By Diann Ivy C. Calucin
Manila Public Recreations Bureau (PRB) Chief Roland Marino took exception to the statements issued by Senator Francis Tolentino about the Manila Zoo, saying they are "outdated impressions."
Tolentino had earlier proposed to move Manila Zoo to Masungi Georeserve, Batas, Rizal, saying that it will favor the captive animals not to live in the city.
Marino said the senator has obviously never been to the zoo lately because the lawmaker's impressions are outdated.
"Mukhang hindi pa po nakapapasyal ang ating mahal na senator sa bagong Manila Zoo kaya medyo outdated na po ang kanyamg komento (It seems that our dear senator has not been to the new Manila Zoo yet, so his comment is a bit outdated)," said Marino.
Marino noted that the giraffes were removed from the Manila Zoo since early 2000s and that their enclosures are big similar to international zoos, which are in contradiction to Tolentino's statements on Manila Zoo's small enclosures for giraffe.
"Maliit lang po ito kaya hirap na hirap yung ating mga giraffe…yung ating elepante nga namatay…mainit yung semento. Hindi po kasi natural habitat ng mga hayop na nabanggit ko yung kalungsuran, kung saan mainit, maingay, at mausok (It's small that's why our giraffes are having a hard time... Our elephant died... the cement is hot. Because the city is not the natural habitat of the animals I mentioned, where it is hot, noisy, and smoky)," Tolentino stated.
The PRB chief also stressed that Manila Zoo has a very diverse flora so that pollution in the metropolitan area is never a problem.
"Yong' elepante po natin ay umabot na sa kanyang lifespan which is 40 to 45 years in captivity. So, namatay po ang ating elepante sa old age at hindi po dahil sa kanyang enclosure (Our elephant has reached its lifespan which is 40 to 45 years in captivity. Our elephant died in old age and not because of his enclosure)," Marino explained.
Meanwhile, an official from the Manila Department of Social Welfare (DSW) said that the senator was also wrong in his press release when he compared the situation to the transfer of the Manila Boystown to the province of Rizal.
Marino clarified that Boystown, which is now located in Marikina, was not transferred but was put on a donated land for the City of Manila.
On Sunday, July 7, Manila Mayor Honey Lacuna-Pangan declared that transferring Manila Zoo to the Masungi Georeserve in Rizal is never a part of the city government's plans for the zoo.
Read more: https://mb.com.ph/2024/7/7/manila-zoo-stays-where-it-is-mayor-honey