People living in cities might never see a wild animal beyond their pet dogs and cats. Of course, there’s the television with detailed and impressive documentaries about animals. But it pales next to an actual encounter with creatures in the flesh, hearing it make sounds, smell them, see them do their thing and having time to absorb all the details.
Zoos and aquariums give visitors a greater understanding and perspective of wildlife. Hopefully, this will result in appreciation and conservation efforts that will be mutually beneficial to humans and fauna.
Zoos and aquariums dot the Philippines we chose 9 of these for your visiting pleasure.
Manila Ocean Park
Credit: manilaoceanpark.com
Location: 666 behind Quirino Grandstand, Ermita, Manila City
Contact number: +63 2 567 7777
A spectacular destination offering an array of exciting, enticing, and enriching marine life exhibits. Walk through the Oceanarium, giant aquarium, and view 14,000 amazing marine life swimming overhead.
Try the Aquanaut Voyage and experience amazing interaction with various sea creatures through an underwater walk. Have an up-close experience with friendly sharks, stingrays, and starfishes.
Fulfill your fantasy of becoming a mermaid, glide with a fishtail underwater.
Join the Penguin Quest feel the freezing weather see live Humboldt penguins.
Pamper yourself with a fish spa. Fishes will nibble your feet removing dirt.
Meet the delightful sea lions and see them perform.
Manila Zoo
Photo: wheninmanila.com
Location: Adriatico Street corner Qurino Street, Manila City
Contact number: +63 2 525 8157
The oldest zoo in Asia which opened in 1959 host to 1,000 animals. There are animals that are prevalent in the Philippines such as the Bohol Tarsier, Palawan binturong, tamaraw, Philippine crocodile, and the long-tailed macaque. Meet Mali, an Asian elephant living here since 1977. Visitors are free to roam and interact with the different animals.
Mactan Island Aquarium
Location: Maribago, Mactan Island, Cebu
Contact number: +63 32 236 6248
Visitors can see beautiful marine life numbering over 1,000 creatures that include exotic fish, water snakes, turtles, sea slugs and much more amazing ocean fauna. The aquarium will bring you to an underwater fantasyland that excites wonder. Take a guided tour of the ocean exhibits and wind up with the shark tank feeding blacktip reef sharks.
Avilon Zoo
Photo: avilonzoo.ph
Location: 9003 GP Sitio Gulod, San Isdro, Rodrigez, Rizal
Contact number: +63 2 948 9866
The largest zoo in the Philippines and a habitat to 3,000 exotic wildlife. There are 500 species of birds, mammals, fishes, reptiles, amphibians, and invertebrates to see. Meet the lion, King of the Jungle, popular among visitors. The zoo has a pair of the tallest land mammal, giraffe. It is home to rare species found only in the Philippine like the Philippine Falconet and the Kalaw, Rufus Hornbill.
Cebu Ocean Park
Photo: cebuadventurer.com
Location: SM Seaside Complex, Cebu City
Contact number: to be announced
The Cebu Ocean Park (under construction) will be bigger than the Manila Ocean Park and is the first marine park in Visayas and Mindanao. A soft opening is set on December 2018 to be fully operational in late 2019 or early 2020.
Walk through watery depths inside the Oceanarium with a fantastic view of aquatic species gliding above. Animal shows will showcase the talent of these creatures in a wholesome and educational manner everybody will love.
Paradizoo
Photo: zoomanity.com.ph
Location: Maglabe Drive, Mendez, Cavite
Contact number: +6328470413
Paradizoo is a theme farm instead of jungle animals see farm animals. Also, it boasts of vegetable and flower garden, a pet cemetery, honey bee farm, and a butterfly farm. Interact with the friendly animals, tour around a mesmerizing landscape teeming with vegetables and flora, and learn about planting best practices.
Dolphin Island
Photo: pinasmuna.com
Location: Misamis Occidental Aquamarine Park, Libertad Bago, Sinacaban, Misamis Occidental
Contact number: +63885860157
Dolphin Island is within Misamis Occidental Aquamarine Park and a boat ride away. It is man-made structure sitting on a sandbar. The place is a rehabilitation center for injured dolphins; they are released to the open sea once they are fit. After the dolphin interaction, visit the snorkeling area. Fish will feed on your hand. Visit Nemo, clownfish, inside the sea anemones and marvel at giant taklobos, clams.
Ninoy Aquino Parks and Wildlife Center
Photo: bmb.gov.ph
Location: Eliptical Road, Diliman, Quezon City
Contact number: +6329246031
A lush park with amenities that make it a zoo. It has artificial ponds, small aquariums, pens, and a man-made lagoon. The place serves as a shelter for rescued, donated, and abandoned animals. A treatment center for animals with ailments or injuries.
Baluarte
Photo: wikipedia.org
Location: Quirino Bolevard, Vigan City, Ilocos Sur
Contact number: +63777227186
A private zoo owned by Mr. Chavit Singson with animals roaming. Have you ever touched a wild beast? If not, here you can touch a tiger, have a snake coil on your arm or a falcon perch on your hands. See more animals from other countries and endemic to the Philippines. Observe thousands of butterflies as they glide through the air in their magnificent colors and sizes.
Practice what you’ve learned from your zoo and aquarium visit. This is a baby step toward improving the human and animal relationship for long-term survival of numerous species.
Sources:
https://www.inspirock.com/zoos-and-aquariums-in-philippines
https://www.ranker.com/list/the-best-zoos-in-philippines/worldchap
https://www.theguardian.com/science/lost-worlds/2014/aug/19/why-zoos-are-good
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Comments 1
I’ve read several good stuff here. Definitely price bookmarking for revisiting.
I wonder how so much effort you put to make this kind of fantastic informative site all about zoos in the Philippines, thank you for sharing things on my country to the rest of the world!