Recently, we had a chance to see the upcoming exhibits in Manila Zoo. It was indeed expansive as we walked around under the sun for almost 3 hours. The airconditioned indoor reptile house and butterfly garden were a retreat for us. This time, you can tell that all the animals exhibited are having the best time of their lives. The renovation brought them a cleaner and greener environment. Although it was hot and tiring, it was still fun and seeing the animals in good state are worthwhile. As of now, 32 Lawins (Brahminy Kite), Lions, Tigers, Elephant, and more birds are available for viewing. Soon there’ll be more species to come. We also had an exclusive interview with the Senior Veterinarian Dr. Heinrich Patrick “Chip” Pena-Domingo. He shared with us what we should know in the new and improved Manila Zoological and Botanical Garden. Here’s the interview:
The Interview
Island Times: Let’s start by telling us more about yourself, How long have you been working in Manila Zoo?
“Good afternoon, I am Dr. Heinrich Patrick Pena-Domingo, my friends call me Chip. Actually this is my first job, I’ve been working here since 1990… But I went to Canada for a while and went back. I am the Senior Veterinarian of Manila Zoo right now”
Island Times: How’s the experience?
“Masaya.. Challenging.. Now that we’ve opened Manila Zoo.. Medyo ano talaga, maraming trabaho since our facility right now is I would say, comparable with Abroad.. Ano na siya, World-class. So hindi lang yung harapan, pati yung likod medyo sumasabay na sa technology”
(IT’S FUN… CHALLENGING… NOW THAT WE’VE OPENED MANILA ZOO.. THERE ARE A LOT OF WORK to do since our facility right now is i would say, comparable with abroad.. it’s now, world-class. it’s not only the facade, but also the interiors and the back are in sync with the technology)
Island Times: What should we expect from the New Manila Zoo?
“Ginawa namin ang Manila Zoo in such a way na lahat ay electronic na, de-pindot.. So yung pag-open ng exhibit door.. Pag o-open and close ng yard.. Pati yung separation enclosures all of them are mechanized.. The quarters ng mga animal keepers, we make sure all of them are comfortable so naka airconditioned din yung mga quarters nila.. Tapos yung service areas are stainless steel so food-grade talaga.“
(we did manila zoo in such a way that everything has buttons all of them are electric. so the opening of exhibit door.. the opening and closing of the yard.. even the separation enclosures all of them are mechanized.. the quarters of animal keepers, we make sure all of them are comfortable so it’s all air-conditioned. and the service areas has stainless steels so they’re really all food-grade.)
“Right now makikita mo naman it’s instagrammable. We have this butterfly garden na pwede ninyong puntahan. Tapos our playground is on the 2nd floor wherein there is an interaction between the primates and the children. So at the same time it’s a behavioral enrichment for the primates and also for the children, upclose sila with the animals.”
(Right now you can see it’s instagrammable. we have this butterfly garden you can go to. and our playground is on the 2nd floor wherein there is an interaction between the primates and the children. So at the same time it’s a behavioral enrichment for the primates and also for the children, THEY’RE UPCLOSE with the animals.”
“Tapos we already have a hospital and we have these offices na maayos at magaganda to give dignity to our career and profession.”
(And we already have a hospital and we have these nice and beautiful offices to give dignity to our career and profession)
Island Times: Tell us more about the Hospital
“The doors are sensitized, hindi sila kinakapitan ng bacteria. Hindi nagka-kabacterial contamination. We make sure that the traffic has bio security, I mean, one way lang papasok and palabas. We have infectious, and non-infectious ward.. We have the operating room pero may ante-room.. Our faucets and water supplies are foot operated to avoid bacteria contamination”
(The doors are sensitized, the bacteria will not cling, there’ll be no bacterial contamination. We make sure that the traffic has bio security, I mean, it’s going to be just one way in and out. We have infectious, and non-infectious ward.. We have the operating room but there’s ante-room.. Our faucets and water supplies are foot operated to avoid bacteria contamination”
Island Times: Is it exclusive for the animals in Manila Zoo?
“Yes it is exclusive for animals in Manila Zoo since ayaw nga naing maco-contaminate.. Pero simple cases kung talagang… Public servant naman kami di naman kami pwedeng mamili so.. Ma-accommodate din namin and we if we have medicines pwede naman namin i-share.. Kung sino yung mga nangangailangan.”
(Yes it is exclusive for animals in Manila Zoo since we don’t want it to get contaminated.. but if for simple cases..we are pubblic servants so we can’t really choose so.. we can accommodate if we have medicines, we can also share.. to whoever really needs)
Island Times: So far what has been the most challenging times here in Manila Zoo?
“5, 6 years ago there was a time na nag-karoon kami ng mga problema sa mga suppliers.. Kaya there was a week or two na walang food.. Those were really the challenging times where we had to solicit sa public markets pero it didn’t last long. Na-aksyunan naman o na-adress naman yung problema. From our own little ways na kung may konting kailangang abonohan we were willing to shell out pero sandali lang naman ‘yun. But now with the new Manila City Government it’s well-fundedand talagang lahat ng pangangailangan, bilis kilos.”
(5, 6 years ago there was a time when we had problems with the suppliers.. so there was a week or two when we had no food. Those were really the challenging times where we had to solicit sa public markets pero it didn’t last long. we were able to take action and address the issue immediately. from our own little ways when we had to, we shell-oued from our own pockets but it was just in a short period of time. but now with the new manila city government it’s well-funded and the action really is quick.”
Island Times: Was there a time when yourself or anyone working from Manila Zoo was endangered from the contact with animals?
“Marami. marami nang cases dito.. So we have.. our keepers should be trained.. how to deal with these animals.. Syempre meron namang safety protocol.. Buddy System.. Dapat if you’re entering an enclosure or yard, dapat lagi kang may kasama.. Either to to save you, or to run for help.”
(A lot. there were a lot of cases.. so we have.. our keepers should be trained.. how to deal with these animals.. of vcourse there’s a safety protocol.. buddy system.. if you’re entering an enclosure or yard, you should always have a companion. either to save you or to run for help)
Island Times: Is it Open now?
“Well, Manila Zoo right now is still under construction.. Hindi pa talaga tapos.. Kaya lang excited na yung mga tao eh.. Yung purpose naman nito kaya ginawa is public service eh.. To serve the children of Manila in terms of recreation and mag serve as facility for other purposes like ngayon vaccination site siya.”
(Well, Manila Zoo right now is still under construction… it’s really not done yet.. but the people are excited now.. the purpose why this is built is for public service.. To serve the children of Manila in terms of recreation and to serve as facility for other purposes like now it’s a vaccination site .”
Island Times: How much is the ticket?
“The city council is still working on charging the people.. By june siguro may malinaw na kung magkano talaga”
(The city council is still working on charging the people.. By june hopefully there’s a clear announcement on how much it should be)
Island Times: How many species should we expect? What animals are going to be exhibited?
“Well kung maku-kompleto yan lalagpas sa 100 ang specie namin ‘coz soon we will be having Giraffe by next year pero this year we’re working on getting Giraffe from the South.. Tapos may mga Antelopes din na dadating.. Tsaka may acquisition na from abroad so possible madadagdagan pa yung existing inventory natin plus the specie. Right now, limited palang yung animals on display since hindi pa naman totally turned over from the contractor. “
(Well once we’re complete it will be over 100 species because soon we will be having giraffe by next year but thisyear we’re workingon gettinggiraffe from the south.. then there will be antelopes as well.. and we also have acquisition from abroadso it’spossible that there will be more from our existing inventory.. plus the specie. Right now, we only have limited animals on display since they’re not yet totally turned over from the contractor.)
“Tapos we have this indoor reptile where we will be displaying exotic na reptiles like malalaking snake Burmese, Reticulated, Ball phytons. Merong mga venomous yung endemic na Philippine Cobra. Meron din tayong Sulcatas, yung turtles na bihira mong makita. Lizards, Iguanas, Comengi…And also meron tayong Philippine Endemic.. Endemic birds and mammals.. Apex Predator.. Predators na nasa taas ng food chain.. So tigers and lions.. And hopefully we get hyena at wolves as well.”
(Also we have this indoor reptile where we will be displaying exotic reptiles like huge snakes like Burmese phytons, Reticulated phytons, Ball phytons we have the venomous one like the endemic philippine cobra. we also have sulcatas,the rare turtle. lizards, iguanas, comengi.. and also we have the philippine endemic. endemic birds and mammals.. apex predators.. those predators that are in the top of food chain. so tigers and lions. hopefully we get hyena and wolves as well)
Island Times: How much is the cost of renovation?
“For the renovation I know the budget is Php 1.9 Billion.. Pero nag-karoon ng quotation, nagbi-bidding so umabot ng Php 1.7 Billion, Php 1.675 ang alam ko”
(For the renovation I know the budget is Php 1.9 Billion.. But there’sa quotaion, there was a bidding so it took php 1.7 billion, php 1.675 i think)
Island Times: How long did it take for the renovation?
“From 2020 June. During the pandemic. Almost 2 years”
Island Times: Is there a limit for visitors?
“Well noong level 3, 4 less than 2000 yung ina-accommodate namin even with the vaccination registration. 1000 per day. Pero ngayon nakaka accommodate na kami ng 3,000 kasi increasing na kasi level 1 na tayo eh. Pag nag level 0 na talaga open na tayo”
(Well during the level 3, 4 we accommodate about less than 2000 even with the vaccination registration. 1000 per day. but now we can accommodate about 3000 because we’re increasing now since we’re on level 1. once we reach level 0 then we’ll be open to everyone)
Island Times: How do we visit?
“Yung magpa-pabakuna kung first time mo, kailangan mo mag register. Pero kung 2nd time, 3rd time you just have to mention your name. Mabilis na yung process. Pero kung gusto mo lang mag visit, kung pasok pa sa quota ng tinatanggap, pwede pa.”
(For those who will get vaccine for the first time, you need to register. but if it’s 2nd time, 3rd time, you just have to mention your name. the process will be quick. but if you just want to visit, long as there’s still slot for daily quota then you can come in)
We would like to thank Dr. Chip for this amazing opportunity and privilege to get exclusive footages from the upcoming attractions and for letting us have some of his time!
Read More on: New Manila Zoo – More attractions and upgraded facilities
