With its shutters down and closed to visitors since the enforcement of the Conditional Movement Control Order (CMCO), this only meant that the national zoo's revenue, derived mainly from ticket sales, has plummeted to zero.
Currently surviving on monetary donations from the public obtained during the MCO and paying visitors during the Recovery MCO, which can last only for the next three to four months, Rosly is racing against time to raise more to keep Malaysia's first local zoo afloat.
The worry is causing Rosly sleepless nights. Yet it hasn't stopped him from going to the zoo daily to ensure operations continue to run smoothly under strict standard operating procedures.
He said it was also vital for him to ensure that his 140 staff as well as the animals, such as giant pandas, Malayan tigers and spotted deer, were hale and hearty during the pandemic.
"I take a look at the animals and wonder what their fate is in the future. There are over 4,000 animals in our care and they must be fed sufficiently despite the tough financial circumstances.
"Thank God they are safe and in good health. There are no problems so far as I am more than committed to taking care of them and seeing to their needs — from their food and vitamins to medical attention."
Rosly said they "lived a nightmare" during the MCO in March when the unprecedented Covid-19 pandemic forced them to dip into their emergency funds of RM1 million to keep the zoo going.
The zoo, opened in 1963 and managed by the Malaysian Zoological Society, needs RM1 million each month to operate.
The Energy and Natural Resources Ministry then provided relief, channelling RM1.3 million. Donation drives through the Zoo Negara adoption package also raised about RM8 million.
They also received donations of vegetables and meat from farmers and butchers who could not sell their produce at that time.
The Malaysian Department of Quarantine and Inspection Services, added Rosly, also donated meat and vegetables to feed the animals.
Rosly said the assistance helped them tremendously in the first few critical months and they were glad to have emerged from the challenges and finally have breathing room.
"Now, we are about to relive the same nightmare if we fail to gather funds to keep the zoo going as we have no visitors at all.
"I am keeping my fingers crossed that the CMCO will end on Dec 6 as scheduled. If not, we will run into deeper problems as we are a non-governmental organisation and we cannot rely solely on government assistance.
"My main priority now are the animals and they must be fed and well taken care of, no matter what. Closing Zoo Negara is not an option. It has to remain open for the people.
"Something proactive has to be done from now on. Every day, I think of ways to raise funds whether it is monetary or food for the animals. On top of that, Zoo Negara staff continue to get their full salaries despite shorter working hours and none of them has been laid off."
Rosly said he remained committed to keeping the Zoo Negara family intact.
"We are not giving up and Zoo Negara will never close down. Otherwise, where are we going to send the animals to? Our Malayan tigers will not be able to survive in the jungle due to their inability to forage for their own food. Where can our giraffes go?"
Describing Malaysians as compassionate, generous and an animal-loving lot, Rosly is confident that his public appeal for donations, whether in the form of money or food, will be granted. During the MCO, assistance came in even from visitors from the United States and Italy.
Rosly said they were now close to their wits' ends and he had no choice but to be "thick-skinned" to openly seek donations for the sake of the zoo and animals.
"When the CMCO first started, we still had funds as we thought the restrictions would last only a month. But at that time, we held back from asking for public donations as we were shy to do so.
"Now, we want to gather the funds as early as possible to ensure that we can operate even after the current reserve of three to four months finishes.
"We have just kickstarted the donation appeal on our website. We do not know if the response will be good or otherwise. I believe Malaysians love animals. Every little help counts. Even 20 sen that we received from schoolchildren during the MCO is precious. I appeal for public kindness."
Rosly added that he would exhaust all possible avenues to get assistance, such as reaching out to the Selangor government's tourism sector and exploring the sale of advance ticket packages to the public and tourism agencies, including sourcing new corporate sponsors.
He added that he was appreciative of the government's assistance to Zoo Negara in the past.
Zoo Negara zoology, veterinary and Giant Panda Conservation Centre director Dr Mat Naim Ramli reportedly said that RM1.3 million given by the government covered the zoo's operations for a month.
This was including RM689,000 to pay for panda insurance, while the rest went to animal food and medical expenses.