Ecotouism goes Cebu Zoo: Agosto 2011

Last Sunday, me and my group mates of TM415 decided to visit the Cebu City Zoo. I read in the news a few weeks ago that the zoo is now being managed by a man who gave up his high-paying job to focus his attention on the (remaining) animals at the zoo. I personally believed that it would take a herculean effort to transform the place completely. And taking into consideration the fact that the whole place is running on limited resources, funds, and manpower, I’d say it’s an achievement even!
The present Cebu City Zoo was concieved in the late 1950`s by the Hon. Raymundo A. Crystal and due to his efforts and the help of the local Boy Scout organisation the appropriate land was donated in perpetuity by Governor Espina in 1969. Construction work on the zoo began in 1973. The zoo was managed by Father Eleuterio Tropa under the aegis of the "Lamplighters Foundation" until the death of Father Tropa in 1993, when management of the zoo passed to the city authorities.

At the moment there are 39 animals representing 21 species of mammals, reptiles and birds (Appendix F.) kept at the Cebu Zoo. Eleven of the species are endemic to the Philippines and found nowhere else in the world. A further collection of domestic animals are kept (rabbits, mice, guinea pigs and chickens) and are used to reduce the feeding costs.