, she has not done so.
For the animals!
P Holmes