Weekend Escape Part 2

A jump to sooth the tired feet.

On the Way to the Zoo

As promised, here is the second installment of our weekend escape. After eating our snacks we decided to leave the Temple but it was still 3pm, the sun is up and our energies are on full bars, suddenly I remembered that the Cebu Zoo is located nearby. Without wasting any time, I inquired with the security guard of its location, he told us to “take a little walk down the 5^th street and then ask the guard on duty in that area for further direction.” With excitement we walked fast, up the long, wide and winding road where huge and serene fortresses surround. Thanks to the lady who gave us the direction, she saved us from going into the dead end that we were heading. Despite the long and laborious walk and the challenging hunt we still managed to smile, have fun and of course take pictures.

The gate to the Paradise

The Cebu City Zoo

At last we have reached the final curve and were in front of the Cebu Zoo gate, it was around 4pm. The Zoo opens from 8 am up to 5 pm everyday. It has around 15 employees including the new manager who is very dedicated to the cause of improving the Zoo as well as facilities. I have personally met him two years ago during my first visit. Indeed he is full of eagerness and optimism. I want my companions to experience the union with nature and maximize the time to learn more about the place where we are residing—Cebu City.

Take Note of the Rules

The word “zoo” is a short term for zoological garden, a place where animals are kept in enclosures which as much as possible imitate their natural habitat. It is both for educational and conservation purposes and such endeavor requires a considerable financial funding to sustain the feeding and maintenance needs of the animals and the place. I commend the City government for supporting this project. During my first visit, the place was in its initial recovery stage under the new management. Today improvements are visible—more animals are present, more spaces were already used and more people are visiting.

One Step, One Leap

The Long Trek

The excitement began when we stepped our feet inside the zoo’s gate and paid the entrance fee. The entrance fee is worth 10 pesos for children below 12 years old and 25 pesos for children above 12 and adults. Come on join us as we trek around the Cebu Zoo. (Special thanks to Kuya Ellie Ardiente who served as our tour guide in the duration of the visit). Like all places that we go, we were greeted by a big signage of the zoo’s Rules and Regulations—this is a constant reminder that as visitors we must respect the animals and everything inside the vicinity and keep an active duty to observe responsibility in our actions towards the living and the non living things. 

rubbing elbows with the serpents

Bottle feeding the baby milo (wild cat)

I also observed a festive mood in the place, the walls were filled with murals, banners from excursionists were displayed in a particular area and of course the animals sing greetings of welcome and joy. We had the chance to hold and feed some baby wild cats or locally known a milo. We had the opportunity to hold and caress snakes, took pictures with an owl (and so I remembered Hedwig) and took mighty poses with a hawk or banog in local term. We saw monkeys, feed the deer, looked into the eyes of an angry serpent eating eagle, tried to talk to the parrots, entertained by the talking mynas, heard the melodious chirping of different kinds of birds and fowls, amazed by the swimming fish in unison and a lot more unexplainable experience which the words in any alphabet cannot describe.

A pose with the mighty birds (not angry birds..hehe)

Picture taking with Mariano the Croc

Mariano the Crocodile

Highlighting the trek is the once in a lifetime (it was the second for me. hehe) chance to hold a live, 60-year old crocodile named Mariano. Crocodiles are known to be ferocious carnivores and for that we fear them the most. However, according to Kuya Ellie, Mariano is trained and friendly to people. We took our time to observe, of course with hesitation and fear, took pictures and touched the thick skin of the croc. We bade our goodbyes and proceeded to take a farther trek down to see another group of crocodiles which according to our guide are the complete opposite of Mariano--wild, flesh hungry and brutal.

Limp yet authoritative Boggard

Boggard The Siberian Tiger

The path was hilly and steep, on the way we saw monkeys, rabbits, porcupines and other snakes. We started to make a long and painstaking descent. On a stop, we met Boggard, an eight-year old Siberian Tiger which came from India. I have observed that he had lost weight since our first encounter, our guide explained that it was due to the cutting of his meal supply from 40 kilos to 20 kilos of raw meat. So I realized that even animals were affected by the global crisis. He was snob at first, as if telling us to go and stop disturbing his slumber but we persisted. As if disturbed by our guffaw, he let out his loud growl as he stood tall with confidence and authority. Except for the limping right hind leg, he looks healthy and manages to display an aura of combined fear with admiration. I have also observed that his cage is now bigger which is good so that he will be able to move more freely inside. We took pictures and said our goodbyes to our friendly Siberian tiger.

The long trail

Descent to the Crocodile Cage

We continued our descent and walked for about 10 minutes in a trail leading towards the vicious crocodiles. On the way, you can observe the green surrounding nearby, the tall dipterocarps shading the path with their wide foliage, the climbing vines and the relaxing yet creepy sounds of insects typical of late afternoon in the provinces.

Forget about the 

We were welcomed by two barking dogs, which made me back off from the lead. I noticed a sign which said “Forget about the Dog. Beware of Owner” illustrated with a gun pointed towards the reader, I gained confidence and continued leading the trail. Indeed the dogs did nothing, they were even of people. They ran fast as we approached closer to the crocodiles’ cage. The cage is shaped like a huge ship elevated more than 2 meters above the ground level so that its hollow interior holds the water and the strong crocs in. We walked around perimeter of the wall boulders with the slight fear of possible accidental fall (God forbids!) and took pictures too. Special thanks again to Kuya Ellie for the assistance and the stories too.

Experiencing Paradise in an Unexpected Way

As we ascended back to the main entrance, the group made realizations. We thanked each other for the unplanned visit to the Cebu Zoo where we were able to witness the beauty of nature and the potential of the institution to preserve the habitat of these flora and fauna. This place is best for children so that at an early age they will be able to have a glimpse of the animals that they only see in books and have a fresh appreciation of the importance that these creatures offer. This is also a good place to bond with family and friends. With just a meager entrance fee, you will have to experience paradise in an unexpected way. A short motorcycle (habal-habal) ride for 20 pesos per person brought us back to the highway where we realized that we are now back to the busy city, the escape was over and our tired body wants to relax the Boggard way. J

2: 04 pm

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