While the Cebu City government still has to decide on the fate of its zoo, this crested serpent eagle awaits shipment to the town of Amlan, Negros Oriental. This bird will be among the animals soon to be donated by the city to that municipality (CDN PHOTO/TONEE DESPOJO).
WITH the Cebu City government to decide on the fate of the Cebu City Zoo after the outcome of the talks on the land swap deal with the province, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources in Region 7 (DENR-7) recommended the hiring of a biologist to aid in looking after the animals that are still under the zoo’s care.
Ariel Rica, acting head of the enforcement division of DENR-7, said that a biologist would be a big help to the six zoo keepers and the veterinarian in the zoo because he or she would have technical know-how about animal behaviors and their habitats.
“Okay ra nang out of the six basta naa la’y biologist ana,” he said. “At least duna gyoy technically… dili ng bana-bana ra. Para na gyoy scientific professional nga mo-take care aside from the team nga nag-office karon sa Cebu City Zoo, nga maka-provide og guidance.”
Rica said that the representatives of the city government during their technical conference last week agreed with the recommendation to hire a biologist for the zoo.
He said they recommended the biologist after several lapses in managing the zoo animals were observed during the joint inventory conducted by DENR-7 last September 26, in coordination with the city government and the Bureau of Animal Industry-Department of Agriculture.
These included tying up birds and fowls and placing them in cages that are too small, and also placing animals in a situation not suited for their behavior.
Some of these lapses were remedied.
He also said that he asked if the city government would close the zoo, but the city government’s representatives told him that they would not decide on it until after the outcome of the land swap deal talks with Cebu province and the city.
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