The Manila Zoo will be closed indefinitely.
Its gates were closed to visitors after January 23, 2019. This is in line with the report from the Department of Natural Resources (DENR) that showed that the Manila Zoo is one of the major pollutants of Manila Bay.
It was found that the 5.5-hectare zoo doesn’t have its own sewage treatment facility. Therefore, it has been releasing untreated wastewater into Manila Bay since it opened in 1959.
Manila Zoo turns 60 this July.
The rehabilitation of Manila Bay follows the rehabilitation of Boracay, which closed for almost six months to restore the famous beach’s health. Rehabilitation efforts on Manila Bay commenced on January 27, 2019.
Manila Zoo’s closure is among the first steps to carrying out the Manila Bay rehabilitation, which is a joint effort of the DENR and the local government of Manila. In fact, it was the City Administrator and Department of Engineering and Public Works that pushed for the zoo’s closure, upon receiving the input of DENR.
Another effort that the DENR plan to do is to relocate the informal settlers living in the area.
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