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Zoo Negara (literally National Zoo in Malay) is a major zoological park in Malaysia located in Ulu Klang, near Taman Melawati on the north-east of Kuala Lumpur. It was officially opened on November 14, 1963. The park is managed by a non-governmental organization known as the Malaysian Zoological Society.

Contents 1 History 2 Current issue 3 Getting There 4 Exhibits 5 References

In 1957, the Malayan Agri-Horticultural Association (MAHA) opened a miniature zoo. After the creation of the mini-zoo, the idea of proper zoo was mooted in the public. As the idea gained momentum, the federal government chosen a spot in Ulu Klang, Selangor which is right beside the border of Kuala Lumpur. In the 1960s, Ulu Klang was an undeveloped green area. In 1963, the first Prime Minister of Malaya (now Malaysia) YTM Tunku Abdul Rahman officially opened the zoo to the public. Zoo Negara was known as the "Zoo in the Jungle" due to the greenery that surrounded the area.

The zoo welcomed its millionth visitor on February 14, 1966.

The area surrounding the zoo was covered with thick vegetation until the late 1970s. That changed as Kuala Lumpur and Malaysia in general underwent economic boom. Given Ulu Klang proximity with Kuala Lumpur, the area was opened for large scale development as a planned residential area in the 1980s. It has expanded in term of population ever since. The development has caused the zoo's surrounding to change from being in the jungle to being in the middle of the city. Development also increases the land value the zoo sits upon.

In the late 1990s and early 2000s, there were plans to move the zoo to other locations in Selangor. However, the plans were largely unpopular among the public as it is seen as an effort by some developers to capitalize on the value of the zoo's large track of land.

• Using Middle Ring Road 2 (MRR2) - from Ampang, u-turn at the Taman Melawati exit and take the first left; from Gombak, take the first left after the Taman Melawati exit flyover.
• Hop on the Metrobus bus 16 from Central Market. This bus will bring you to the zoo entrance.
• Using Kelana Jaya Line LRT, get down at Wangsa Maju station and take a taxi or the feeder bus to the zoo.

There are over 4000 animals from more than 400 different species. There are 16 exhibits in total:

• Reptile Park
• Monkey/Lesser Apes
• Malaysian Elephants
• Lake Birds
• Bird Aviary
• Nocturnal Exhibits
• Wallaby/Kangaroo/Pademelon
• Humbolt Penguin
• Children's World
• Bear Complex
• Savannah Walk
• Nile Hippopotamus
• Mammal Kingdom
• Freshwater Aquaria
• Cat Walk
• Ape Centre

• Zoo Negara