SABAH needs a bigger wildlife park to make it more conducive for the animals there, state Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Masidi Manjun said.

Responding to criticism to move the park to Sugud in Penampang, the minister said the current 10-year old Lok Kawi Wildlife Park was not large enough.

“If we are looking ahead, then we have to move to a bigger and better forest. I believe when we do things, we need to do it beyond our lifetime.

“In my opinion, it is best to move (the wildlife park),” he said during his ministry’s Hari Raya open house in Kota Kinabalu today.

Plans to relocate the zoo were first floated in 2015, when Sabah Wildlife Department officials sought feedback from residents of several villages in Sugud on the use of their “firewood reserve” forest as the site of the new wildlife park.   

The land in question – at 1,619ha – is 10 times bigger than the current 113ha park

Villagers in Sugud said they were willing to accommodate the new park as long as the forests in the area retained their “firewood reserve” status.

Last Saturday, Deputy Chief Minister Yahya Hussin objected to the park’s relocation, citing high costs and the long time needed.

Several environmental groups also questioned the need to relocate the park, claiming that animals at the existing park had been mistreated by workers, leading to the death of several protected species such as clouded leopards.

Masidi said the death of these animals had to be expected, as 80% of the wildlife in the park were rescues, mostly seized during anti-smuggling operations in Sabah.

“We must understand that the animals may have already suffered trauma or injuries when they were rescued by the Wildlife Department,” he said.  

The park needs RM4.5 million annually to operate, but rakes in only  RM1.5 million from entrance fees.

“Funding for all zoos in the world have issues. But, in this instance, we need to look at the bigger picture and provide for a larger space for the animals,” he said. – July 24, 2017.