Amazing Avilon

Finally got to go to Avilon Zoo (aka Montalban Zoological Park) yesterday. I've been wanting to go there since I saw it on Korina Sanchez' show, and even more when Cherry raved about it when she went there herself. Eric and I decided that yesterday would be the perfect time to go, since it was a holiday (so traffic wouldn't be so bad) but at the same time it wasn't a weekend (so hopefully there wouldn't be so many people). Rony, who only came home at 9am that morning (having pulled an all-nighter at work), didn't want to miss up on the opportunity as well and tagged along.

From my place, the trip took roughly 45 minutes. You can call the zoo at 634-5550 to ask for directions and a map. The entrance fee is a bit pricey (P200 per person), but when you see how well-kept the zoo is, how clean the animals' enclosures are, and how healthy the animals look, then at least you know your money is being put to good use.


The zoo's main driveway. Looks like Jurassic Park.. or the Singapore Zoo. Walang sinabi ang Manila Zoo dito.

At more than 7 hectares, the zoo is the biggest in the country. As of now, it's only about 70% complete, and does not house any huge mammals like elephants, giraffes, hippos, etc. But trust us, there are more than enough animals in there now to make the entire trip worthwhile.

There are guided tours offered every hour, and you really need to follow the tour because you're bound to get lost if you wander off on your own. Oh, and the tour takes 2 hours (on foot) so I suggest you wear comfy shoes. Bring lots of water as well, although there is a 15-minute break at a refreshment stand after an hour into the tour.


This cute stuffed tiger "growls" whenever you pat it. It's being sold at the souvenir shop for P900 (ouch), so we just contented ourselves with a photo.

We were all so busy ooh-ing and aah-ing over the animals (not to mention jostling with equally enthusiastic kids to get good shots) that most of the time, we weren't paying any attention to what the guide was saying. As a result, I didn't get the names of many of the animals that we passed. Drats. Here are some that we saw:


Not a pony, but a species of horse, the smallest in the world.


Otters at play.


Beautiful but deadly. Missed its name, but I know it's poisonous.


An albino python (the yellow one) and a Burmese python. Definitely wouldn't want to be caught between those two.


This lizard was actually peeing when we first saw it!


I've never liked lizards, but these two still make me go "Wow!"

My favorite animals were the cats:


A mountain lion takes shelter from that afternoon's sweltering heat.


This jaguar came out of his cave, made one round of his cage, then promptly went back inside. As if he knew we were all waiting for him, and deigned to make a brief appearance to satisfy our curiosity.


Bobcats. Cute!!!!!


I was so excited to see the Sumatran tiger, whom Cherry described as "gorgeous," but drats, it was asleep!

Rant: Rony was so excited, clicking away at all the animals we passed when the tour started that after the first hour of the tour--his digital camera ran out of batteries!!!!! So we weren't able to get shots of the lions, the capybara (world's biggest rat, also favorite food of the anaconda), the alligators (one was 18 feet long!), and the Malaysian tapir (the highlight of Avilon Zoo), among others. Maybe when the zoo is 100% complete, we'll go back. For now, the memories of this one-of-a-kind place will have to do.