TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Bali Zoo, a conservation center in Singapadu, Gianyar, Bali, Indonesia, reported a 120 percent increase in visitors during the 2026 Eid al-Fitr holiday.
“About 60 percent of visitors were domestic tourists, while the remaining 40 percent were international travelers,” said Bali Zoo Head of Public Relations Emma Kristiana Chandra on Monday, March 23.
The peak came on Sunday, March 22, when around 2,200 people visited the zoo, compared with the usual 800–1,200 visitors on regular days. Despite the start of the post-Eid return flow, visitor numbers remained high on Monday as the holiday period continued, with tourists mainly from Jakarta, Surabaya, and other cities across Indonesia.
“We currently estimate visitor numbers are still around 2,000,” Emma said.
The 12-hectare zoo expects attendance to stay high through Tuesday, March 24, the last day of the holiday period, before daily routines resume on Wednesday, March 25.
Emma added that the surge in visitors was also fueled by a new attraction: closer interactions with capybaras. The zoo has three male and three female capybaras aged six to nine months.
Visitors can feed the world’s largest rodents with their favorite foods, including corn, corn leaves, and elephant grass. On average, each capybara consumes 1–2.5 kilograms of food per day.
“The capybaras have become a new attraction that many visitors are eager to see,” Emma said.
Beyond interactions with the animals, visitors benefit from educational programs, especially for young audiences, focusing on the conservation of protected and endangered species. Other activities include water attractions for children.
Bali Zoo is home to 65 species totaling around 600 animals, including endemic species from Indonesia and across the globe.
Read: Ancol Records 51,500 Visitors on Second Day of Eid
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