JAKARTA (JP): The city's Ragunan zoo will have four
                 male gorillas which will arrive here from England in
                 October, an official said.

                 The zoo's director Ismunanto said the African animals
                 which were born in the Howletts Port Lympne Wildlife
                 Park, England, would be "lent" to Ragunan zoo for a
                 year.

                 "If we can keep the gorillas well, they will be given to
                 us," Ismunanto said, adding that the Ragunan zoo
                 would be the only zoo in Asia which has the giant
                 apes.

                 He claimed a Japanese zoo once wanted to buy a
                 gorilla at the price of Rp 250 billion (US$25 million),
                 but it was refused by the wildlife park.

                 He said the Ragunan zoo was able to have the gorillas
                 because it was helped by a animal lovers foundation
                 founded by the late Mrs. Puck Schmutzer.

                 The foundation financed the delivery of the gorillas as
                 well as the building of a one-hectare enclosure in the
                 Ragunan zoo, which Ismunanto described as the
                 largest and most luxurious gorilla enclosure in the
                 world.

                 The low-land species of African ape would be able to
                 adjust easily with the tropical climate and to the
                 enclosure in the Ragunan zoo, Ismunanto said at the
                 City Hall.

                 "We intend to meet City Governor Sutiyoso to file a
                 proposal to get a kind of 'citizenship' for the four
                 gorillas.

                 "We also plan to ask the city administration to help
                 fund the food for the gorillas," he said without
                 mentioning the amount of the fund needed for the
                 gorillas' food," Ismunanto said.

                 He added the gorillas usually eat apples, pears and
                 grapes.

                 He said the zoo could not afford such food. Currently,
                 the zoo get its income mainly from entrance tickets,
                 currently priced at Rp 3,000 (30 U.S. cents) per visitor.

                 The 140-hectare Ragunan zoo currently has 3,500
                 animals consisting of 253 species. (jun)