Located in Montalban Rizal, this 7.5 hectare zoo is around 70% finished. Though there are still a lot of areas that are being built and established, a good tour of it will take you around 2-4 hours, depending on how intricate and informed you want to be.

Going to Avilon zoo is pretty easy whether riding the public transportation or using your own. From manila, you will be able to find a line of FX taxi that will bring you to Montalban Rizal. From there, you can take a tricycle that will pass thru a mud road, and in approximately 10 minutes you will be able to see the entrance to Avilon Zoo.

Do not be deceived on the entrance, it might look small in the outside, but when you start walking inside, it’s a different story, believe me, I know, I’ve been there. Better be ready with your most comfortable walking shoes, a jug of water, a hat and your camera, for it will be a very interesting walk in the park.

Jake Gaw, the owner of the zoo is truly an animal lover. He started off this zoo to make sure that his collection of animals will have a nice home and space to breed, mature and at the same time, educate the younger generation for them to be aware of what we have and to learn the importance of animals in our existence and ways to protect and preserve their habitats.

We were welcomed and assisted by Noel Rafael, Avilon’s media relations officer and at the same time manages both the Pet-tissimo (Avilon’s Pet Center) and Avilon’s small Mammals Commercial Breeding Facility. His enthusiasm and passion for these animals made our visit interesting, informative, fun, educational and I’ll say it again, fun!

We started off with the lagoon near the entrance, where a couple of Canada goose are walking on the side of road, strolling as if they are having a date in the park. This lagoon hosts a number of Black Swans, Peking Ducks, Mallard ducks and Canadian goose. Though some of them are migratory birds, they do not go off wondering to other places because they already feel at home in the zoo. In this lagoon, I was able to see a bunch of water lilies floating about. This serves as a filter and at the same time protection for the nests that the water fowls build during breeding seasons.

The zoo make sure that they imitate or re-create the natural habitat the animals are in when they are in the wild to make them feel comfortable, able to adapt and in time, be able to breed and multiply, as the other species in zoo are already capable of.

They have around 200 personnel including the zoo keepers, electricians, maintenance, veterinarians and consultants to keep the place in shape, the animals fed and the surroundings healthy both for man and animals alike.

Crocodiles can be viewed in a distance, with no cages, or fence. They are placed in deep swamp like areas, where you can view them from the top or the side, with lots of big rocks and murky water. This simulates their natural habitat in the wild, which is healthy for them. Crocodiles are cold blooded so when you visit, you will be able to see them basking under the sun to keep them warm. Do not be fooled by their appearance, they might look asleep but they are alert and aware of your presence.

Nile crocodiles come from Africa and is characterized by its pointed snout. He is one of the biggest freshwater crocodile in the world. In the wild, they can grow and reach up to 20 feet and live up to 60 years or more.

Philippine crocodiles are one of the smallest crocodiles in the world. They were able to breed in the zoo successfully. When we were there, the couple just hatched 21 eggs, and I was able to see some of their babies all grown up. It’s pretty cool.

I was also able to see the biggest crocodiles in the zoo, they are the salt water crocodiles, and the zoo keepers named them “totoy mola”, “totoy bato”, and “annie batumbakal”. These kind of species are the biggest among salt water crocodiles in the world.

During our walk, I kept on hearing these loud birds and wondered where the sound was coming from. I can hear them but I can’t see them. A few walks and I was introduced to the Horn Bill. The bird whose bill is curved as a horn is making all these sounds. They have casks in their beak but it is not yet concluded if the casks are for added strength for the bill or to help produce a louder sound.

In general, male horn bills’ beak is more colorful than the female. The cages are very high to simulate their natural habitat. But in the zoo, you will have a chance to see both, a view of the ground and a view on top of the cage.

Horn Bills was able to breed in the zoo. The female will be locked inside the nest with her eggs leaving a small open space for the male to provide food for the female. When the eggs are hatched, the female will leave the nest, seal it and leave a small open space big enough to slide thru the food to their chicks. The chicks will just go out of the nest when they are ready.

Cassowary, a large flightless bird is considered as the most dangerous bird in the world. One kick in the chest or in any part of your body is fatal. This bird eats over ripe fruits that falls from trees, but in the zoo, this bird eats the other bird’s leftovers, no waste. He usually attacks you from behind, whenever you are vulnerable and unaware. hmmm… glad to know. ;0)

Kangaroos and Wallabies can also be seen in the zoo. Kangaroos are only pregnant for 15 days, then a little “Joey” (baby kangaroo only as big as a grain of rice) will climb up to his mother’s pouch and grow from there. Noel said that sometimes they don’t even know that the kangaroo was pregnant; they will just see a “Joey” peeking from the mother’s pouch.

Noel was very excited to show us their Malayan Tapir. Avilon zoo is the only one that has it in the entire country. Aside from the Malayan Tapir’s distinct Dutch coloration, he was also able to use his snout as a snorkel when under water and can also use it to grab food, just like an elephant.

Arriving in the “hexagonal”, an aviary housing small birds, we were able to meet the best mimics in the world, the Palawan Hill Mynah. Be able to stand there and hear them say “Hi”, “Kumain ka na?”, if I don’t know well, I would have think that I was talking to a human. The words and sounds they produce are very clear. Noel even told us that sometimes, they will purr like a cat and bark like a dog. And in the morning, when the birds are in the mood, when a zoo keeper passes by, the bird will say “hoy pangit!”

I was also able to mingle with some of the animals. A cockatoo was placed in our editor’s shoulder and the it didn’t budge. I placed the bird in my arm, though it was something different, it was a fascinating thing to see and experience. The bird was heavy and very calm. I was also able to meet their orangutan named “Louie”, he was so friendly and loves to touch elbows. He loves to hug and hold people’s hands. Picture taking with these animals, including the snake and the little horse only costs Php50 for 2 shots, the money will be used for the food of the animals.

Another exiting experience in the zoo is to be able to feed the arapaima. It does not only help the zoo in feeding them but is an unforgettable wet experience. Be sure to keep your camera and shoes distant from the water. The fish will definitely jump off the water and fight over the food. This area is one of the best sellers especially for the children. Laughter, shouting and cheers will be heard from this. Not only were they are able to see and feed the fish, they were able to interact with them and at the same time get wet from the splashing (which is the favorite of the youngsters).

Marmosets, monkeys and bats will be seen in a more enclosed section of the zoo. They are not night creatures but they are sensitive to light, for in the real habitat, they live deep in the forest. This is the place where I got my senses back. Focused on the interview and photo shoots, I was looking at one glass and wondering where the animal is, when suddenly out of nowhere he jumps right at me! Luckily, there was a glass between us, if not; he could be in my face at that time. Celebes Black Macaque, a sneaky little creature that loves to surprise guests that pass by!  Too bad I was not given a head start by Noel, I think my scream had awaken all the creatures of the night.

Now more alert and wide awake, with all senses working, I was introduced to their Asiatic black bear, big fat Hyenas, Siberian tigers, South American jaguar and puma. Due to warm weather, most of them tend to sleep (in the open where people can see them) to preserve their energy, good thing though, with those big claws and metal cage, don’t want to take the risk. (haha… fear of big cats emerges)

Now, we are half way thru the trip… and a short trip to the canteen soothes tired feet, hungry stomachs and quenching one’s thirst can rejuvenate and energize you for the rest of the tour.

Moving on from the canteen, there is a small aviary for tiny birds, a lake with beautiful swans and an eagle and hawk in training. They trained the birds in the zoo to be able to fly right, catch prey and obey commands that will soon help them able to survive in the wild. Patience is truly the key.

Philippine scopes owl is one of the smallest owls in the world with large ears. Their eyes are sharp but their primary tool for hunting is hearing. Owls have facial disks that are sensitive to sound, once they hear the object or prey that is the only time they will use their eyes to zoom in.  They can turn their heads 180 degrees because they have 14 neck bones unlike to man and other animals which have only about 7 neck bones. Owls have longer necks; it’s just not that obvious because they have lots of feathers.

Clouded leopards have the longest tail and fangs among all cats. He is able to climb a tree like a squirrel where he waits until a prey comes by. They are highly territorial that they tend to kill their mate in the wild.

Most cobras found in the Philippines are spitting cobras. They are very poisonous and their spit targets the eyes and they rarely miss. So Noel’s advise, whenever you see a cobra in the wild, especially when you are in the Philippines, run away from it as far as possible.

Snakes are often feared by people. No one dares to touch them or be touched by the tongue. But if you look closely, snakes has no ears, his eyes can only see black and white, nose if use only for breathing, so he needs a special sensory organ to compensate his deficiencies, this is where the tongue is used, to determine and distinguish male from female and the likes.

Scorpios up close is no different from the one I saw in TV. Though Noel urges us to touch or hold it, still, I am reluctant. Scorpios use their claws to hunt, the bigger the claw, the weaker the venom. So, if you are allergic to bee stings, you might have the same effect when you are sting by the level 1 poison of this Scorpio.

There are around 600 species that can be found in the Avilon zoo. A total of about 3000 to 5000 animals, still, they are trying to build new cages for their upcoming animals such as giraffes and elephants.

A lot of animals to see, information to absorb, facts to learn, experience in visiting a zoo will be changed once you spend a day in Avilon zoo. Make sure you also have a guide when you walk thru the park so that you will be able to visit all the animals and at the same time, know a thing or two about them, to make your trip worth it.