Manila Zoo

The Manila Zoo, formally known as the Manila Zoological and Botanical Garden,^[3] is a 5.5-hectare (14-acre) zoo located in Malate, Manila, Philippines that opened on July 25, 1959.^[1]

Animals

A tiger in Manila Zoo

The Manila Zoological and Botanical Garden is home to about a thousand animals from 90 species as of April 2015.^[2] The zoo's most popular resident is Mali, an Asian elephant who arrived at the zoo in 1977 as 3 year old calf transported from Sri Lanka, after being poached from the wild.^[4]

Other Animals residing in Manila Zoo includes a Bengal tiger, Malayan civet, monitor lizard and hippopotamus. Many of the animals of the zoo were born in captivity with three month-old juveniles recently born in April 2015. The zoo management is planning to transfer many of its animals to a separate breeding area or sanctuary outside Metro Manila due to over congestion in the zoo. The zoo is planned to be just an exhibit area.^[2]

Wildlife Rescue Center

The Wildlife Rescue Center serves as temporary shelter and repository for confiscated, donated, retrieved, sick, injured and abandoned wildlife species. The Wildlife Rescue Center has been the subject of public scrutiny in regard to their animal welfare standards.^[5]

Botanical Garden

The Manila Zoological and Botanical Garden is home to many plant collections, from the botanically rich and diverse Philippine Islands and South Pacific region.

• Botanical garden
• Arboretum

Kinder Zoo

The Kinder Zoo area in 2012.

The Kinder Zoo within Manila Zoo was a result of a private-public partnership between Kinder Zoo, Inc. and the city government. Kinder Zoo, Inc. redeveloped 3,000 square metres (32,000 sq ft) of the zoo into an area named Kinder Zoo. The area was designed as a child-friendly area where children can interact with some animals of the zoo. The area featured a butterfly sanctuary, a hanging bridge, a flamingo pond, a barn for events, and a petting zoo upon its opening in June 23, 2000.^{[6] [7]}

Animal Welfare

A Catalina Macaw at the zoo

The Manila Zoo by law must operate in accordance to the Animal Welfare Act of 1998 (also known as Republic Act 8485).^[8] The purpose of the Act is to ensure that all terrestrial, aquatic and marine animals in the Philippines have their physical and psychological needs met in ways that promote well-being.^[9] Inquiries have been made into the compliance of the Manila Zoo with this Act.

Criticism

The treament of Mali, the Asian elephant has been a subject of critics of the zoo.

The zoo has been criticized due to its inadequate animal care^[10] and dirty surroundings.^[11] The zoo is responding with efforts to make the animal habitats as comfortable and natural as possible, such as by adding trees and vegetation, and expanding the enclosures.

Treatment of Mali the Elephant

Mali is the only Elephant in the Manila zoo, and the only captive elephant in the Philippines, and she is the subject of a campaign from animal rights organization, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PeTA).^[12] A report issued by PeTA points out the numerous issues regarding Mali being kept in captivity.^[13]

Calls for the closure of the zoo

In 2007 PeTA called for the boycott and closure of Manila Zoo as part of its global campaign against zoos claiming that zoos are never beneficial to animals. The animal rights group supported proposals to convert the zoo into a sporting coliseum to be used by the Philippine Basketball Association. Some local vendors operating in the zoo opposed PeTA's calls citing its negative effect on their livelihood and then Mayor Alfredo Lim said calls to close the zoo, which he described as a city landmark, were unwarranted and claimed that the zoo's animals were well taken care of.^[10][14][15]

Rehabilitation

A total of 1.5 billion pesos will be allocated for the rehabilitation of the 5.5 hectare botanical park. The rehabilitation of the Manila Zoo will be implemented through a public-private partnership with a Singaporean firm. This rehabilitation project aims to make the park a world-class recreational spot, the project will start by July 2015 and it is expected that it will take six months to finish.^[16]

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Manila Zoological and Botanical Garden.

Parks and plazas in Metro Manila
Urban parks	Ayala Triangle Gardens Marikina River Park Mehan Garden Paco Park Pinaglabanan Shrine Quezon Memorial Circle Rizal Park
Nature parks	Arroceros Forest Park Balara Filters Park Freedom Island Manila Zoological and Botanical Garden Ninoy Aquino Parks and Wildlife Center University of the Philippines Arboretum
Nature reserves	La Mesa Watershed Reservation
Squares and plazas	Liwasang Bonifacio Plaza de Armas Plaza Dilao Plaza de España Plaza Lacson Plaza de Mexico Plaza Miranda Plaza Moraga Plaza Moriones Plaza Rajah Sulayman Plaza de Roma Plaza San Lorenzo Ruiz
Community parks	Valenzuela People's Park Washington Sycip Park