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The head of the Manila Public Recreations Bureau assures the public that the Manila Zoo will take care of the newest addition to their family, Isla, the female lion cub.

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Manila Zoo and LGU officials 08212024

Alvin Elchico

ABS-CBN News

<p>MANILA -- The head of the Manila Public Recreations Bureau assured the public that the Manila Zoo will take care of the newest addition to their family -- Isla, a female lion cub.</p><p>Isla is now 10 months old and has grown bigger than the photos posted in the Manila Zoo Facebook page.</p><div><br/></div><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:950px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1724231775155455842840_945256527649604_5434000795147030363_n.jpg" style="width:950px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Manila Mayor Honey Lacuna Panga looks at lion cub Isla. Facebook/Manila Zoo Official"/><span class="fr-inner">Manila Mayor Honey Lacuna Panga looks at lion cub Isla. <em>Facebook/Manila Zoo Official</em></span></span></span></div><p>The Manila Zoo management gave the assurance after two animal rights group criticized the City of Manila for accepting Isla, a donation from the Lion&#x27;s Club.</p><p>The groups claimed that a lion should not be caged and should be able to roam in the wild.</p><div><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/4/25/manila-zoo-animals-get-rest-period-amid-scorching-heat-1828" id="isPasted" style="box-sizing:border-box;color:rgb(93, 155, 192);text-decoration:none;user-select:auto;letter-spacing:normal;orphans:2;text-align:left;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;widows:2;word-spacing:0px;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;white-space:normal;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255)">READ: Manila Zoo animals get &#x27;rest period&#x27; amid scorching heat</a> </div><p>&quot;PETA, alongside compassionate Filipinos, condemns Manila Zoo’s decision to imprison yet another innocent animal. Isla, a baby lion, is the latest victim in the zoo’s collection of suffering creatures. Manila Zoo has repeatedly shown that it cannot meet even the most basic standards of care for the animals it imprisons. In 2023, Mali the elephant died in the same lonely, concrete pen where she languished for five decades, despite PETA’s tireless efforts to secure her freedom and transfer her to a sanctuary,&quot; <span id="isPasted" style="color:rgb(32, 33, 36);letter-spacing:normal;orphans:2;text-align:start;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;widows:2;word-spacing:0px;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;white-space:normal;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);text-decoration-thickness:initial;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial;display:inline !important;float:none">People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals</span> (PETA) said in a statement.</p><p>PETA and PAWS fear that Isla will suffer the same fate as Mali, an elephant who died inside the Manila Zoo last year.</p><div><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/7/9/tolentino-wants-manila-zoo-transferred-to-masungi-georeserve-1624">READ: Tolentino wants Manila Zoo transferred to Masungi Georeserve</a></div><p>&quot;The widespread public outcry over Manila Zoo’s regressive decision underscores that Filipinos have not forgotten the tragic fate of Mali. The zoo’s history of subjecting animals to a life of misery is now plain for all to see. Isla deserves better. She should be placed in the hands of experts who can rehabilitate her and ultimately assess her for release back into the wild or transfer to a sanctuary,&quot; added PETA.</p><p>But Olan Marino, the OIC of Manila&#x27;s Public Recreations Bureau, said Isla is in good shape and is being taken cared of by two personnel everyday.</p><p>Marino said Manila City will not give up Isla and promised to take care of the lion.</p><p>Manila&#x27;s acting chief of Animal Health and Welfare Dr. Vanessa Ong denied that putting Isla in the zoo is animal cruelty since the lion cub is being taken care of. </p><p>Ong said Isla was born in captivity and will not survive if freed in the wild.</p>

<p>The head of the Manila Public Recreations Bureau assures the public that the Manila Zoo will take care of the newest addition to their family, Isla, the female lion cub.</p>

Manila Zoo, LGU assure public: Lion cub Isla to receive proper care

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Manila Zoo, LGU assure public: Lion cub Isla to receive proper care

Alvin Elchico,

ABS-CBN News

Published Aug 21, 2024 05:40 PM PHT

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Manila Zoo

Isla

Lion

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