Carla Abellana (MNS photo)
MANILA (Mabuhay) – If it were up to Carla Abellana, she wants zoos proven unable to properly care for the caged animals shut down.
In reposting on her Instagram account the blog entry of WhenInManila.com published December last year titled “Open Letter to Manila Zoo: It’s Not a Zoological Garden, It’s an Animal Prison,” she said, “I believe it’s best if they just close down Manila Zoo and even Malabon Zoo, quite honestly.”
In the blog entry, an anonymous Manila Zoo visitor shared his experience while visiting the decades-old site, alleging the animals there were eating rubbish including plastic containers. The blogger also deemed the animals were housed in filthy cages.
“These animals deserve to be in much better sanctuaries,” Carla said. “I wouldn’t like to think they should be released in their true homes because either they’d be helpless in surviving on their own (because they were raised in captivity), hunted down and killed, or both.”
Carla urged to have the animals transferred to sanctuaries “such as the one in Calauit.”
It was reported last year that Manila Zoo would undergo a major facelift as part of a joint venture agreement between the Manila local government and local developer Metropolitan Zoo and Botanical Park, Inc., the latter providing a P1.5 billion budget for the improvement of the 5.5-hectare zoo.
The reconstruction promises improvement in animal facilities as well as establishment of shops offering food, refreshments, retail shops and the like.
It is known to many that apart from being an actress-model, Carla is actively involved with several animal welfare group.
She is vocal against animal cruelty, often airing her opinion on social media. (MNS)