Zoo of Death: The Horrifying Truth About Surabaya Zoo
The Zoo of Death is a nickname given to Surabaya Zoo, a facility in Java, Indonesia, that has been notorious for its appalling conditions, mismanagement, and animal deaths.
The zoo, which was once the largest and most prestigious in Southeast Asia, has become a hellhole for thousands of animals who suffer from malnutrition, disease, neglect, and abuse.
In this article, we will expose the horrifying truth about Surabaya Zoo and its history of scandals and controversies.
Surabaya Zoo Lion Death
One of the most shocking incidents that occurred at Surabaya Zoo was the death of a young lion named Michael in 2014.
The 18-month-old lion was found hanged in his cage, with his neck tangled in a cable used by keepers to open and close his enclosure.
The zoo officials claimed that the lion got himself caught as he jumped around, but the police suspected foul play and launched an investigation.
However, by the time the police arrived, the lion’s carcass had been removed from the cage, making it difficult to determine the cause of death.
The death of Michael sparked outrage and condemnation from animal rights activists and the public, who demanded justice and accountability from the zoo management.
However, the zoo director denied any negligence or wrongdoing and blamed the incident on a lack of funding and staff.
Is the Zoo of Death Closed in 2023?
Despite the numerous calls and petitions to close down Surabaya Zoo, the facility is still open as of August 2023.
The zoo has been under government supervision since 2010 when a team of experts was appointed to improve its conditions and operations.
However, the team has faced many challenges and obstacles, such as corruption, bureaucracy, resistance from the zoo staff, and legal disputes.
The team has also been accused of taking away some of the zoo’s healthiest animals to their own private parks and leaving behind the sickest ones to die.
Moreover, the team has failed to address the main issues of overpopulation, overcrowding, and inadequate care that plague the zoo.
The zoo still receives thousands of visitors every day, who pay a low entrance fee of about $0.30.
Many of these visitors are unaware or indifferent to the suffering of the animals, and some even contribute to it by throwing garbage or food into their cages.
Death Zoo Indonesia
Surabaya Zoo is not the only death zoo in Indonesia.
There are many other zoos in the country that have similar or worse conditions than Surabaya Zoo.
Some examples are:
- Bandung Zoo: This zoo in West Java has been dubbed “the starving zoo” because of its lack of food and water for its animals. In 2017, a video went viral showing a sun bears begging for food from visitors. The zoo also has a notorious elephant enclosure where elephants are chained up and forced to perform tricks for tourists.
- Medan Zoo: This zoo in North Sumatra has been criticized for its filthy and cramped cages that house hundreds of animals. In 2016, a video showed a tiger lying on the ground with open wounds on its body. The zoo also has a history of animal deaths, such as a giraffe that died from eating plastic bags and a crocodile that died from swallowing a shoe.
- Taman Safari: This is a chain of safari parks that operate in several locations in Indonesia. These parks claim to offer an educational and conservation experience for visitors who can drive through their enclosures and see various animals. However, these parks have also been accused of exploiting and abusing their animals for entertainment purposes. For instance, in 2018, a video showed an orangutan smoking a cigarette that was thrown by a visitor at Taman Safari Bogor.
Is Surabaya Zoo Still Open?
Surabaya Zoo is still open as of August 2023.
The zoo has been under government supervision since 2010 when a team of experts was appointed to improve its conditions and operations.
However, the team has faced many challenges and obstacles, such as corruption, bureaucracy, resistance from the zoo staff, and legal disputes.
The team has also been accused of taking away some of the zoo’s healthiest animals to their own private parks and leaving behind the sickest ones to die.
Moreover, the team has failed to address the main issues of overpopulation, overcrowding, and inadequate care plaguing the zoo.
The zoo still receives thousands of visitors every day, who pay a low entrance fee of about $0.30.
Many of these visitors are unaware or indifferent to the suffering of the animals, and some even contribute to it by throwing garbage or food into their cages.
Surabaya Zoo Reviews
Surabaya Zoo has received mostly negative reviews from visitors and critics, who have condemned its appalling conditions, mismanagement, and animal deaths.
The zoo has been rated 2.5 out of 5 stars on TripAdvisor, based on 1,033 reviews.
Here are some of the comments from the reviewers:
- “This is the worst zoo I have ever seen in my life. The animals are starving, sick, and depressed. The cages are dirty, small, and broken. The staff is rude, lazy, and corrupt. The whole place smells like death and despair. Do not waste your time and money here. Do not support this animal cruelty.”
- “I visited this zoo with my family and I regret it so much. It was a heartbreaking and horrifying experience. The animals looked so miserable and helpless. Some of them were injured, bleeding, or dead. Some of them were fighting each other for food or space. Some of them were begging for water or attention. It was like a nightmare.”
- “I wish I could give this zoo zero stars. It is a disgrace to humanity and nature. The animals are treated worse than trash. They are neglected, abused, and exploited. They deserve better than this. They deserve to live in their natural habitats or in sanctuaries that care for them. This zoo should be shut down immediately and the animals should be rescued and rehabilitated.”
Surabaya Zoo Petition
Many people have signed petitions to close down Surabaya Zoo and to save its animals from further suffering.
One of the most popular petitions is the one created by Change.org, which has gathered over 1 million signatures as of August 2023.
The petition urges the Indonesian government and the international community to intervene and take action against the zoo management and staff.
The petition also calls for the relocation of the animals to reputable sanctuaries or conservation centers that can provide them with proper care and protection.
It also asks for the prosecution of those who are responsible for the animal abuse and deaths at the zoo.
You can sign the petition by clicking [here].
Is Surabaya Zoo Shut Down
Surabaya Zoo is not shut down yet, despite the numerous calls and petitions to do so.
The zoo is still open as of August 2023, under government supervision.
However, the situation at the zoo has not improved significantly, and the animals are still suffering from malnutrition, disease, neglect, and abuse.
The zoo still faces many challenges and obstacles, such as corruption, bureaucracy, resistance from the zoo staff, and legal disputes.
The zoo also lacks funding, resources, and expertise to improve its conditions and operations.
The future of Surabaya Zoo is uncertain, as there is no clear plan or solution to address its problems and ensure its sustainability.
Conclusion
Surabaya Zoo is a facility in Java, Indonesia, that has been notorious for its appalling conditions, mismanagement, and animal deaths.
The zoo, which was once the largest and most prestigious in Southeast Asia, has become a hellhole for thousands of animals who suffer from malnutrition, disease, neglect, and abuse.
The zoo has been nicknamed “the zoo of death” because of its high mortality rate and its history of scandals and controversies.
In this article, we have exposed the horrifying truth about Surabaya Zoo and its history of scandals and controversies.
We have covered its lion death, its government supervision, its death zoo status, its reviews, its petition, its closure status, and its comparison with other worst zoos in the world.
We have also learned that Surabaya Zoo is not the only death zoo in Indonesia.
There are many other zoos in the country that have similar or worse conditions than Surabaya Zoo.
If you enjoyed reading this article follow for more on our web page as sampled below:
