Myanmar netizens launch online campaign against Yangon Zoo relocation

Myanmar government has planned to transfer the Yangon Zoological Gardens which has been a city landmark since 1906. The truth is around 450 animals were brought to another zoo in Nay Pyi Taw, said news report from Global Voices.

According to Minister Soe Thein, the relocation of the zoo is very important since it is detrimental to the health of the people residing in the city. The new relocation site is HlawKar National Wildlife Park which is located outside of Yangon.

However, an online campaign was launched by the citizens to stop the relocation of the animals. Mahar Kyaung used the facebook posting the “Save Our Zoo” to inform the government that in other countries, zoos are found in city centers.

He even cited examples of countries whose zoos are situated in main cities like for instance the Ragunan Zoo which also opened in 1864 is located in Jakarta city, Manila Zoo which opened in 1959 in the Philippines is also in the city proper, the Saigon Zoo in Vietnam which opened in 1864 is at the center of the town. What surprised him is the main purpose (he heard) of the government to construct hotels in the location of the Yangon Zoo.

KoGyiKyaw said that the reason for the relocation stating that it is hazardous to the health is not convincing. People living in that area did not even object having the zoo in that area. He further added that the Minister was not even born when the zoo was founded, the report said.

Most avid users of Facebook who have read the post also expressed their disappointment and disapproval of the plan of relocation.

Meanwhile, on the part of business tycoon Tay Za of Htoo Trading who is at present managing the zoo, he disclosed that he would only get instructions on the relocation issue from the government.