Terengganu Tourism, Culture and Digital Technology Committee chairman Ariffin Deraman said last year, it had received 114,252 visitors compared with only 76,633 visitors in 2019.

“Despite a few months’ closure at the beginning of last year due to the movement control order, the number of visitors was higher than usual when the recovery MCO was implemented.

“In July and August, we received up to 3,500 visitors daily, when compared with 2019 when the daily admissions were around 200 to 400 people,” he said.

He said the zoo, which was opened in August 2009, now has 589 animals comprising 433 birds, 84 mammals and 72 reptiles, amphibians and fish.

Ariffin said the cost of animal care, including food and treatment, was about RM52,000 per month using allocations from the state government and the Kemaman Municipal Council (MPK).

He added that the state government and MPK had also spent RM100,918 last year to repair facilities at TRZK.

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