beyond toxicity

ARK AVILON ZOO & FUN RANCH in Fun Ranch En Frontera Verde along E.Rodriguez Jr. Ave in Ugong Pasig are just near our places (Pasig & Quezon Cities) but it was only yesterday when we decided to go there around 3pm… I told my wife Tina and my son Gabby that I have seen those places featured on different local TV shows and read some things about them on various blogs.  Inspite of the fact that there was 1 blog item about the experience of a father whose daughter was bitten by the albino king snake during the guest-animal interactions, last January of this year, with sympathies to the untoward incident and to the family concerned, I’m sure that none would have wanted it to happen and there are still enough reasons for me to bring my own family there to experience what the others have already enjoyed. And so we did. (We’re NOT interested in snakes anyway…)

The facade will bring to your senses a feeling of how is it like to be entering Noah’s Ark… Plus the fact of having a zoo shaped like Noah’s ark amidst the metropolis isn’t a usual attraction.  Entrance fee of P200/pax is reasonable, credit cards are honored.  It was good that it was a weekday, so the place was not that crowded and we had quality time enjoying the animals. Ark Avilon Zoo is an interactive zoo (just like Kinder Zoo in Manila Zoo) where guests, mostly children can touch some tamed animals and experienced them as good as it gets.

Gabby had fed the rabbits (lots of them!) with carrots on sticks sold at P10 per carrot. We had a chance to take photos with a pair of 6-month-old sheepdogs named Arthur and Philip (P50/4 shots). Viewed various animals from family of cats in glassed cages : pumas, tigers, lion, jaguars; to Philippine macaque, bears, malayan tapir, tortoisses, goats, a donkey, an albino miniature horse and wide collection of birds – parrots, Palawan Hornbill, Victoria crowned Pigeons, Channel billed toucans, Rufous night Herons, domestic turkeys,and owls.

But what we enjoyed the most was Jenny, the orangutan. She’s so adorable, clad in a dress with slippers. She entertained us well, even allowed to be carried, embraced and shook hands with.

Given another chance to be there, we would not hesitate to visit Ark Avilon Zoo again. I think it brings wildlife closer to kids and kids at heart. I like their tag line… Celebrating (wild) Life !  we have to, to the fullest, for life is short.. so enjoy it, even with animals..