Have a Heart in Manila Zoo!

by Rachel Catral
(Laguna)

We went to Manila Zoo last Monday, September 6, 2010. After touring the entire zoo, we sat and stayed on one of the benches fronting the tigers.

The bench was located near some vendors selling cold drinks. While enjoying the green mangoes we bought outside, one of the male vendors shouted because a baby bird pecked at him from behind.

He pulled it out from under the cart. I asked my friend to take a picture of the bird and she did. Then the man grasped the bird violently and said that he's going to take the bird to the crocodiles and feed it to them. We told him not to do that but instead tell the administrators of Manila Zoo about it. But he ran, and even though we tried to stop him, he was successful in feeding the little bird to the crocodiles.

After that, we were told that there's another bird there as well. So before the man could get it, we placed the bird inside a bag and went to the staff at the entrance of the zoo who were wearing polo shirts indicating that they are from the Manila City Hall. We told them about what happened but they said that it was no longer their concern.

So we took the bird, and went to PARC in Katipunan. When we got there, they referred us to the Protected Areas and Wildlife Bureau. So we went there... Once there, the vet told us that the bird is a Rufous night heron.

We told him and the guard on duty about what happened at Manila Zoo. They told us that we should file a complaint against it... And that's what I'm going to do.

I really pity the animals in Manila Zoo. They are so thin and in really bad condition compared to the animals at Avilon Zoo in Montalban. I hope the ones responsible in maintaining the zoo would HAVE A HEART for the animals. Humans were created to take care of all that God has created.

I also hope that people will be awakened by this message. The animals there aren't being cared for properly. As human beings, we must start to be vigilant in the fight against the maltreatment being done by man to animals.

They are voiceless creatures. But they deserve the right to live. We humans are the ones gifted by God to have a speaking voice. Don't you think it's about time to use it to help those who can't speak for themselves?

God bless all of His creatures!