“Domestic tourists, including local visitors, make up 60 percent of the count, while the remaining 40 percent represents visits by foreign tourists,” said Emma Kristiana Chandra, the zoo’s public relations officer, in Gianyar on Monday.
She noted that visitor numbers peaked on Sunday (March 22), when the conservation facility welcomed some 2,200 people, well above the daily average of 800 to 1,200 visitors. It is home to about 600 animals across 65 species, including those endemic to Indonesia.
The zoo, she added, still expects strong attendance in the coming days despite Bali beginning to see an outflow of travelers in the reverse Eid homecoming season, supported by the ongoing period of mass Eid leave through Tuesday (March 24).
“Our estimates remain at around two thousand visitors,” Chandra said, noting that the 12-hectare zoo mostly attracts tourists from Jakarta, Surabaya, and those coming from other major cities on Eid holiday trips.
The spokesperson also attributed the influx of visitors to the zoo’s new initiative allowing closer interactions with its three pairs of capybaras, aged between six and nine months.
She highlighted that visitors are now offered the chance to directly feed the world’s largest living rodents with corn, corn leaves, and grasses. The mammals, once viral worldwide for their relaxed behavior, typically consume up to 2.5 kilograms of feed daily.
“Capybaras have become a new attraction many visitors are looking for here,” she noted.
Chandra further said that Bali Zoo offers educational attractions designed to raise youngsters’ awareness of the importance of protecting endangered wildlife. A children’s water play area is also available there.
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Translator: Dewa Ketut, Tegar Nurfitra
Editor: Azis Kurmala
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