Cebu Zoo

Remember those carefree weekends? Trips to Cebu City Zoo were a cherished family tradition. Father Tropa a beloved figure was in charge. He wore bohemian clothes and carried a boa constrictor. He’d let kids touch the snake saying “Snakes are gentle creatures”. He’d share animal trivia. The zoo was magical then. Monkeys lived in cages as tall as 50-foot trees. Trained monkeys would playfully steal food. Birds soared in huge domes. There were playgrounds a restaurant clean baths a souvenir shop and trees galore. Gorillas orangutans a lion and a tiger lived there. The small museum displayed real elephant tusks and leopard skin. It made me cry as a child. Sadly times have changed. Today’s Cebu City Zoo is a far cry from that vibrant place. Reports paint a picture of neglect. Few animals remain. Many are sick or dying. Filthy cages litter the grounds. The once magnificent zoo is now a shadow of its former self. A testament to a time when Cebu City Zoo truly thrived. Sadly the zoo needs urgent help and revitalization. It needs to regain its former glory. Let’s hope one day Cebu City Zoo once again becomes a beacon for animal lovers a place where wonder and conservation intertwine. Let’s hope for a future where children can once again marvel at the beauty and diversity of the animal kingdom. Remember the zoo’s past so we can work towards a brighter future.