Manila Zoo
The Manila Zoo, formally known as the Manila Zoological and Botanical Garden, is a zoo located in Malate, Manila, Philippines that opened on July 25, 1959. History. The Manila Zoological and Botanical Garden first opened to the public on July 25, 1959, during the tenure of Manila Mayor Arsenio Lacson. Manila Zoo was constructed for about a year, and costed of more than . Its inauguration was attended by First Lady Leonila Garcia. It is claimed to be the oldest zoo in Asia by the Manila city government which regards the site as city landmark, which is incorrect since  Tokyo’s Ueno Zoo has existed since 1882. In the mid-2000s, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) launched a campaign against Manila Zoo calling for its closure as part of its global campaign against zoos. The animal rights organization supported plans to convert the zoo into a sports complex. The Manila city government led by Mayor Alfredo Lim, as well as local vendors operating in the zoo opposed PETA's campaign against Manila Zoo. Manila Zoo was indefinitely closed on January 23, 2019 by Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada after the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) identified  it as a major pollutant of Manila Bay. The zoo was found to be dumping untreated sewage into an estuary that empties into the bay. Estrada's government planned to renovate the zoo, but the project was placed on hold. Animals which remained in captivity continued to be taken care of by zoo employees and volunteers despite the closure. Plans to renovate the zoo once again surfaced following the election of Isko Moreno as Manila mayor. In July 2020, a groundbreaking ceremony was held for the rehabilitation and redevelopment of the zoo. The project's budget is and is expected  to be finished in 19 months. The future zoo would feature a 30-foot waterfall in the lagoon, a big cat enclosure, a marsupial exhibit, a monkey enclosure and a restaurant. The Zoo reopened on December 30, 2021. Since January 19, 2022, the Zoo is temporarily used as a COVID-19 vaccination site for minors and senior citizens. Animals. The Manila Zoological and Botanical Garden is home to about a thousand animals from 90 species as of April 2015. Among animals residing or have resided in Manila Zoo includes a Bengal tiger, Malayan civet, African lion, 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. Mali, an Asian elephant, is regarded as the most known attraction of the zoo. Another noted individual animal that has been kept in Manila Zoo, was Bertha the hippopotamus. According to zoo records, Bertha was the oldest hippopotamus in captivity when it died in 2017 at age 65. Facilities. Manila Zoo covers an area of . It features an Animal Museum, a Lagoon, a Sewage Treatment Plant, a Restaurant, a Butterfly Garden, Children's Park, as well as a Botanical Garden . The zoo is under the direct management of the city government of Manila, through its Public Recreation Bureau. Animal Museum. The Animal Museum is home to several animal species all around the world. It is part of its redevelopment plan. Zoo Lagoon. The Lagoon features a 30-foot fountain as part of its redevelopment plan. Sewage Treatment Plant. The Sewage Treatment Plant was the first ever Sewage Treatment Plant for the Zoo to prevent pollutants from the Manila Bay, as part of its redevelopment plan. Botanical Garden. The Manila Zoological and Botanical Garden is home to many plant collections, from  the Philippine Islands and South Pacific regions. Butterfly Garden. The Butterfly Garden is home to various species of Butterflies flying around the garden. It opened on December 30, 2021, as part of the Zoo's redevelopment plan. Children's Park. The Children's Park is a playground exclusively for Children, which opened on December 30, 2021, as part of its redevelopment plan. Reptile House. The Reptile House is home to various species of Reptiles such as the Snake, Monitor Lizard, Turtle and Iguana. It opened on March 2022, as part of its redevelopment plan. Former facilities. Wildlife Rescue Center. The  Wildlife Rescue Center served as a 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. The area was permanently closed on January 23, 2019. Kinder Zoo. 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 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 on June 23, 2000. The area was permanently closed on January 23, 2019.