|
No. 15 /PR/2007
THE INDONESIAN PAVILION HAS BEEN RECENTLY OPENED
IN BUDAPEST ZOO AND BOTANICAL GARDEN
On
August, 16th 2007, Indonesian
Ambassador in Hungary, H.E. Mangasi Sihombing
officially opened a pavilion at Budapest Zoo and
Botanical Garden intended mainly for the animals
from Indonesia beside also there are some
animals other from South Asian Countries.
Initially the building was constructed in 1952
as shelter for the birds in winter time.
However, since 1999, beside the birds,
amphibious animals also used this building.
Lately this pavilion was rebuilt again and spent
almost 280 million forint or around 1.4 millions
USD, out of that 414.000 USD was paid by local
government of Budapest.
After reconstruction, the building is named
Xantus Janos Pavilion to admire the
founder of Budapest Zoo. Janos Xantus was the
famous zoologist from Hungary. He is also a
pioneer and well known researcher of South Asian
animals especially from Indonesia. In 1869 he
was in Kalimantan doing research and one year
later he analyzed the fauna and ethnography from
Java.
The
animals from Indonesia that can be seen such as
Bali Starling/Jalak Bali (Leucopsar
rothschildi), Ivory turtle/ kura-kura
gading (Orilitia Borneensis)
from Kalimantan,
mammalian for instance coconut squirrel/bajing
kelapa (Calloeciurus kalianda), triple
color squirrel/bajing tiga warna (Calloeciurus
provosti), birds such as rainbow parrot/perkici
pelangi (Trichoglossus euteles), sea
pigeon/pergam laut (Ducula bicolor),
crested partridge/ puyuh sengayan (Rollulus
rouloul), Victoria crowned pigeon/burung
dara mahkota (Goura Victoria), and some
reptiles such as ular peraca (Python curtus),
green python/ular sanca hijau (Morelia
viridis)
and also some fishes for instance bala fish/ikan
bala (Balantiocheilus melanopterus) and
clown fish/ikan badut (Amphiprion ocellaris).
The
opening ceremony was attended also by the Mayor
of Budapest, Dr. Gabor Demszky, and the
Hungarian Ambassador for Indonesia, H.E Mihaly
Illes. In their speeches, they hope that with
this pavilion could enhance the bilateral
relation between Indonesia and Hungary. Dr.
Miklos Persanyi as former the Environment
Minister and now the Director General of the
Budapest Zoo and Botanical Garden said that the
pavilion is the real indicator the good
relationship between Indonesia and Hungary
The
Indonesian Ambassador expressed his happiness on
this occasion since it reflexes the diversity of
Indonesian animal and in addition the strong
relation between Indonesia and Hungary. Both
countries have agreement to exchange animal in
equal value. The Ambassador also stated that in
the near future the visitors of the zoo will be
able to see more animal from Indonesia.
The
opening ceremony was made colorful by the
Indonesian Cultural Group performance. They
presented peacock dance and Sundance traditional
instrument (Gamelan Sunda). The event also
attracted the journalists and attended also by
the flora and fauna analyst and conservationist
beside the zoo visitors.
Budapest, August 20th, 2007
|
