Animal protection activists call for closure of Philippine zoo

Jul 15, 2011, 6:59 GMT

Manila - Animal protection activists on Friday called for the closure of a Manila zoo amid criticism its animals were poorly housed and malnourished.

Dozens of activists from the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), one dressed as an elephant, rallied in front of the Manila Zoological and Botanical Garden and lambasted the poor treatment of the animals there.

'The Manila zoo is a tiny, decrepit and outdated facility and has nothing to offer animals except a life of deprivation, misery and loneliness,' PETA activist Rochelle Regodon said.

PETA said the zoo has relegated animals to a lifetime of boredom and abuse, which often lead to self-mutilation and other abnormal behaviour.

The demonstration was staged after the Manila zoo became a hot topic on the social-networking site Twitter when a blogger posted photographs of sorry conditions of animals in the facility. Some photos showed animals that were malnourished, wounded or housed in rusty cages.

Even presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda expressed concern over the conditions of the animals and said government agencies were taking steps to improve the upkeep of the zoo, which is operated by the Manila city government.

Agerico Sebastian - assistant director of the Manila Public Recreations Bureau, which oversees the operation of the zoo - said the criticism was unfair.

'The zoo is 70-per-cent rehabilitated, and for the remaining 30 per cent, the rehabilitation is ongoing,' he said. 'The pictures shown in the blog were taken several years ago.'

Sebastian said all the animals at the zoo were well-nourished and received good care.

'People can come and see for themselves,' he said.

The 5.5-hectare facility is the oldest and largest zoo in the Philippines. It opened in 1959.