Fact is, as we discovered during a visit to the Zoobic Safari at the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority in Zambales, the chameleon is one of the loveliest animals around. It’s clean, it’s dry and is very tolerant of the curious stares and eager patting of the noisy crowd. Like a real trouper, the chameleon held its regal quiet pose and adapted to the colors of its immediate environment to the delight of the adoring crowd. Clearly, it has adapted to the changes of being moved from its former habitat to its new home at the Zoobic Safari’s Serpentarium. Hey folks, we could all learn a thing or two from this hardy chameleon as far as surviving the changes of our fast-paced lifestyle has brought us.
The rest of the animals in the Zoobic Safari seem to be also doing well. Although it’s only 20 percent finished (target completion of the project is in 2005), the 15-hectare safari is part of Subic’s 80-hectare Forest Adventure Park experience, along with the Heroes Trail, Butterfly Garden, among others. The safari, operated by the Yupangco Group of Companies in cooperation with the SBMA, boasts a petting zoo, a Serpentarium, and a tiger safari. When completed, it will have a crocodile farm, picnic ravine, wildlife museum, safari village, and a rescue center and clinic for animals.
Open daily from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Zoobic Safari has mammals (Himalayan black bear, tiger, monkey, deer, a miniature horse, goat, sheep, pot bellied pig), birds (cassowary, ostrich, sea eagle, kite, turkey, duck and geese), reptiles (crocodile, python, iguana and lizards, turtles and tortoises. At the moment, there are more than 120 animals in the safari and their number will grow once it’s complete.
"Our animals are roughly 50 percent local and 50 percent imported but we would like to highlight the indigenous animals that can be found in Subic," says Subic Safari Corp. GM and chairman Delia de Jesus, adding as an aside, to emphasize that the animals are still within the confines of a virgin forest, that there are about 3,000 species of trees growing in Subic.
Safari officials are also planning on getting a pair of each African animal species from Calauit in Palawan in the future but a legal matter concerning a proclamation signed by the late President Ferdinand Marcos prohibiting the transfer of animals from Calauit has delayed their plans a bit.
Located at the Ilanin Forest, the safari is home to 12 adult tigers and two three-month-old cubs named Abner and Greg. A special show, presented at regular intervals, has visitors witnessing a jungle survival demonstration done by Aetas, a feeding session where kids can hold a big bottle of milk for the cubs to feed on, and a petting session involving a huge Burmese python and an albino python. Here, visitors can hug, caress or have the pythons placed around their necks for a unique high. If holding pythons don’t thrill you that much, do the next best thing: turn your attention to the sole chameleon.
For the snake-philes, a trip to nearby Serpentarium is a must. Formerly a bunker, the Serpentarium houses several pythons as well as crocs and alligators, turtles and lizards all of which are encased in glass. If you’re lucky, you could watch an Indian python swallow a whole chicken, or a baby crocodile prey on a duck chick. It’s kinda gory but hey, that’s nature for you.
For a milder ride on the wild side, guests can proceed to the Safari Park which is home to deer, ostrich, monkeys and farm animals, to name some, that people can view from a distance. Still under construction in some parts, the park is also meant to be a picnic ground with a lot of shady areas and perfect view of the animals.
Now, for a really wilder ride, visitors could board the safari jeepney and hobnob with the tigers and a bear. According to head animal keeper Danny Prado, each of the 12 tigers is fed 10 kilos of chicken per day (!) and if they run out of chicken, they give raw meat instead. You don’t want to see these adult tigers feed this time for it’s sure to be a bloody scene. It’s enough that you see them purring contentedly on the safari grounds, cute and cuddly as can be. In a few months’ time, the tiger safari grounds will be home to a coffeeshop, which will give more timid guests a relaxing time admiring the tigers from a distance, and making like Robert Redford and Meryl Streep in that memorable film Out of Africa.
Zoobic Safari officials assure the public, particularly animal rights groups, that the zoo is complying with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources requirements and is closely monitoring animal welfare concerns. "We’re trying our best to recreate the animals’ natural habitat and coordinate with DENR officials so there’s no reason to worry about the animals’ welfare," assures De Jesus. In fact, she adds, the zoo is doing its part in preserving the tigers and increasing its numbers since they are also breeding the tigers in captivity. And yes, the zoo welcomes animal food donation from generous souls.
A spin-off of the Tagaytay Residence Inn zoo and Bukidnon’s Safari de Oro thanks to owner Rod Yupangco’s hobby of raising tigers, the Zoobic Safari offers the Priceless Tour, a three-day tour package that begins with a trip to Corregidor, then a trek to the Forest Adventure Park and a Zoobic Safari show as well as a tour to the Subic Bay Arts Center. A visit to Casa San Miguel in San Antonio, Zambales for a show of world-class musicians and a dinner at Magellan’s Landing cap the tour. Those who don’t have the luxury of time may just opt to have a day tour of the safari and get the same satisfaction. But whichever tour package you choose, don’t forget to get up close and personal with the cool chameleon. It’s so lovable that you’re bound to leave the zoo considering having one for a pet.