Tags: Zoos and Animal Sanctuaries
By Marjorie Gorospe
MANILA CITY, METRO MANILA— Animal rights advocate continues to campaign for the full closure of Manila Zoo due to poor management.
According to People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) campaign manager Rochelle Regodon, it has been years since they started protesting against the poor conditions of the animals in Manila Zoo, where animals are deprived of things that they need to naturally survive.
Recently, visitors of the zoo and users of social networking sites started posting photos that caught the attention of the local and national government.
“It is time for the government to recognize that animals should not be kept in captivity,” said Regodon, noting that these animals are housed in cages that don’t come close to the home they know such as jungles, deserts, and forests that are their natural homes.
Even Malacañang has spoken about the issue. Presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said they have alerted the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) together with the local government of Manila to address the matter.
Regodon also criticized plans to raise funds to help rehabilitate Manila Zoo, saying the government should be embarrassed of its plan to woo public support.
“The government is making it clear that they cannot even uphold minimum standards at the Manila Zoo,” she added, noting that Manila Zoo measures only 5.5 hectares.
Aside from this, Regodon stressed that restoring the zoo is too late due to the worsening conditions. While it serves as an attraction to visitors, Regodon said that “such distraction is a lifetime misery to these animals”.
Further captivity could lead to “zoochosis”, a mental disturbance among animals marked by symptoms such as pacing, neck-twisting, head-bobbing, bar-biting, and other repetitive behaviors.
“Not too long ago, Sese, the lone orangutan, died of cancer (the zoo) didn’t even know she had,” said Regodon. There is also a elephant named Mali, whom Regodon said was only three years old when she was uprooted from her home and family and brought to the zoo.
“Mali has been in a barren and decrepit cement enclosure in the Manila Zoo for over 30 years,” she said.
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