Cebu zoo needs funds to get more tigers

CEBU, Philippines - Aiming to strengthen the city's campaign to further promote and reinforce the Cebu City Zoo, plans are being laid to house and adopt more animals, but the support of the public is greatly needed.

Cebu City Zoo manager Giovanni Stephen Romarate said that they are currently looking for means to fund the transportation of tigers from the United States to Cebu.

Romarate revealed that an American donated four tigers last February but unfortunately the tigers died during a stopover in Hong Kong en route to Cebu.

He said that the tigers died because no handlers were there to take care of the animals while being transported to Cebu.

But Romarate said he recently got a call from the same American who said that they are willing to donate more tigers for the Cebu Zoo but handlers have to pick up the animals in the United States in order to safeguard their well-being.

Airfare expenses for the tigers and people — depending on how many tigers — would have to be covered by the city. The fare for the tigers will depend on their weight, as well as the expenses for the crate to be used. 

Romarate explained that in other countries like the United States, private owners of animals like tigers are only allowed to raise these species as pets until six to eight months. After this, the owners are to turn over their pets to zoos or any facility that can breed them. He said that if no facility can accommodate the animals, then they have to be killed.

Romarate said he talked with Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama on the proposal and was assured of support, but Rama also said the city will need to find funding to pay for the expenses.

Cebu City Zoo has a seven-year-old Bengal Tiger named Bogart. Last year, the zoo said Bogart has to have a female tiger companion for companionship and procreation.

The tiger, which has inborn polio, has been under Romarate's care since it was seven months old and has been one of the main attractions of the Cebu City Zoo. Romarate said that tigers to be donated to the city may be a mix of Bengal and White tigers.

The Cebu City Zoo stretches over a 7.6-hectare property and currently has 33 species of animals, including different kinds of birds, snakes and an alligator which the public can touch.

Romarate said that more visitors, local and foreign, have been visiting the zoo due to its edge on being an "interactive zoo," to add to the interest of its educational aspect.

He said that there are a lot of plans for the zoo, but first in line would be to bring in more animals and the tigers will definitely be a good addition.

If the first donation is successful, Romarate said that he was told by the American that they are willing to give more tigers.  (FREEMAN)