Gembira Loka Zoo in Yogyakarta has prepared a different concept for the upcoming Easter long weekend holiday. One of them is introducing a number of unique animal collections with different conservation experiences for travelers. During this Easter long weekend, they are introducing new animals such as African Painted Dogs and Red Foxes displayed in a more natural and open enclosure concept, said GL Zoo CEO KMT A. Tirtodiprojo on Thursday, April 2, 2026.
The concept of a more natural and open enclosure aims to replace the conventional iron cage impression. Visitors can now observe the animals’ natural behavior up close in a more lively and educational setting, without barriers.
“We want visitors to enjoy the animals’ natural behavior up close. So when tourists visit, it’s not just for recreation but also for a beautiful experience and conservation education,” he said. Joko is optimistic that despite the end of the Eid holiday, the largest zoo in Central Java and Yogyakarta will still attract visitors during this Easter long weekend.
During the recent Eid holiday, the zoo recorded nearly 70,000 visitors from March 18-29, 2026. At one point, they reached a daily high of 11,000 visitors. Even after the Eid holiday, the average daily visitor rate remained stable at around 3,000 people. Joko is confident that the numbers will increase during the upcoming long Easter weekend.
Behind the stable visitor numbers, Joko mentioned that the zoo, which will turn 73 years old this year, is actively working to strengthen its international image and position. They aim to become a member of the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA) by October 2026.
WAZA is a global zoo association, and GL Zoo’s main asset in joining the association is the Asian-level animal welfare certification. To achieve this goal, Joko stated that they will focus on strengthening animal welfare from 2025 to 2026. The success in maintaining these standards is attributed to the harmony between the foundation, management, and employees.
“The welfare aspect must go hand in hand between the animals in captivity and the human resources managing them. Building and maintaining a zoo cannot be done alone; everyone must be in harmony. The main focus is always animal welfare. If the animals are well taken care of, then the employees must be well taken care of first,” added Joko.
