DENR-7, CH to conduct joint inventory in City Zoo

CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu City government and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources agreed on Friday to draw up a closure plan for the Cebu Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Office or City Zoo.

City Veterinarian Dr. Alice Utlang said the city officials and the DENR also agreed to conduct a joint inventory of the animals on Monday.

Utlang said that the DENR will train the new zoo keepers in the meantime that the at least 272 animals are still there.

Mayor Tomas Osmeña earlier said he plans to close the zoo as it will be included in the properties to be swapped with the Capitol. The city and the provincial governments are in the process of negotiating to swap properties to resolve the nagging problem concerning the province-owned lots under Ordinance 93-1 that are occupied by the city residents.

Pending the final decision, the city government was required to record and submit a report of all donated animals including its names, specie, donors, among other information. The city government is also required by the DENR to submit a necropsy report of any dead animal.

Utlang said the city government was asked to submit a quarterly report and inventory of animals to the DENR. 

Utlang said all domestic animals inside the zoo will be given to the farmers in the city.

"Katong halas na gigamit sa massage sa zoo bawion sa DENR from (former zoo keeper Giova-nni) Romarate kay animals nga naa sa zoo is a must nga dili gyud mo gawas coz kung naa na siya diha it becomes property of the government," she said.

She said there was no proper documentation that Romarate owns the snakes.

"Wa say proper documentation sa mga gi-donate nga hayop ug who donated ug unsa na hayop then ang mga nangamatay wa say report ug necropsy. DENR must be informed in all transactions that involve wild life," she added.

DENR-7 officer-in-charge Emma Melana said it is important to have proper documentation to avoid liabilities on the care and custody of the animals.

Melana said they are committed to facilitate more training and seminars to zoo keepers, educating them about wildlife care and proper recording.

A technical working group has been created to investigate the issues hounding the management of the zoo. (FREEMAN)