The suckiness of Manila Zoo captured online

Posted on July 13th, 2011. Written by Rico.

Local blogger Nix de Pano crawled the net for feedback on and pictures of Manila Zoo. Said de Pano: “I heard practically zero good things about it. Why exactly were people so negative about it? I got curious, so I looked it up. And wow, was I shocked by what I found.” Keep in mind that everything collected by de Pano and shown here was found online.

Below are pictures of “bulimic” animals living right in “literal trash”:

Here’s some feedback from Tripadvisor, a website of reviews written by tourists from all over the world.

This zoo needs to be closed. It’s beyond embarrassing. Can’t believe the City of Manila would allow it to operate under such deplorable conditions, and permit it to be exploited as a sight seeing spot. My god what a sad dreadful place.

I am working in Manila for 3 months and thought I would visit the zoo one Sunday. What a mistake. The animals are living in filthy conditions, the food lies rotting on the floor of the cages, the cages are inadequately too small, some of the animals are up to their knees in mud and feces. Their coats are matted and filthy. One poor animal, which I cannot name because the cages for the most part do not have labels, was rocking back and forth at the corner of his tiny cage (pacing). What a very sad commentary on the way we treat animals. I agree with the other person who said this zoo should be closed. The sad part is most of these animals are old and where else could they go. They need a lot of help. I am told it has improved but it has a long way to go.

…It is sad and senseless, as Filipinos are not usually callous, they should know better and by 2009 be able to really look after animals on this scale. So it comes down I believe to investment and ownership. The wrong people are allowed to keep this horror-park open. Perhaps with the new aquarium and a self-promotion of Manila as a city, the zoo may at last either be closed forever or people who know what it takes and what a wonderful visitor experience it could be take over. Either shut up or put up!

Note how all of the quotes above plead for the zoo to be closed. Before we get excited however, keep in mind that the reviews and pictures are from 2008-2010. It’s possible that the City of Manila government has improved conditions since then, but given my lack of faith in local government officials, I doubt it.

Nevertheless, does anyone have more recent feedback on Manila Zoo? If so, do share in the comments below.

Update: Chronicling a recent visit to Manila Zoo, local blogger Faith Salazar notes that in many ways the conditions inside the zoo aren’t as bad as advertised. Wrote Salazar:

There were over 1000+ retweets and reposts about The Very Sad State of Manila Zoo, but none of those people from Twitter, responded to our call for volunteering at the zoo – which is, I think, sadder. Yes, writing and informing people about the zoo is a step – the first of many. Don’t stop there. Volunteer! Hit me up on my contact page if you’re interested.

Update 2: You can now Volunteer at Manila Zoo with Faith Salazar!

This entry was posted on Wednesday, July 13th, 2011 at 2:16 pm and is filed under Editorial, Reviews. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

Rico

Rico Mossesgeld is the founding editor of Technograph. Learn more about him at rico.mossesgeld.com/about.

http://www.facebook.com/benjespina Benjamin Espina

Hey man,

The petting zoo is ridiculous. THEY ALLOW (HECK, ENCOURAGE!!!) PEOPLE TO SIT ON TORTOISES!
Ydnic_19

I have lots of good childhood memories in Manila Zoo but I really feel sorry for the animals especially now that I am aware of their conditions.
Gman

I heard in the news today (with actual footages) that the actual conditions of Manila Zoo is contrary to what the blogger portrays it to be. I guess that is just plain irresponsible.
http://twitter.com/FilipinoBlogger ProudFilipinoBlogger

MISLEADING, NON-VALIDATED & IRRESPONSIBLE BLOGGING!

This blog article about Manila Zoo has misled us all! It took away justice to the few people trying to save Manila Zoo quietly even with the lack of support and appreciation. The blogger should have instead visited the place before putting up such a careless write-up and using old photos to stir reactions, overreactions and exaggerations! It is not fair!

Kuya Kim for one has been keen on asking public support for the aging Manila Zoo and so he regularly features the park so that many people would visit it. Obviously, Manila Zoo’s infrastructure needs an upgrade but I am definitely sure that changes were done for the past years to further improve the park amidst challenges.

The blogger’s intention may be good but the delivery is way too irresponsible! So the blogger owes the public updated photos of the zoo and possible apology for pushing Manila Zoo to close down! It’s like seeing Pasig River dirty and suddenly we call for the closure of the water way! This is irresponsible journalism. We need to write not just to express or even impress but to enlighten the world with facts in our own little ways. Otherwise, your talent is not helping at all!

You could have closed your article by asking people to patronize Manila Zoo. In that way, it can regain its glory! Kesa manawagang ibagsak nyo ang isang bagay, dapat matuto din kayong tumulong para sa ikaaayos ng mga bagay-bagay! Kung may sira ba ang bahay mo, ipapagiba mo? Kung mayaman ka, pwede pa. Kung hindi naman, humanap ng remedyo! Be proactive! I am also a blogger by the way and I criticize things BUT only when I have the facts! No more. No less!

Sinira mo ang imahe ng bansa nating labis nang lugmok sa kahihiyan at kawalanghiyaang dulot ng irresponsableng gawain ng ilang pulitiko, obispo at nating mga reklamador na mamamayan! So are you proud that your blog got all the media attention to the point of putting down Manila Zoo and the country due to your outdated and misleading article? Thanks!

THE PROUD FILIPINO BLOGGER
http://twitter.com/FilipinoBlogger ProudFilipinoBlogger

BLOG PROACTIVELY FOR YOUR COUNTRY!

In Malaysia and Singapore, people show their pride to their nation by pushing good stories more than the ugly ones! Same as the case in the family, no matter how good you are as a writer, you won’t write and tell the world about your parents’ mistakes or that your siblings’ disgrace. Right? You will try to fix things internally rather than cryinh out loud.

You may be overwhelmed now that you are getingt all the attention but after all the circus shows, you will see the ill effects of putting up an issue carelessly. People will lose their jobs, hungry kids will roam the streets and a few parents will either rob or sell their flesh! Why? Because all we know is to put down the institutions or even the government everytime we see something wrong!

Would you want to see Manila Zoo same as Nayong Pilipino? It was closed down because few people would even care to help keep it? Would you rather see another shopping mall or condominium tower built on a park that once became part of our heritage as a once strong nation?

Indonesia’s Taman Mini is like Manila Zoo. It is old, dirty but it is supported by the people and the government. None of the citizen would even dare to put it down because it is a place where families who cannot afford HK Disney Land or Singapore Zoo can spend valuable time.

If you see the zoo messy, pool people to go there one weekend and cleanup! Instead of thousands of young people spending registration fees for marathons, why don’t you call for all these people to bring brooms and help clean the zoo or even the entire city? In this way, you are fair – you open an issue and provide resolution.

If I post an article about squatters, homeless and aged people on streets, would you guys show the same interest in pushing the government to take care of these poor people same as how you all suddenly became animal lovers? How many of you even checked the dying people in PGH?

This country has been into negativism for so long that no matter how hard the government nor the few people try to put positive changes, the people would simply not support it. Why? We love criticizing! We are crabs! Believe it or not!

There is no glory in all these. When you get to close Manila Zoo, will that solve the issue? If other parks are soon blogged as filthy, so we go online and put up a petition for closure? What happened to BAYANIHAN and being proactive? Can we not all go out one weekend and clean up all the mess we see in this country?

In a blogger’s point of view, I would be happy that I got all the hits to put my blog in the spotlight! I’ll be happy to get that fame we all wanted. I got the audience I needed! At the end of the day, I have put my country to shame and disgrace. I put all the animals in Manila Zoo in a limbo as they will soon be homeless the same as the people who could end up unemployed!

Would you think that releasing the elephant on the wild would do good? Nope! Because without the publicity and media watching, all of us simply don’t care! There are alot of things that we could do. We need to be positive and proactive. We nees to stop being activists and crabs!

Go to Manila Zoo! Pat the shoulders of the employees there and tell them that you all wanted to help out! Save and share! Instead of buying that expensive Starbucks coffee just to tweet that you’re hanging out at Starbucks, save the money and donate it to Manila Zoo! Better, buy food for the animals! Do your share!

I may think differently but we all have the same goal – to improve things! I hope you guys don’t get me wrong. Sino pa ang magtutulungan kundi tayong mga Filipino. Let’s stop all the blabbing and let’s put actions if indeed we care for the animals and for Manila Zoo!

THE PROUD FILIPINO BLOGGER
- http://rico.mossesgeld.com Rico Mossesgeld
  
  Maybe this is an opportunity for the Zoo’s operators to address the minor controversy stirring up, and point out how they’re improving the conditions, if at all?
http://codamon.com Kiven

Funny ka Proud Filipino Blogger.
http://www.tanggera.com Faith Salazar

Hello! Thanks for including my update, Rico. :) Here’s a link to the volunteer page on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=210338622351004