RM30-Million Private Zoo to Be Built in Sarawak soon!
A new RM30-million private zoo is set to be developed near Tasik Biru in Bau, as part of the broader Tasik Biru Resort City project. The initiative aims to position Bau as a rising tourism destination in Borneo by introducing a major attraction to the area.
The zoo will be part of an integrated development that includes a hotel, serviced apartments, a theme park, and a lakeside boulevard, offering visitors a full tourism experience. The entire project is committed to adopting an Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) approach to ensure the responsible rehabilitation of the former gold mining site.
A zoo license application has already been submitted to the Sarawak Forestry Corporation (SFC). If approved, construction is expected to begin within the year. The zoo plans to house a variety of animal species, including tigers, lions, and giraffes, along with rare and exotic animals such as ligers (lion-tiger hybrids) and giraffes, which can cost up to USD 40,000 and USD 80,000 respectively.
The site sits next to the historic Tasik Biru, a man-made lake formed from gold mining activities that date back to the 1820s. The concept for the zoo draws inspiration from successful wildlife parks across Southeast Asia and internationally renowned projects like Butchart Gardens in Canada, which transformed a former quarry into a world-class attraction.
This upcoming zoo is expected to become a landmark feature of the region and a key driver for tourism, local economic development, and sustainable land use in Sarawak.
