5 days ago
Local council inspects all trees at Taiping Zoo after woman hurt by fallen tree
IPOH: The Taiping Municipal Council has launched a full inspection of all trees at Taiping Zoo and Night Safari following an incident on Sunday where a woman was injured by a fallen tree within the premises.
Its president, Khairul Amir Mohamad Zubir, said the council has also taken immediate safety measures, cordoning off the area where the tree fell and declaring it a temporary restricted zone while investigations continue.
He stressed that the council takes the incident seriously and that the safety of visitors is its top priority.
"Immediate steps have been taken to secure the area and initiate a comprehensive inspection of trees throughout the zoo, particularly along main pathways and high-traffic zones," he said in a statement today.
Khairul added that monitoring efforts have also been stepped up to track the presence of wild macaques and monkeys, which may have contributed to the incident.
"A thorough inspection is being carried out to assess the stability of all trees, and any tree found to be at risk will be pruned or removed without delay," he said.
As a long-term measure to prevent similar incidents, he said the council plans to appoint a specialized contractor for tall tree pruning, with work scheduled to begin in July this year.
"Routine tree maintenance, including health assessments and pruning, will also be conducted more frequently.
"Between 2018 and 2024, the council carried out pruning and felling of over 470 trees at a cost exceeding RM300,000, reflecting the council's commitment to maintaining a safe environment at one of Malaysia's most visited zoos.
"This incident underscores the importance of proactive maintenance, especially in areas with high public interaction," Khairul said.
Meanwhile, the Perak Customs Department, via its official Facebook page, expressed regret over the incident involving its staff member, Nurul Nadia Azira Tajarudin, who serves at the Inland Revenue Branch in Lumut Station.
According to the post, she suffered a fractured neck bone near the shoulder and is currently receiving treatment at Taiping Hospital.
"Let us all pray that Nadia is given the strength to endure the pain, is protected from further harm, receives the best medical care, and that all matters for her and her family are eased.
"May she recover fully as before," the post read.
