Amid the pandemic, the City of Manila has been constantly improving its infrastructure, including its properties for leisure and entertainment. Though some have said that the timing may not be the most appropriate, considering that the pandemic has limited the access to sites where people may converge, the new Manila Zoo is a welcome change.
Aside from being in an open area, the new Manila Zoo is a showcase of what can be done to upgrade decades-old facilities. The "renaissance" of the zoo also showcased Filipino creativity, the design of which was sourced from a thesis of an architecture student.
What’s also commendable is that the new Manila Zoo, which is currently charging no entrance fee, was recently opened by Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso also as a vaccination site, thus serving a dual purpose. Citizens can roam the five-hectare zoo with such ease and, at the same time, find it convenient to be vaccinated since the vaccines are already available onsite. Since vaccination for children can now be done, this would be perhaps the most ideal venue for them to get vaccinated.
Looking back at the story of the Manila Zoo is also flipping back at the pages of our country’s history. It had its highs and lows since it first opened to the public in 1959, during the term of Manila Mayor Arsenio Lacson. Through the years, the Manila Zoo became the site of numerous events and important celebrations, but in its latter years suffered from neglect, lack of funding, and even controversies, such as its treatment to animals and when it was exposed as a major polluter of the Manila Bay.
The new Manila Zoo, thankfully, has addressed these past errors, with the present facility having its own sewage treatment plant. This is in accordance with the plan of Domagoso, who in the mid-2020 had touted that the new Manila Zoo will be the “best in Asia.” As of the moment, the entire zoo complex is not yet open to the public, but there are enough features to keep the entire family entertained. They can see numerous animals on display, plus butterflies and kois. The botanical garden is a site for some fresh air amid the urban jungle. Mali, the elephant who is the zoo's “celebrity,” has been transferred to a bigger area, which is more ideal for grazing and resting.
Features to be anticipated in the future include a veterinary hospital, new animal habitats, more gardens, a museum, plus leisure amenities and dining options. It will truly be a place not only to appreciate the abundance of our country’s flora and fauna, but something which we could be proud of as Filipinos.
At present, the zoo can only accommodate up to 1,000 visitors a day to avoid crowding amid the still high transmission rate of the virus. Nevertheless, there is a lot of anticipation to visit the Manila Zoo, considering that during the pre-pandemic days, it could accommodate 16,000 visitors a day.
Visiting a zoo freely and openly—this is something we can look forward to and one of the reasons why we should do our best to get out of this pandemic mess. It is easy if we just follow health protocols, get fully vaccinated (or get a booster if possible), and learn to adapt to the new normal way of living.