THERE is another reason to visit the Johor Zoo, one of the oldest in the country. Built in 1928, the zoo in Jalan Gertak Merah, Johor Baru, boasts of 130 animal species. And now, Tereram - a baby camel - calls it home, too.

The zoo's head keeper, Mohd Sham Mahdon, said the female calf was named Tereram because its parents were Terry and Tara.

Mohd Sham said the parents, both from Australia, had been very protective of Tereram since its birth.

"Both looked as if they would throw a kick if anyone were to approach the calf. Therefore, unless you are one of the keepers, do not go too near their enclosure," he warned.

The Johor Zoo will also have other new tenants soon, which include a male buffalo and an orang utan.

Another must-see at the zoo is the blossoming friendship between a tiger cub named Damak and a baby monkey named Danga.

Both animals are four months old and kept in the same cage.

"When they both get older, we will probably have to separate them but right now, Damak and Danga are the best of pals.

"At times, Danga would taunt and challenge Damak as if it was a tiger itself.

"But Damak would just growl affectionately no matter how hard little Danga tries to infuriate it."

The entry fee is RM2 for adults and RM1 for children.

"About 2,000 people visit the zoo on Sundays and 1,000 on Saturdays. On weekdays, the number of visitors is about 150 to 200," said zoo manager Zakaria Razali.

"On public holidays, the number surges two-fold. The zoo is a great place for a family outing."

This article is published in Johor Buzz part of The New Straits Times.