Checking Out: Komodo Museum – Reptile Park (Taman Mini Indonesia Indah)
We don’t visit Taman Mini Indonesia Indah (TMII) often.
Actually, ever since we’ve moved to Jakarta back in 2012, I think we’ve only been to TMII err … 3 times?
I’d personally recommend it to tourists, though. And if you’re a local, I think it also is worth visiting with your family. At least once a year? TMII has a lot of places to see, and it’s a good place to learn more about Indonesia’s cultures.
ANYWAY.
The other day, we went to check out this Reptile Park (Taman Reptilia) at TMII.
The Reptile Park is open from 9am to 4pm and entrance fee is Rp25,000 per person
(Here’s the link to TMII’s entrance ticket prices >> http://tamanmini.com/page/tiket)
This place has a two-storey indoor exhibition area (where we could see various exhibits and read about frogs, toads, snakes, tortoises and lizards from different parts of the world), and an outdoor area, for viewing of live reptiles.
The dark room pictured below is actually located on the ‘outside’. It’s for live reptiles that mostly live at night, I guess.
The walkway towards this ‘dark exhibition area’ looks like it’s a pathway towards restrooms, though =(
And, the thought that crossed my mind each time we visit public parks/places of attraction in Indonesia came to mind again, ie. I really wish this place can be better managed and maintained, and the live animals are better cared for, because they are NOT just ‘exhibits’.
Btw, the park has this ‘Taman Sentuh’, a place where you can touch real reptiles (To hold an animal, and take photos with it, it costs Rp5000 per person).
Obviously crocodiles are not pets. What if this one happened to snap its jaw at our hands or fingers when we’re holding it?When we were there, the only animal available to be carried by the public was this crocodile, which despite its small size, was NOT a baby crocodile! It’s 3 years old, capable of growing to be very long, more than 2m, we were told.
Hmm.
Obviously crocodiles are not pets. What if this one happened to snap its jaw at our hands or fingers when we’re holding it?
The handler said, this crocodile is fed once a week, and it is day 5, so it is ‘safe’ to be handled.
Hmm.
The handler said, this crocodile is fed once a week, and it is day 5, so it is ‘safe’ to be handled. Hmm.
He said, actually after it is fed, it’s best not to be handled by the public, because the movements could could cause it to vomit.
(I saw how the handler was gentle with the croc, which was a good sign of someone who genuinely cared for the animal, I thought)
So we put our ‘faith’ on what he said =) and each of the kid got a chance to gently handle the crocodile.
Interesting how it really was ‘still’ (ie. Didn’t wriggle or move its tail much at all, but it looked alert, not sleepy).
The kids got to observe the crocodile up close, which was great, because they could see the mouth, the ‘closed up’ throat, the teeth, the layers of the crocodile eyes, the skin textures, etc.
(You see, I don’t expect all my kids to LOVE animals, but I hope they have positive encounters and are educated about them)
Anyway.
When it comes to handling animals, here’s one super important thing to note:
Please, please, educate our children (and ourselves) on the importance of handling all animals GENTLY!
Please educate our children (and ourselves) on the importance of handling all animals GENTLY
Don’t jerk the animals, or be rough.
Don’t scare them by our silly sounds and screams.
And please, do NOT DROP them!
They are living beings, NOT just ‘things’.
If our child is easily scared (unsure of handling an animal), perhaps it is best to NOT carry/lift the animals just yet. Gently petting the animals is a good learning experience, too. Reading more about it, its habitats, its habits, will also familiarise our kids with the animals
Unfortunately, I’ve seen too many incidents (happening in front of my very eyes), of children and adults not handling animals well (at petting zoos or ‘touch ponds’). Often, they do it ‘purposely’ because they thought it’s funny =(
Like:
– Picking up a starfish from a pond and recklessly throw it somewhere.
– Knocking on the glass window to wake a sleeping owl!
– Shining the flashlight from a smartphone to an animal’s eyes to make it ‘move’
– Throwing pebbles towards birds or animals, so that the animals can make some ‘noise’
– Scaring an animal in a cage with a loud ‘BOO!!!’
It’s really sad, and at the same time, annoying =(
One concern of mine:
When children treat animals in such a way, many parents do NOT say anything to correct/educate/rebuke them. Worse, they giggle along with the kids. Sigh. If you ask me, it’s most likely because the parents themselves think it is okay to treat animals in such a way.
Anyway.
Let’s educate ourselves and our children on the importance of caring for animals.
Because, although they are not humans, they do deserve proper handling and care by us humans, yes?
