Bandung Zoo Prepares Curtains and Animal Isolation as Volcanic Ash Spreads

Bandung Zoo is preparing to isolate some animals and cover exposed cages as volcanic ash from Mount Anak Krakatau spreads across parts of Indonesia.

Rohmat, a zoo manager, said animals kept in display enclosures with nighttime rooms may remain indoors for a period, with food and water provided in their holding areas. For birds and other animals whose cages lack enclosed rooms, the zoo may use curtains or plastic covers if ash levels pass its threshold.

The zoo is also considering spraying cages and parts of the grounds as a further protective measure. Rohmat said spraying had not yet begun, though staff continued security measures around some enclosures.

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Maybe some animals, especially those in display enclosures that also have nighttime rooms, will not be taken out. They may stay for a while in their sleeping rooms or holding areas, with food and drink provided there.

He said the animals remained protected so far because trees around the zoo were filtering much of the ash. Some trees were still green, and he had not seen ash visibly blowing through the area. Staff are monitoring conditions and will apply the prepared measures if ash covers the zoo grounds.

Mount Anak Krakatau began erupting on the night of Sept. 4. By Sept. 7, ash had spread toward Jakarta, Lampung and West Java. Indonesia’s Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency said the ash was moving away from the volcano’s peak at two different altitude layers, with one lower layer extending from the southeast toward the northwest across parts of Jakarta, Banten, Lampung and West Java.

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For bird species, if the volcanic ash has exceeded our threshold, we may close them off through various measures, using curtains or perhaps plastic.