Surabaya Zoo Admits Viral Emaciated Tiger Photo is Old, Explains Context

Surabaya, Indonesia – Kebun Binatang Surabaya (KBS), or Surabaya Zoo, has acknowledged that a photograph of an emaciated tiger that has gone viral on social media is indeed an old image. The photo gained significant attention amid an unfolding corruption case involving the zoo's former president director, accused of financial mismanagement totaling Rp10.2 billion (approximately $680,000 USD) between 2016 and 2024. The viral image depicts a Sumatran tiger with its ribs and hip bones prominently visible, lying on a concrete and grassy surface, drawing widespread concern. However, Lintang Ratri Sunarwidhi, head of KBS Public Relations, clarified that the photograph was taken prior to 2009. "The images you are seeing are from before 2009. So we admit there was indeed a very thin tiger," Sunarwidhi stated on Thursday (23/7). She explained that the tiger in the photo was a donation from the public. It suffered from digestive issues because its former owner frequently fed it 'nasi rawon,' a traditional Javanese dish. Despite receiving treatment at KBS, the animal reportedly passed away less than a year after its arrival, diagnosed with digestive complications. "It was a donation from the public. Then, after we started treating the animal, [it turned out the former owner] used to feed it nasi rawon," she said. "So it experienced digestive problems. Yes, it got sick at that time," she added. The tiger, Sunarwidhi said, passed away in 2009. "That tiger died in 2009. I personally handled its death at that time," she stated. Lintang expressed regret over the re-uploading and circulation of these old images, which she feels misrepresent the current state of KBS. She emphasized that the zoo has undergone significant improvements in infrastructure, enclosures, and animal care since being taken over by the Surabaya City Government in 2012. "We deeply regret that extremely old images, images that are not real, not from after 2012 when [KBS] was taken over by the city government, are being uploaded like this. The oversight from the Surabaya City Government is extraordinary; we salute the Surabaya City Government for its good work," she said. She added that the photos of emaciated animals circulating are from before KBS underwent three management transitions – from an association, to a temporary management called TPS, and finally to being taken over by the Surabaya City Government. "Since the city government took over, the Surabaya zoo has become better. Better in terms of infrastructure, enclosures, and so on. The feed is adjusted according to standards. We have been doing this in accordance with the oversight," she explained. She assured that currently, there are no suspicions of animals being sick, emaciated, or at risk of death due to lack of food at KBS. "As for the current situation, we can say there are no such suspicions. So what is in those images is purely from before the city government took over," she said. Lintang emphasized that the condition of the animals at KBS is not affected by feeding issues, as all are provided with standard portions and are monitored by many parties due to their status as state-owned animals. "So our animals are not affected by feed issues. Because everything is provided in its proper portion. We have always had our own principles, and the Surabaya zoo is monitored by many parties. This means the health of the animals is not just monitored by us alone," Sunarwidhi said. "Because our animals are state property. So many parties are monitoring them. Relevant parties who are supposed to monitor them. And indeed, it is the obligation of government officials and we salute them for it," she added. She added that animal deaths still occur but are due to illness or old age, not lack of food. "But if there are deaths, there will always be deaths, because they are living beings. It is certain that it will be due to illness, or old age. But cases of lack of food, no," she said. She added that the alleged corruption case that ensnared the President Director of KBS will not affect the operational maintenance of the animals or the services provided to visitors in the future. "There will be no changes in animal care. We will even improve it further. Visitor services will also be the same," she said. Previously, the East Java High Prosecutor's Office named the former President Director of PD TS KBS, Choirul Anwar (CA), as a suspect in the alleged corruption of the company's budget amounting to Rp10.2 billion during the 2016-2024 period. CA served as the President Director of PD TS KBS from 2016 to 2024. During his tenure, he allegedly abused his authority by using company budget funds for expenditures that were not in accordance with their allocation and were fictitious, including for personal gain, amounting to Rp10,209,664,735.60. In carrying out his crime, CA is said to have used the modus operandi of inflating the animal feed budget. That is, the amount of animal feed was reduced, but the accountability reports were falsified and made to appear compliant. Due to his actions, in addition to causing state financial losses, the alleged corruption committed by CA also impacted the condition of the Surabaya Zoo, which was not well-maintained, even leading to the death of its animals due to starvation. "In addition to causing state financial losses, this has also made the Surabaya Zoo, which we love, stagnant because its financial management led to facilities not being well-maintained, dirty, damaged, then the animals were also affected by being unhealthy, thin, tending to die, and there was no good care," said the Assistant for Special Crimes (Aspidsus) of the East Java High Prosecutor's Office, I Gede Punia Atmaja. For his actions, CA is charged with violating Article 603 primary and Article 604 subsidiary of Law Number 1 of 2023 concerning the Criminal Code as amended by Law Number 1 of 2026 concerning the Adjustment of Criminal Law, juncto Article 20 letters a and c juncto Article 126 paragraph (1) of the Criminal Code, juncto Article 18 of Law Number 31 of 1999 concerning the Eradication of Criminal Acts of Corruption as amended by Law Number 20 of 2001. Source: CNN Indonesia