National Zoo of Malaysia

The National Zoo (Malay: Zoo Negara) is a Malaysian zoo located on 110 acres (45 ha) of land in Ulu Klang, Gombak District, Selangor, Malaysia. It was officially opened on November 14, 1963, by the country's first prime minister, Tunku Abdul Rahman. This zoo is managed by a non-governmental organization called the Malaysian Zoological Society.

The zoo is home to 5,137 animals from 476 different species. In July 2007, it received MS ISO 9001:2008 certification for its management practices. It is also a member of the South East Asian Zoos Association (SEAZA). The current president and chairman of the zoo is Y. Bhg. Dato' Ismail Hutson.

History

In 1957, a small zoo was opened by an organization called MAHA. The idea of building a bigger zoo grew, and the government picked a place in Ulu Klang near Kuala Lumpur to build it. In those days, Ulu Klang was a quiet green area. In 1963, the first prime minister of Malaysia, _Yang Teramat Mulia (_YTM) Tunku Abdul Rahman, opened the zoo for visitors. It was called the “Zoo in the Jungle” because of all the tall plants around it.

The zoo had its one millionth visitor just three years later, in 1966. By 1986, over a million people visited every year. As Kuala Lumpur grew quickly because of its strong economy, plans were made to build many homes near Ulu Klang. This caused some worry about the animals' home. Later, some people wanted to move the zoo to a new place, but most people did not agree. With help from the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Government of Selangor, the zoo stayed where it was.

Exhibits

The National Zoo of Malaysia has 16 different exhibits where you can see many interesting animals.

The Reptile Park has both indoor and outdoor areas. You can see crocodiles like saltwater crocodiles and spectacled caimans, as well as tortoises such as the big Aldabra giant tortoises. There are also many snakes, including reticulated pythons and king cobras. The Amphibian World Center shows frogs and toads from Malaysia.

In 2014, the zoo opened a Giant Panda Conservation Centre. Two pandas named Xing Xing and Liang Liang were on display, and later, their baby pandas Yi Yi and Nuan Nuan were also shown.

The zoo has three Asian elephants named Siti, Sibol, and Teriang. You can also see birds like black-headed ibis and storm's storks in the Lake Birds area, and many types of birds from around the world in the Bird Aviary.

Other exhibits include nocturnal animals like fruit bats, Australian animals such as emus, and penguins. Children's World has domestic animals like goats and rabbits that kids can interact with. There are also areas for bears, giraffes, hippos, big cats, apes, and even an insect zoo with butterflies and scorpions.

Other attractions

The zoo has fun shows with sea lions, macaques, and macaws that happen twice a day. On weekends, you can enjoy train rides and guided tours. In the middle of the zoo, there is a Mini Bee Museum where you can learn about different kinds of bees in the country, and you can also buy honey.

Near the zoo's main entrance, there is a Multi-Animal Photo Corner open on weekends. Here, visitors can take pictures with snakes, tiny horses, and birds.

Conservation

Zoo Negara has successfully bred over 200 highly endangered milky storks. The zoo is now working together with the local Wildlife Department to help these birds return to the wild. The zoo has also bred other special animals, like hornbills and false gharials.