All critters great and small

I have an Iguana that I bought last month. It has a sore mouth all the time and has stopped eating. – Prezzy, New Manila

How much did you buy it for? Does it have a tendency to bang its head against the aquarium? Is it very skittish? What you probably purchased is a wild caught Philippine sail fin lizard (Hydrosaurus) endemic to the PI and other Southeast Asian countries. It is a sad fact that pet stores sell these hapless Philippine endemics and pass them off as Iguanas.  The sore mouth is caused by rubbing against the glass panel (worse if you keep it in a chicken wire cage) a characteristic of most wild caught lizards since they are not used to being confined in small spaces and ogled at by curious uzis. (Snakey hasn’t used that term since his Tita Cory’s era) If this is left untreated, it may progress to stomatitis or mouth rot that will eventually lead to your lizard’s demise. Wild caught Hydrosaurus are impossible captives and will not last very long. They were so abundant that even open fields in Makati used to have them as recent as the ’70s. There are no captive bred (CB) species in the market today. If the pet store keeper claims they are, his proboscis is probably getting longer (Snakey trying to sound scientific) If it is a true Iguana you are looking for, there are some stores in Cartimar that sell them but be prepared to shell out at least P3,000 for a juvenile since they are mostly imported from abroad. Also, they are not easy to care for and have complex dietary needs. Exotic pet keeping entails much study if the pet is to be alive and happy.

* * *

We are from Baguio and had much fun in Kinder Zoo and Manila Zoo. Any other suggestions? – Florentina Castañeda

Avilon Zoo is definitely world-class! The animal wonderland in the heart of Montalban, Rizal gives Singapore Zoo a run for its money. I do not exaggerate when I say this. The owner, a long time friend and colleague in herp passion Jake Gao has given the seven-hectare property his best. Manila Zoo at its peak in the ’70s never had this much animals kept correctly and scientifically. I was amazed to see and hold very rare Malaysian Tapirs, Lynx, leopards and big cats, primates of all kinds from diminutive Marmosets to Orangs and Gibbons, Free-roaming Swans and pink Flamingoes. Capybaras, Clawless Otters and countless others. Avilon is also a reptile lover’s paradise. I drool every time I get near its herp department where one can view 15-foot King Cobras, endemic frogs and geckoes and vipers and anything else that will make a herper hallucinate with pleasure! Snakey and I get superlative every time Avilon is talked about. I admire my friend Jake for all the passion he has put in. Hope more people get to see and appreciate it.

* * *

Congratulations for a wonderful article! We buy the STAR for its Pet section. We have a star tortoise, more torts please! – JC Castrillo

Star tortoises are getting to be quite rare since they are very hard to breed and are usually gathered from the wild in India and Burma and sold in the black market in Bangkok. Chatuchak weekend flea market has so much of them! Chatuchak has always been a problem with conservationists worldwide since it has become the trans-shipment point of rarities from as far away Madagascar and Africa. Keep your Star Tort well; they will not be as available as they are now. Have you heard of the Radiated Tortoise (Geochelone radiata) endemic to Madagascar? They are one of the rarest of tortoises and are truly magnificent-looking tortoises! Already listed as CITES I, due to heavy collection for food and the pet trade, these torts almost resemble the Star Tort yet have higher domed carapaces.

* * *

Kudos to you and that Kevin guy! Political offspring have weird tastes! Cacti and snakes… weird but great reading! – Megasnakedude

I forwarded your text to Kevin Belmonte of Succulentophile fame. I’ve known Kevin for many years and can say that his personality is the antithesis of the image of what he writes. Not a single spine on this guy’s friendly gregarious aura. Cacti are juicy underneath all the protective spines and snakes, often misunderstood, are the ungreediest animals that are content with all they need. There should be more cacti (and snakes) among the civilized, tired and cynical in society! Thankssss for the support.

* * *

Watch Animalandia, 6 a.m. everyday in Magandang Umaga Bayan. Text us at 0918-2010405 or e-mail kuyakim@hotmail.com for questions.