In Reply to: sponsorship posted by mickeydean on Wednesday, 20. June 2007 at 07:03 Bali Time:
I have had a lot of calls re sponsor ship for the Bali zoo .If i can just start with one comment .Peel Zoo ,my family do not make a profit from this project .One lady sent me an email asking am i donating my wage or some of my time .WE are doing all of this for free .We have donated 1000s of dollars already .Not to mention time and air fares accommodation and general living while making this project work and saving the zoo sure closure .Some have asked why its in trouble .3 things have hit me between the eyes .The staff and the owners have a love of animals as a hobby and passion .The running of a zoo this size goes well beyond the keeping of a pussy cat or a gold fish .They have not known who to turn to for help .They have asked many to help but no one has been brave enough or experienced enough to help,better still no ones had enough money to take this on .Peel Zoo and my family are not millionaires with heaps to splash around.We have something far more treasured ,knowledge and the ability to share it and teach these guys what they don't yet know ,how to really care for these animals and how to run a hygenic and professional zoo .They have done their best ,and they have done a great job.You cant learn as you go in zoos though .this they admit and know.Marketing has been the next problem .They have been too busy running the zoo and not really experienced enough to go and approach tourists and hand them a brochure ,or the know how ,how to get and keep tour groups from overseas .All this is very easy to us as its what we do in the normal course of the day .If your English is not that good and you are from a small village like Singapadu , its all abit daunting .The next issue is taxi drivers drop off customers ,they get and expect $5.00 Aust per person they drop off .This only gives an entry fee of $9.00 per tourist .The profit has gone .It cost $10.000 per week to run a good zoo and have all the right foods for all those animals .The owner Mr Agung has given and sold his all to keep feeding the 74 staff and the animals. I have spent many hours with Mr Agung ,he is the most genuine ,lovable man i have met .Why are we doing this project ,its not about money or being a hero .Its about our love and passion for life and want to help complete this mans dream .Two families same goal . More so ,so these animals have a natural home and live a wonderful life .The countless times i have cried only to watch some of these animals enter into the new enclosures we have rebuilt .Animal people ,you will know what i mean by this .The look of joy in the animals once dull sad eyes ,the unbelievable feat of walking more than 3 paces in ones cage.To see the Lions rolling in the fresh hay and clawing at a real tree ,not a concrete floor . Im just an old softy after all .The experience to see this PRICELESS .If people do want to sponsor ,we have set up an account in Aust called Save The Bali Zoo .If any one wants to write to me info@peelzoo.com or call 0895314322.We are making sure every dollar is spent properly and receiets will be given via our accountant .Thanks to all that have written ,some times when i feel like giving up an email pushes me that much more down the path to help.Tks Tony