THE Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) 7 is planning to ask some wildlife enthusiasts, including a pawnshop magnate, to adopt the animals at the Cebu City Zoo.
With the Cebu City Government planning to close the city-owned zoo, DENR 7 officials want to ensure that the animals kept there will be given a new home.
Dr. Eddie Llamedo, DENR 7 spokesperson, told Sun.Star Cebu that they are currently talking to more than 20 wildlife permit owners registered with the agency.
Included in the list is businessman Michel Lhuillier, who owns a theme park and zoo in Carmen.
Llamedo said Lhuillier’s facility is well-suited for the animals because they have the personnel and the amenities.
Birds
Also, an aviary in Amlan, Negros Oriental is interested to adopt some of the birds at the Cebu City zoo.
Llamedo said the agency is now looking for people who are willing to adopt the animals after receiving reports that some of them have died after they were allegedly mishandled.
Investigation
Earlier, officials of the DENR’s Enforcement Division conducted an initial investigation on the Cebu City Zoo and found that some of the animals being kept there have died.
Also, the DENR 7 and the Cebu City government will conduct a joint inventory today on all animals at the zoo.
Llamedo said that the joint inventory will help address issues regarding the management and administration of the zoo.
“The joint inventory will also help determine the number of animals kept in the zoo and reconcile our data with that of the Cebu City Government,” Llamedo said.
The joint inventory today was agreed upon in a technical conference between the Cebu City government and the DENR 7.