Postcards from the Zoo (Kebun Binatang)

Zoo, an abbreviation of a zoological garden or park,

an institution in which living animals are exhibited in captivity.

Father!

Father!

Father!

Father!

Father!

Sapi-cow, monyet-monkey, bebek - duck!

Ular-snake, kucing - cat!

Rabbit-kelinci!

Sapi-cow, monyet-monkey, bebek - duck!

Ular-snake, kucing - cat!

Rabbit-kelinci!

Ex-situ conservation is the process of protecting an endangered species

by removing part of the population from the habitat

and placing it in a new location.

I'm 25, and you're 27...

Clap now! 29!

28 means you clap, then 29, 30! And back from the top!

Ji...

So I heard you lost your appetite.

What's wrong?

Tired of the same old food?

You don't like chicken anymore?

Ok, I know.

I know the feeling.

You felt sorry for the hen, didn't you?

You know what Pak Maman told me?

One day, Vera didn't want to eat live hens.

Vera is a tiger cub.

Vera told me,

I feel sorry for the hens.

They must be in such pain when I bite into their soft flesh.

I will never eat those hens again.

Then Pak Maman called the hen and asked...

Hey, Chicken! Tell me the truth, are you scared?

The chicken did not answer.

It just kept clucking.

So Pak Maman turned to Vera, the kind-hearted tiger cub.

It's alright, Vera!

The chicken has no idea what is happening to her,

because all the hens you have eaten before,

never lived to tell their mates,

how painful it is to be eaten by a tiger.

Pak Maman! Puji doesn't want to eat!

She wants a bath!

Endemic, in a broad sense can mean "belonging"

in a particular geography, group, field, area, or environment;

Native to an area or scope.

Did you know

the giraffe has an important role in world history?

How so, Oom Dave?

The first time a giraffe was brought to Europe,

in the early 15th century,

it's no coincidence that Europe soon became

a mighty imperial power!

But when Admiral Zheng He brought a giraffe to China

during the same period,

and the animal was brought to the Emperor,

it was quite a sight - an image of power!

The palace officials feared that Zheng He

would have too much influence on the Emperor.

So they advised the Emperor

to never allow Zheng He to go on another expedition.

China ceased to be a major power ever since.

You mean giraffes are banned in China?

Well, that was 5 centuries ago. China is a "modern" country now.

They have zoos and even circuses.

So Oom Dave, besides giraffes, what else did Zheng He bring?

The word "jerapah" comes from the Arabic word "zarafah",

which means something that moves very fast.

May I borrow two walking sticks?

Thank you.

When a giraffe walks,

the left front and hind legs move together,

followed by the right front and hind leg.

Which leg moves first,

the left front or the hind leg?

I wouldn't ever know the answer. She does as she pleases

The neck of a giraffe can be 1.5 meters long,

which is about your height ma'am, what is your name?

Jehan Subiantoro.

The giraffe's neck, which is about the height of Nenek Jehan here,

will move back and forth to help the giraffe

balance its body as it runs.

A giraffe can run up to 56 kilometres an hour.

A giraffe can run from that end of the cage to this end,

in only 10 seconds! That's 150 meters!

DON'T TOUCH THE ANIMALS

So, there are three types of creatures that live in the zoo.

The first type are the visitors, who come here to watch something.

And there are some who come to be watched themselves.

The second type are the animals being watched.

Sometimes they know they are being watched,

sometimes they don't.

Then there are some who don't want to be watched

and choose to hide, so they can do the watching.

Most of this second type live in groups,

although there are some who live alone.

The giraffe is the most elegant animal in the world.

In various customs and traditions,

a long neck and legs are seen as beautiful.

But don't assume that the giraffe is a fragile creature.

It can kill a lion with a single kick of its hind leg.

The giraffe usually lives in herds.

But not in Ragunan.

The giraffe here is alone,

the one and only giraffe in Jakarta. Jera is her name.

I've always wanted to touch Jera's stomach.

When I was little, I thought I couldn't because I wasn't tall enough.

But even now I still can't,

the closest I can get to her is still 3 meters away.

So, back to the types of creatures in the zoo.

The third type are the people who actually live in the zoo.

And they can be divided into three groups.

The first group are the ones

who work here during the day.

The second group are the ones who have no place to live,

and have made the zoo their shelter.

Sometimes going home for a while,

but more often coming back to live in the zoo for days,

to spend more time with their snakes.

Within this group there are plenty who come and go.

Sometimes they come back, sometimes they leave and never return.

And the last group are the people

who feel that there is no other place like the zoo,

no other place that makes them feel alive.

People who are here every day.

Day and night.

Twenty-four hours a day. Seven days a week.

365 days a year.

Dania!

Dania!

Dania!

Dania!

Nia, do you want to come out here?

Nia, do you feel like coming out here, darling?

If you're going to step out here, please be careful.

- Oh, you want more food? - Give her more!

Here you go.

Lana, shh!

Bring the boom closer to her ear!

You can see the Asian elephant's ear

is smaller than the African elephant's.

The result of 7.6 million years of evolution.

Step forward a bit.

They have evolved in very different habitats

and climates.

Pak Maman, did you know? They say that at night Jera

climbs over her fence, and strolls around the zoo all alone.

- Of course I do. - Have you seen it?

No, not yet.

Wait, so you know, but you've never actually seen it?

- Did Yaspi tell you about this? - No.

- Who then? - Oom Dave!

When are you going out again?

The giraffe is the most elegant animal in the world.

...In the world... in the world...

In various customs and traditions,

a long neck and legs are seen as beautiful.

But don't assume that the giraffe is a fragile creature.

It can kill a lion with a single kick of its hind leg.

The giraffe prefers to live in herds.

But not in Ragunan. The giraffe here is alone,

the one and only giraffe in Jakarta.

Jera is her name.

The animal you're about to touch

is a baby elephant from Sumatra.

Elephants are the biggest land mammals in the world.

They have a long nose, called a trunk.

They use their trunk to get food and drink,

and as a hand.

They have a wide ear,

...a wide ear...

and two small eyes.

This is their mouth, go ahead, try to touch it.

They have no incisors,

because they are herbivores.

I don't know how to say this.

What's wrong, Pak Bambang?

Here's the thing, Dave, Lana...

I know we all love the zoo

and care about the zoo.

Am I right?

But well, how shall I say this...

The officials are saying,

that people who are not "formally" zoo employees

are no longer allowed to live inside the zoo.

So a red light comes out from his mouth, and goes back into his ear.

That's what I saw, Oom! Where do you think he came from?

He just appeared out of nowhere!

Well, he's called a magician!

He makes things disappear, then makes them reappear!

He's been here these past two days,

but tomorrow he'll disappear again.

He won't really disappear, he probably just...

leaves.

What's the difference?

When one disappears, you need to search, if you want them to return.

But when one leaves,