REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, SURABAYA -- The plan to develop the Surabaya Zoo has been hampered due to a lack of permit from the conservation institute of the forestry ministry, a spokesman said.
The management of the zoo had planned to improve cages, add and exchange animals, finance director of the Surabaya Zoo Fuad Hasan said here on Thursday.
"The conditions of at least 30 cages will have to be improved," he said.
Hopefully, the plan to improve the cages will make animals more comfortable, he said.
But the plan has been put on hold in the absence of permit from the conservation institute, he said.
Therefore, if the management of the Surabaya Zoo insists on improving the cages, the association at the Surabaya Zoo may file a lawsuit on the ground that the cages are not the assets of the Surabaya city administration, he pointed out.
"Should we secure the permit from the conservation institute, it will be easier because the permit will give the management full authority in improving and developing the zoo," he added.
The city administration has planned to incorporate additional budget allocations of Rp8 billion for the zoo in the revised city budget in August.
The figure will increase budget allocations for the zoo to Rp18 billion this year in accordance with the request from the management of the zoo.