Zoo way to provide recreation, teach us to care for environs

Dear Editor,

THIS is with reference to your report "Tasek Merimbun butterfly park seeks more visitors" (Aug 8, 2012).

Its nice to know about the new butterfly park, which has already drawn some 1,000 visitors. Apart from being a source of recreation and amusement, it's also a source of learning and understanding nature.

True to its form, the park is said to have attracted a lot of pupils and teachers from various schools, apart from tourists. The variety of insects in different hues and designs floating about amid nature is a quite a sight to cherish. Parks like this go a long towards spreading nature awareness and the need to preserve our ecology for posterity.

However, sometimes I wonder why there isn't a zoological park in Brunei, especially when its neighbouring countries have huge popular parks.

The zoo in Singapore is known worldwide. Malaysia also boasts of good zoological parks.

Its true that running and maintaining zoos costs a lot. Many countries have been feeling the pinch in running the zoos. But we have also been seeing how some enterprising countries have effectively tackled this burden of maintaining zoos. Partnerships and adoption of animals by big corporate sector players have proven to be successful in several countries.

Being an expatriate who came here a few years ago, I thought maybe the absence of a zoo was something to do with the MIB concept. But a senior colleague tells me that it has nothing to do with the MIB. In fact, I believe, the issue was also raised in the Legislative Council a few years, but somehow nothing came of it.

I feel that Brunei should think of setting up a zoo as it would not only be a source of amusement and fun but also a basis of learning and appreciation of the nature for the young. LNC,

Bandar