KUALA LUMPUR: Spurred to do its part in animal conservation, Kuala Lumpur City Hall is adopting Zoo Negara’s Malayan Tiger cubs Wira, Hebat and Melur.
Kuala Lumpur Mayor Datuk Nor Hisham Ahmad Dahlan said a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between City Hall and Zoo Negara would be signed tomorrow, which covers the maintenance, including healthcare, food, and basic care of the offspring of the tigress, Kayla.
“The MoU covers the cooperation (between City Hall and) Zoo Negara for three years, which will include awareness programmes.
“We were moved by the plight of the Malayan Tigers, with only about 200 of the animals left in the wild as reported in the first National Tiger Survey 2016-2018.
“When (the prime minister’s wife) Tun Dr Siti Hasmah Mohd Ali launched the (Save The) Malayan Tiger campaign earlier this year, we knew we had to do something and decided to collaborate with Zoo Negara in wildlife conservation.
“We hope the species will thrive and that these cubs will grow up healthy and procreate.
“The Malayan Tiger is the symbol of our country, as well as that of City Hall. (An image of the feline is featured prominently in its logo.)
“We hope to work with Zoo Negara in raising public awareness of tiger conservation. Everyone has a role to play and for City Hall, this is what we can do, not only in tiger conservation, but also wildlife and environment protection in general.
“Hopefully, others, including the private sector and the general public, will follow suit and contribute towards animal conservation.
“This includes rejecting wildlife trade by not buying or using the parts of protected species.
“This will help with efforts to protect our treasure and prevent them from becoming extinct,” he said, adding that City Hall would donate RM40,365 to Zoo Negara.
He said City Hall’s role went beyond keeping the city in order, like maintaining cleanliness and roads.
He said it was its duty to care for the environment and wildlife, while also taking part in educating the public about the importance of protecting nature.
“We are doing upgrading works on public parks, like the Perdana Botanical Garden and the Kuala Lumpur Bird Park, where we plan to introduce more species,” he said.
For Nor Hisham, Zoo Negara has a special place in his heart as he had been living near the zoo for decades.
“In the 1980s, we would hear roar of tigers from our house located some 800m away.
“We could even see the giraffes’ long necks from our house.
“Those days, Hulu Kelang was literally a hulu (rural) area.
“These days, we can’t hear animal noises outside (the zoo).
“This is because they are drowned out by the sound of vehicles and development in the area,” said Nor Hisham.
The three Malayan Tiger cubs that were born on Labour Day are scheduled to be displayed to visitors starting this month.
There are nine adult tigers in Zoo Negara, including two males — Jati and Pacin.