Cebu Zoo Cages Undersized – Peta

● Peta’s biggest concern is the lack of space with no freedom of movement for zoo animals.

The head of the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) – Asia is requesting the Cebu City government to improve the city zoo and to build bigger cages where animals can easily move inside.

PETA – Asia Vice President for international operations Jason Baker said almost all of the animal cages at the Cebu City Zoo are too small for them.

In his letter that was sent to City Hall, Baker said “Many of the animals are being housed in severely inadequate cages.”

“Although all the enclosures at the facility urgently need upgrades, our biggest concern is the lack of space allowing no freedom of movement for the monkeys, civets and snakes,” Baker said.

Baker said the management of the Cebu City Zoo should work closely with veterinary schools to ensure that enclosures are well-designed for the animals’ mental and physical needs, and provide appropriate and sufficient food and clean water.

According to Baker, the PETA inspectors visited the zoo recently and found out that almost all of the cages are undersized and no sufficient amount of water were stored, particularly in the crocodile’s enclosure.

He explained that water is very essential to the well-being of crocodiles because without water deep enough to swim and float, the crocodiles are not able to thermoregulate their bodies.

“I know that you share our concern about the welfare of animals and want to improve the conditions at the zoo,” Baker said in his letter.

The City Council decided to refer the letter to Librando Macaraya, head of the City’s Parks and Playground Commission and to Zoo Caretaker Giovanni Romarate for their appropriate actions and recommendations to the mayor.