TAIPING: The Taiping Zoo and Night Safari, here, is expected to record losses of RM500,000 to RM600,000 during the conditional movement control order period from Nov 9 to Dec 6.
Taiping municipal council president Khairul Amir Mohamad Zubir said the loss would be due to the decline of up to 95% in ticket sales. “The decline is very significant as there are only 20 to 30 visitors daily,” he said after chairing a council meeting today.
However, the council could still bear the RM150,000 monthly cost of animal care, along with operational costs and employees’ salaries amounting to RM350,000 to RM400,000 a month.
He said roof repairs and improvements to the hornbill and eagle enclosures and snake exhibit would be carried out at a cost of RM1.8 million in January, through a project financed by Perhilitan, the federal wildlife and national parks department, which also provided assistance for animal food from August to November.
The state government had allocated RM150,000 for upgrading the toilets and fans in the zoo, he said.