Dr S Vellayan, a former veterinarian at the zoo, described Victor Massy Hutson (popularly known as VM Hutson) as a man who loved animals and attributed the zoo’s success mainly to his planning.

He told FMT he was concerned about the zoo’s future.

Zoo Negara is in dire need of help due to a financial crisis brought on by movement control orders.

Known as the Father of Zoo Negara, Hutson played an important role in laying the foundations of a permanent zoo in Kuala Lumpur.

Within 18 months of its launch in 1963, the zoo attracted more than a million visitors and has now become the epitome of wildlife conservation in Malaysia.

Hutson would open the zoo’s doors to sick wild animals and would trust Vellayan to treat them.

“He made an impact in the sense that he was responsible for animal welfare in the country and was able to provide for animals that were abandoned,” said Vellayan.

“He visited the zoo very regularly and would visit some of the enclosures to check on the animals. Whenever an animal died, he would want to know the cause.”

He said Hutson was always respectful of the animals at the zoo and did not believe in ending their lives prematurely even when they were ill.

Vellayan said movement control orders should not stop Zoo Negara from encouraging animals to breed like was being done in zoos around the world.

The zoo is encouraging the public to support the Adopt an Animal initiative it launched last year. The funds received will be used for the upkeep of the animals and other operating costs.