By Abdullahi Lukman
An alleged corruption case involving Indonesia’s Surabaya Zoo has intensified concerns over governance in the country’s wildlife conservation sector, with experts warning that financial misconduct can directly undermine animal welfare and public confidence in conservation institutions.
East Java prosecutors on July 21 named former Surabaya Zoo president director Choirul Anwar as a suspect in an investigation into the alleged misappropriation of the zoo’s operational funds between 2016 and 2024.
A preliminary audit conducted with the Financial and Development Supervisory Agency (BPKP) estimated state losses at 10.2 billion rupiah (about $564,000), alleging that approximately 7.4 billion rupiah ($409,000) was diverted for the suspect’s personal use.
Prosecutors said the alleged financial misconduct contributed to a decline in the zoo’s management, resulting in deteriorating facilities, reduced services and the reported deaths of several animals due to inadequate care.
The case has renewed calls for stronger oversight, greater transparency and improved accountability across Indonesia’s conservation institutions to safeguard both public funds and the welfare of animals dependent on human care.
Conservation expert Arisa said the investigation should not be viewed as representative of all zoos in the country, noting that many wildlife managers, veterinarians and animal keepers remain committed despite limited resources.
She stressed, however, that stronger governance is essential to restoring public trust in conservation efforts.
She warned that public confidence is critical to the success of conservation programmes, adding that failures in governance can have far-reaching consequences beyond a single institution.
The investigation has also revived memories of a similar corruption case at Bandung Zoo, where two executives of the Tamansari Wildlife Foundation were sentenced in 2021 to seven years in prison for corruption linked to a land lease scheme that caused state losses of 25.5 billion rupiah.
Founded in 1916, Surabaya Zoo is one of Indonesia’s oldest zoological parks. It came under international criticism in the early 2010s following a series of animal deaths and allegations of neglect and mismanagement that earned it the nickname “the death zoo.”
The Indonesian government revoked the zoo’s operating permit in 2010 and placed it under temporary management before returning control to the Surabaya city administration in 2014 after reforms were introduced.
Although management says animal welfare has improved, experts note that no recent independent assessment has confirmed whether long-standing concerns, including overcrowding, have been fully addressed.
Experts say the latest investigation highlights the need for continuous monitoring to ensure conservation institutions fulfil their responsibility of protecting wildlife while maintaining public accountability.
