Animals from Africa might soon take up residence at the Manila Zoological and Botanical Garden (MZBG) after a 13-man delegation from the United Republic of Tanzania pledged to donate giraffes and elephants.
Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim recently met with officials from the African country, who assured him that they would contribute some animals from their country to replace the aging animals at the Manila Zoo.
Lim proposed an animal swap wherein the MZBG would give some of its crocodiles.
It was reported that the local zoo reportedly has an overpopulation of 20 crocodiles.
In a statement, the Manila City Hall said that so far, only Palawan City Mayor Edward Hagedorn has pledged to donate various kinds of animals to add to the zoo’s present collection.
Vince Cuevas and his wife Rianne Joson-Cuevas, owners of the Camp Farms in Palayan City, Nueva Ecija, have given the MZBG two Bengal tigers worth P500,000 each. Cip Lacson also gave one crocodile from the Cayman Islands.
“The Manila Zoo continues to expand its collection of animals both locally and from other parts of the world. We are willing to swap animals with other zoos,” Lim earlier said.
Public Recreations Bureau chief Engineer Deogracias Manimbo reported to Mayor Lim that the zoo it is in need of elephants, giraffes and zebras. The lone elephant is already old while one of its giraffes recently died.
Manimbo is also currently coordinating with zoo authorities in Indonesia and Thailand for the possible sourcing of elephants.