There were other places considered, but for various valid reasons, each of them was

discarded as unsuitable. The Manila Bay Resort along Paraaque ad the Quezon
Memorial Park in Quezon City was outside the City limits. The only suitable place, Mayor
Lacson and his planners decided was Harrison Park. It was wide enough, it was
accessible, and it was perfect.Even as the construction on work for the Zoo was going
on, negotiations were conducted at various levels to secure its inhabitants. City officials,
business firms, ambassadors and consuls took fancy on the project and started their own
solicitation.
In a beautiful display of goodwill and cooperation, the animals began to trickle in from
near and far. Most of them were outright donations. Deers, burros, hawks, eagles were
received from some prominent citizens. The teachers and pupils at Gomez Elementary
School gave a monkey. The City Jail Cooperative Association two (2) Guinea fowls, the
Davao Penal Colony-four (4) herons, two (2) grass owls, 6 wild doves, one soft shell turtle
and others.Malvin Jones, the 500-pound lion donated by the Lions Club International, was
an international undertaking. Coming from Capetown, it was stranded in New York
because of lack of space for its board and transportation History to Manila. AGet-Melvin
to Manila committee compos donation from soft-drinks firm. He was flown to San
Francisco and then to Manila after a luncheon in his honor at Savoy Hilton Hotel on Fifth
Avenue. Everyone was so anxious about Melvins safety that he was insured for $ 25,000,
His triumphant arrival in Manila was awaited expectantly. He seemed to have realized
what trouble had been gone through for him because he was unusually meek that day.
Now he reigns as king of the Zoo in his big den donated by the Manila Lions Club at the
Rocky Hill. At this writing, the zoo has been open only for seven (7) months yet, its
admissions to date are close to the 1,700,000-mark. This can be explained by the fact
that the Zoo is something new to most Manilas of today. Now they can look familiarly at
creatures that were once merely unfamiliar names in animal lore, like elands, gnus, yaks,
kudus, buffaloes and wallabies. Today, there are even childrens parties held in the Zoo.
The kids would come in hunting clothes, watch the animals and romp around the
playground. Food is served in fashionable restaurant (The Aristocrat Safari Restaurant)
alongside the premises. Several garden clubs conduct their regular meetings in its
botanical garden. At the same time helping take care of its trees and plants. The zoo will
someday in the center of observance like plant and animal week, or Recreation Day
during the Boys and Girls Wee.
To date, despite limited facilities and experience, the mortality rate in the Zoo is very
low- 6.34%. Other advanced Zoos have a rate as high as 18%. Most of the animal
casualties occurred during the quarantine period. The leopard from Malaya escaped from
its den and had to be shot because of the danger it posed to the neighborhood. Many
have missed the playful Chilean penguins which could not stand the heat. One of the
Municipal Boards enacted an Ordinance penalizing persons who in any manner should
harm the animals or plants. The penalty is imprisonment of not more than six (6) months
and a fine of not more than P200.00.
The Zoo has big plans for expansion because public response has been so heartening. It
intends to acquire more animals by outright purchase or by exchange. A zoo in Mexico,
for instance is offering it a puma exchange for a common carabao.
The Manila Zoological and Botanical Garden is home to about a thousand animals from
90 species as of April 2015. The zoo's most popular resident is Mali, an Asian elephant

who arrived at the zoo in 1977 as 3 year old calf transported from Sri Lanka, after being
poached from the wild.
Other Animals residing in Manila Zoo includes a Bengal tiger, Malayan civet, monitor
lizard and hippopotamus. Many of the animals of the zoo were born in captivity with
three month-old juveniles recently born in April 2015. The zoo management is planning
to transfer many of its animals to a separate breeding area or sanctuary outside Metro
Manila due to over congestion in the zoo. The zoo is planned to be just an exhibit area.
The Manila Zoo has a land area of 5.5 hectares. According to its year 2007 records, the
zoo houses 106 different species and has a population of 500 animals. It has 30 different
kinds of mammals, 63 reptiles and 13 different bird species. These include exotic birds,
pot-bellied pigs, miniature animals, crocodiles, peacocks, rabbits, snakes, ostriches,
tortoises, tigers, lions, different monkeys, different types of lizards and more.
The most famous occupant in the zoo is Mali, an orphaned Asian elephant. Visitors are
allowed to feed the animals with the animals specific preference of food. The zoo offers
entertainment, educational and interactive activities for all ages. Inside Manila Zoo is the
Kinder Zoo where children as well as other visitors are allowed to feed, touch, pat and
interact with the animals. Children can play with the animals as well as discover and
learn about the animals characteristics and their environment. There are also other
activities inside the Kinder Zoo such as Butterfly Dome, Exotic Birds Aviary, Koi Pond,
Philippine Mouse Deer House, Petting Zoo, Turtle Pond, Party Barn, Playground, Hanging
Bridge, and Flamingo Pond.
At the center of the zoo is a small lagoon or pond where visitors can experience boat
riding. There is a small island at the center of the lagoon. Boat riders paddle their way
around this island. There are also many restaurants, canteens and souvenir shops inside
the zoo. The zoo also has several playgrounds for the children and tables and benches
where families may have picnics.