64 years wild: Zoo Taiping celebrates with free entry

Zoo Taiping & Night Safari (ZTNS) is celebrating its 64th year of operation with a series of special offers, including free entry for visitors born in 1964 and free admission for every 150th visitor daily.

As part of the celebrations, and coinciding with Taiping town’s 150th anniversary, anyone born in 1964 will receive complimentary entry to ZTNS throughout 2024.

Additionally, the zoo is offering a unique reward for everyday visitors.

Starting from January 21st and running until December 31st, 2024, the 150th visitor to enter the zoo each day will be granted free admission.

Zoo Taiping: A legacy of conservation and education

Founded in 1961, ZTNS holds the distinction of being Malaysia’s oldest public zoo overseen by local authorities.

Originally spanning 24 acres, the zoo has grown to encompass 34 acres, providing a habitat for a diverse collection of over 1,500 animals representing 130 species.

By the mid-1990s, ZTNS reoriented its focus to include wildlife conservation, educational programs, recreational activities, and tourism promotion.

Khairul Amir Mohamad Zubir, Taiping Municipal Council president, highlighted the zoo’s renovations in the late 1990s, which improved conditions for both animals and visitors.

He also noted the 2003 renaming to ZTNS and its status as the first zoo in Malaysia, and second in Southeast Asia, to introduce a night safari.

A picturesque setting and diverse wildlife

Officially known as Taman Mergastua Sultan Idris Shah, ZTNS boasts a scenic location within the Taiping Lake Gardens, nestled at the foot of Maxwell Hill.

Visitors can encounter a variety of fascinating creatures, including tigers, lions, elephants, hippopotamuses, giraffes, hornbills, orangutans, and many more.

A unique feature of ZTNS is the Night Safari, offering visitors the opportunity to observe nocturnal animals in open-air enclosures illuminated by artificial moonlight.

Zubir also added, “ZTNS is recognised for its vital work in breeding endangered species like Malayan tigers, seladang, dholes, desert goats, and orangutans, aiming to boost their populations in the wild.”

The ongoing commitment to conservation and education positions ZTNS as a leading attraction for visitors seeking a fun and educational wildlife experience.