Night Zoo Johor draws record 7,330 visitors on opening night

 

JOHOR BARU:  Night Zoo Johor saw a massive turnout on its opening night yesterday, with 7,330 visitors experiencing the state's newest attraction.

State Housing and Local Government Committee chairman Datuk Mohd Jafni Md Shukor said the figures surpassed initial expectations of 5,000 visitors. 

The night zoo features 35 additional species comprising 100 animals. 

"In the first three hours alone, we recorded over 3,000 visitors. We are maintaining the most affordable ticket prices in Malaysia. Currently, we have 93 species and a total of 507 animals at Zoo Johor," he said when met at the launch here last night. 

Night Zoo Johor operates from Friday to Sunday, 8pm to 11pm, with the last entry at 10pm. 

Tickets are priced at RM10 for adults and RM5 for children over five and senior citizens aged 60 and above. For foreign tourists, the price is RM30. Entry is free for children under five and persons with disabilities.

Commenting on the facility's development, Mohd Jafni said the state government spent RM9 million on the first phase of upgrades and RM7 million on the second phase, bolstered by a RM1.4 million federal contribution for a new reptile house. 

"For the second phase, we also upgraded walkways to be more friendly for those with disabilities. 

"We will proceed with the third phase, which focuses on constructing an animal clinic, additional quarantine areas, and upgrading offices and staff quarters. An allocation of RM2 million has been approved for this phase," he said. 

Visitor Muhammad Shah Fikri Sukarto, 24, a lorry driver from Kota Tinggi, said he travelled with his family to be among the first to experience the attraction. 

"I came specifically for the night zoo, and the vibe is unique. My family no longer needs to travel to Melaka or other states to experience a zoo at night," he said. 

Another visitor, Sylvia Thian Many Sia, 48, from Taman Desa Jaya, praised the zoo's cleanliness and aesthetics following its 2024 reopening. 

"It has been a long time since I visited Zoo Johor. Seeing the animals at night is exciting because I realised many are actually more active then. I will definitely come back," she said.

-nst online.