1Berita News – The deaths of tigers at Medan Zoo have been garnering significant attention. Four tigers, consisting of two Bengal tigers and two Sumatran tigers, have died between November 2023 and January 2024.
Initially, a Sumatran tiger named Erha died at Medan Zoo on November 3, 2023, at the age of 11. The male tiger was sick and refused to eat, never having mated during its lifetime. Following Erha, a Bengal tiger named Avatar died at Medan Zoo in December 2023. Later, a Sumatran tiger named Nurhaliza alias Putri died at Medan Zoo on December 31, 2023, suffering from pneumonia and renal disease due to inhabiting an unsuitable, damp enclosure.
Most recently, a Bengal tiger named Wesa died at Medan Zoo on January 22, 2024, at the age of 17, suffering from an incurable illness.
Dr. Fifin Nopiansyah, Head of the Technical Division of the North Sumatra Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BKSDA), stated that the remaining tigers at Medan Zoo, comprising five Bengal tigers and four Sumatran tigers, also have poor conditions.
Fifin admitted that the management of enclosures and feeding at Medan Zoo is inadequate, leading to the poor health of the tigers. Despite efforts to improve conditions by BKSDA and the Indonesian Zoological Parks Association (PKBSI), including providing food, medicines, and medical personnel, the situation continues to deteriorate.
Meanwhile, Bambang Hendarto, Acting CEO of PD Pembangunan Medan, mentioned that three Sumatran tigers are suffering from incurable illnesses, while other Bengal tigers are also in critical condition.
Although redevelopment of Medan Zoo is desired, Bambang acknowledged the lack of a definite schedule for the process. Redevelopment would disrupt operations, and with the zoo’s income already drastically reduced due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it poses challenges.
As an alternative, the foster parent program has been proposed as a solution to provide better care for the animals at Medan Zoo. It is hoped that through this program, the conditions of the tigers and other animals can be significantly improved.
