When’s the last time you visited the zoo?

QUEZON City, Philippines (Eagle News Service, June 3) – Do you still remember your first trip to the zoo?

For the past years, Avilon Zoo has become a quite popular destination for those who want to see animals up close and personal.

Located in Rodriguez, Rizal, Avilon Zoo is the largest zoological institution in the Philippines, in both land area and the number of animals in its collection.

With a total land area of seven hectares, Avilon Zoo serves as the home of more than 3, 000 specimens. This exotic wildlife represents 600 species which includes mammals, birds, freshwater fishes, reptiles, amphibians and invertebrates.

The zoo takes pride of its collection of native species endemic in the Philippines. Avilon Zoo has many victories under its name as it had successfully bred many of the aforementioned native species, thus significantly contributing to the conservation of wildlife, some of which can only be found in the Philippines.

But it is not just animals, Avilon Zoo also houses lots of local plant species.

Visiting the zoo brings back memories of that first school trip as well as reminds us of our responsibility to preserve these natural wonders for future generations.

(ENS, written by Jay Paul Carlos, additional research by Khryss Leanne Omnes, photos by Landmarks, photos captured by Lovely Manabat)