THE INDONESIAN PAVILION HAS BEEN RECENTLY OPENED IN BUDAPEST ZOO AND BOTANICAL GARDEN

On August, 16^th 2007, Indonesian Ambassador in Hungary, H.E. Mangasi Sihombing¹ 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 Bali²  (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 (Phyton curtus), green phyton/ular sanca hijau³ (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 Demszky⁴, and the Hungarian Ambassador for Indonesia, H.E Mihaly Illes⁵.  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 Indonesian Ambassador presented the traditional batak fabric, called ulos to Dr. Miklos Persanyi and Dr. Gabor Demszky.

The opening ceremony was made colorful by the Indonesian Cultural Group performance.  They presented peacock dance⁶ and Sundance traditional instrument⁷ (Gamelan Sunda).  The event also attracted the journalists and attended also by the flora and fauna analyst and conservationist beside the zoo visitors.