Manila Zoo to reopen on November 21

MANILA, Philippines — The Manila Zoo will reopen to the public on Nov. 21, Mayor Honey Lacuna-Pangan announced on Friday.

The reopening was reset from Nov. 15, she said in a Facebook Live broadcast, upon the request of stall owners.

The renovation of the zoo, inaugurated in 1959, was a project undertaken by former Manila mayor Isko Moreno.

The zoo was shut down in 2019 for dumping wastewater in Manila Bay. Its soft opening was held in December last year and it was used as a venue for the city government’s COVID-19 vaccine rollout. It was closed again in June for “finishing touches.”

Renamed the Manila Zoological and Botanical Garden, the zoo now features an animal museum, botanical garden, butterfly garden and animals like resident 40-year-old elephant Mali and Siberian white tiger Kois.

On its Nov. 21 reopening, the zoo will welcome visitors from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., with a cutoff for entry of guests at 6 p.m.

Residents of Manila will be charged P150 for adults and children and P100 for students, while non-residents will have to pay P300 for adults and children and P200 for students.

Children who are two years old and below may enter for free, while a 20 percent discount will be given to senior citizens and persons with disability.

The city government called on potential visitors to register and purchase their tickets at website manilazoo.ph starting Nov. 20.