The History and Early Origins of the Opening of Zoo Taiping

It is no exaggeration to say that Zoo Taiping is among the earliest zoos in our country, Malaysia, and your visit to Taiping is incomplete without stopping by Zoo Taiping.

Zoo Taiping is one of the main attractions in this old town, which was once a British administrative center. The existence of Zoo Taiping stands alongside Malaysia's first 10 structures and public facilities found in Taiping, including the railway track, museum, hospital, prison, and telegraph building. For your information, loyal readers of orangperak.com, Zoo Taiping was originally known as Taman Mergastua Sultan Idris Shah. Taman Mergastua Sultan Idris Shah, or Zoo Taiping, is the only zoo located in the northern part of Peninsular Malaysia. It was officially opened on March 7, 1964, with the purpose of serving as a collection center for endangered animal specimens. Another objective was to raise public awareness regarding the threat of animal extinction due to poaching. Zoo Taiping was developed on a 13.7-hectare forest site and houses a population of approximately 1,000 to 1,500 animals from about 100 to 200 different species. Your presence there will provide you with an experience to see the best wildlife in the country.

Tan Sri Saw Huat Lye

Taman Mergastua Sultan Idris Shah was inspired by Tan Sri Saw Huat Lye, who at the time held the position of Chairman of the Taiping Town Council. His long-term plan back then was to create an animal park that could become a public attraction while simultaneously contributing revenue to the Local Government Management Board, and today, we can see the results after decades.

Datuk Shaari Shafie

Returning to the story, after the construction proposal was approved by the former Menteri Besar of Perak, Datuk Shaari Shafie, who was the 2nd Menteri Besar of Perak, in April 1962, the Taman Mergastua Sultan Idris Shah project received its first construction allocation amounting to RM70,000. To ensure the success of this project, a zoo committee, the Animal Park Committee, was established to carry out management responsibilities, and among its earliest tasks was to populate the park with wild and domestic animals.

Awang Majlis and Zimbo

Among the first efforts made was an application to the state government to obtain two elephants from Gerik. You can read the full story regarding this in the article titled

The Story of Sultan Idris II's Elephant Keeper

which has been shared by the descendants for the benefit of loyal readers of orangperak.com. Additionally, the Taiping Town Council also made efforts to obtain two Orangutans from the Government of Singapore, which had been confiscated due to illegal keeping by citizens of that country. On May 31, 1962, the Taiping Town Council continued its efforts to increase the collection of animals in the park by applying to obtain a pair of deer from the Assistant District Officer of Selama, Perak.

Subsequently, in June 1962, an application was also made to the Raja Muda of Perak to obtain a pair of black and white swans from the Australian High Commissioner. In the early stages of its establishment, the animal park housed about 20 cages measuring 10 meters long and five meters wide to accommodate deer, porcupines, fish, snakes, birds, and wild boars. Two years after construction, the animal park was officially opened to the public on March 7, 1964, under the name Taman Mergastua Sultan Idris Shah.

Sultan Idris II

The opening ceremony was performed by Sultan Idris Al-Mutawakkil Alallahi Shah Sultan Iskandar Shah Kadasallah, and since the opening of Taman Mergastua Sultan Idris Shah, it has received a warm and encouraging response. The entrance fees charged at that time were 30 cents for adults, 20 cents for children, and 10 cents for school students. In 1965, the zoo management's wait to obtain two elephants along with two handlers finally ended.

Once again, we remind you that you need to read this article

The Story of Sultan Idris II's Elephant Keeper

because it is completely related. Two elephants from Gerik, namely Awang Majlis and Zimbo, stepped in as permanent residents of Taman Mergastua Sultan Idris Shah, becoming a major attraction for visitors.