I had a great time visiting the Philippines' largest zoological institution that houses more than 3,000 diverse collection of exotic wildlife! The 7.5 hectare, well-maintained facility is situated at 9003 GP Sitio Gulod, San Isidro in Rodriguez, Rizal. A true haven thriving with fauna and flora that is worth a visit! It will surely delight and educate children and adults alike. Be ready to be awed with so many different species of birds, mammals, reptiles, amphibians, freshwater fishes and invertebrates housed in one big area that is beautifully landscaped and successfully modeled to recreate the animals' habitat. They also offer guided tours for small or large groups facilitated by trained guides knowledgeable about the animals, their status in the wild, the conservation efforts being done to preserve certain threatened species and the protection of the environment. The regular, adult entrance fee of P 600 is a fair price to experience, enjoy and celebrate the wildlife!
P h o t o g r a p h y b y: MC
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| Unleash the wild child in you! |
Now, you've never really been to Avilon Zoo if you haven't met Trixie, The Orangutan! She's such a beauty! So friendly and adorable, Trixie is never camera shy. She's always ready to flash a smile, give you a hug and even get cozy to rest her head on your lap! And mind you, she doesn't smell at all!
At first, I was a bit anxious to pose with her because there were no other visitors around getting their pictures with Trixie and it would be my first time to really get close and touch a primate! But she looked too cute in her Red T-shirt with her name on it so I gave it a go and I actually felt happy around her!
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Our first shot... see the body language?
Trixie is so relaxed, getting all chummy;
while I'm smiling stiff-scared and closed-fist! hahaha, Human! |
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| Trixie now getting cozy... Me: Don't stare...lalala.... |
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| Hmnnn... I think I'm beginning to like her... |
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| Okay, I really do like her! It's hard not to! |
Here's the male counter part, Joey! He's not into up-close and personal photo shoots, but if you clap your hands and call out his name, he might throw you a glance for a good shot!
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| This is my turf! - Alpha Male Joey |
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| When Joey is in a contemplative mood, please do not disturb. hehe |
Another favorite is Mr. Snooty... I call him such because he doesn't go down from the logs up in the ceiling although he has no leash and he looks regal (and snobbish) with his nose up in the air... I'm actually not sure if he's a male and the reason I don't know what it's called, is because he got me so engrossed, I forgot to take notes. Hehe My bad! But it looks like Mr. Snooty is a raccoon (?) that seriously needs a pedicure.
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| Snobbish, Mr. Snooty, why so cutie? |
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| Hey, Mr.Snooty, gimme a kiss! |
I also love the pair of graceful and beautiful black swans that swim together in the pond! They're an inseparable power couple!
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| [Thomas to Nina]: "Perfection is not just about control. It is also about letting go. Surprise yourself so you can surprise the audience. Transcendence. Very few have it in them." ~ Black Swan (Film) |
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| Perfect, beautiful creatures! Lemme take a selfie with 'em! |
Those winged thingies... you must only admire them from a distance...
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| Quack! |
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| from a distance... |
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| A loner... |
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| Groupie... |
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| Too beautiful to come close to... |
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| What's up, Big Bird? |
Now let's go to the farm and visit the grazers!
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| Welcome to the farm life! |
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| Turning vegan? |
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| Only kids are allowed to ride this pony... tsk! |
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| Black and white |
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| Rams |
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| clingy calf... |
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| Bath time! |
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| Out of the crowd |
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| These two found each other and stayed together... |
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| Hmnn... I'm not sure if this long-necked mammal is a farm animal... |
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| But it sure loves carrots... and gives thanks when you feed it... see? |
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| This other guy is shy... |
There are so many fishes... in the pond, the man-made lake and aquariums too!
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| Koi! |
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| Ey! |
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| Feed me... |
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| Sure! |
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| OMG! They're really B-I-G! |
Arapaima Gigas are among the world's largest freshwater fish, reaching as much as 3 m (9.8 ft). The Araipima Gigas are native to the Amazon and Essequibo basins of South America.
(Wikipedia)
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| Better feed these smaller ones, instead. |
Let's check out the harder scales of reptiles!
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| He ain't shuttin' it! |
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| Nice tub! |
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| Isn't she pretty? |
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| HiSssssnake! |
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| My hair looks like spiky snakes too hehe... |
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| Pep squad cheering... |
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| for these swimmers! We've got a champion! Woot! |
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| Tortoise! |
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| Sharing is caring... |
Ready for the big cats?
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| Oh yeah! |
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| Meow! |
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| Cat walk... easy... easy... |
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| Rooaarrr!!! |
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| Cat nap... |
The landscapes, lush foliage and vibrant verdure at the Avilon Zoo create a refreshing and picturesque scenery, that is perfect for your photo ops!
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| Great capture, MC! |
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| Don't get lost in the forest, there might be a bad wolf! |
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| It looks like a manicured lawn, but it's actually a pond! |
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| Lovely, lovely trees! |
There is a cafeteria where you can dine in or you may also bring along your own food and drinks and have an enjoyable picnic. However, be sure to keep the place clean as you go, mind you, there are cctvs installed all over the place.
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| Picnic/Dining area |
There is also a gift shop to buy your cute keepsakes.
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| The gift shop. Take home those cuddly cuties! |
Too bad, I don't have pictures of the bears, zebras and hyenas... but the only real disappointment is, there are no elephants in this zoo. I hope they can get a pair soon! I also suggest that they provide maps for the guests so they can plan the route because the place is huge!
All in all, Avilon Zoo is a very good recreational and educational facility to visit! It is highly recommended by this blogger!
Words may be twisted;
actions may be feigned;
but patterns... ah, patterns!
It may be intricate and complex,
or sometimes irregular and broken but always, always...
it repeats itself to reveal true nature.
Your design defines you.
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