Surabaya Zoo Partners with Japan’s iZoo on Wildlife Conservation

RRI.CO.ID, Tokyo - Indonesia's Surabaya Zoo (KBS) has entered into a cooperation agreement with iZoo Shizuoka, Japan, through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding on wildlife breeding and conservation programs. The MoU was signed on April 29, 2026, at Surabaya Zoo.

The signing was carried out by KBS Finance and HR Director Moch. Nahroni and Operations & General Director Nurika Widyasanti, alongside iZoo Director Tsuyoshi Shirawa. The ceremony was witnessed by Indonesian Director of Species and Genetic Conservation at the Ministry of Forestry Ahmad Munawir and Surabaya Mayor Eri Cahyadi.

This collaboration follows the broader agreement between the Government of Indonesia and Shizuoka Prefecture on wildlife protection and conservation, signed on March 28, 2026, in Japan by Forestry Minister Raja Juli Antoni and Shizuoka Governor Yasutomo Suzuki.

A key focus of the partnership is a breeding loan program, under which Surabaya Zoo will lend a pair of Komodo dragons to iZoo as part of an ex-situ conservation initiative in Japan. In return, iZoo will provide Surabaya Zoo with several species, including the Aldabra Giant Tortoise, Japanese Macaque, giraffe, and red panda.

The animal exchange is expected to strengthen conservation collections and enhance educational programs for communities in both countries, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Friday, June 5, 2026.

Forestry Attaché at the Indonesian Embassy in Tokyo, Ima Yudin Rayaningtyas, highlighted the significance of the collaboration as a concrete example of international cooperation in biodiversity preservation.

He emphasized that the Komodo dragon, an endemic species of Indonesia, holds vital ecological and symbolic value in showcasing Indonesia’s natural heritage to the global community.

Implementation of the program is ongoing, including licensing, animal health checks, and transport arrangements. The Indonesian Embassy in Tokyo confirmed it will continue coordinating with relevant stakeholders to ensure the exchange and breeding program complies with regulations and delivers benefits for both wildlife conservation and Indonesia–Japan relations. (Diva Rifdah)