Description of the attraction
Manila Zoo and Botanical Garden, opened in 1959, covers an area of 5.5 hectares. Today it is the largest and oldest zoo in the Philippines. Millions of tourists visit it every year, especially on weekends and holidays.
The zoo is home to over 600 animals, including 150 reptiles, 299 birds and 159 mammals. Here you can see the Asian buffalo, the rare Asian fawn (the smallest in the world), the Palawan pheasant, iguanas, crocodiles, owls, tigers, turtles and other animals. But the most popular "inhabitant" is Mali, an Asian elephant that was brought here from Sri Lanka as an orphan as an infant. On the territory of the zoo there is a Wildlife Rescue Center, which serves as a temporary shelter for sick and injured wild animals, as well as for animals confiscated by customs from poachers.
As for the botanical garden, there are many species of plants and trees from the Philippine Islands and the South Pacific region - about 500 species in total. In addition to the botanical garden itself, with a variety of flower collections, there is also a tree nursery.
Today, the zoo hosts a variety of shows with the participation of animals, children's playgrounds are organized, picnic areas are arranged, gazebos and souvenir shops are built. Inside is the Children's Zoo, where young visitors can personally communicate with domestic and trained animals, learn a lot about their life and living conditions.
Despite its immense popularity among the people, the zoo has repeatedly become the object of criticism because of the garbage on its territory and inappropriate conditions for keeping animals. It is worth noting that the administration is making efforts to change the current state of affairs - new plants are regularly planted and animal enclosures are expanded. The reptile house has been modernized and an enclosure for small mammals will be expanded in the near future. It is also planned to purchase giraffes and zebras.
