A DREAM COME TRUE. After 3 long years of wishing to visit Avilon zoo… it is now a reality. Will be crossing this out of my bucket list. This trip to Rizal didn’t failed me for later that day we also visited the Wawa Dam. View Blog
Avilon Montalban Zoological Park
also known as Avilon Zoo is located San Isidro Rodriguez, Montalban, Rizal. It is known to be the biggest zoological park in the Philippines. Home of 500 species of birds, mammals, reptiles, amphibians, freshwater fishes and invertebrates. The Avilon Wildlife Conservation Foundation (AWCF) has its commitment to contribute for the Philippine wildlife conservation through education, research and projects.
What makes this zoo different? First, there are lots of animals which cannot be seen (I haven’t seen) in any of the other zoological parks in the Philippines; and second, those animals came from across the globe and we could never thought or imagined had existed.
THE VERTEBRATES:
1. Birds: Lowry, Hornbill, Owls, Eagles, Parrots, et cetera.
2. MAMMALS: Macaque, Jaguar, Fox, Merrkat, Gibbon, et cetera.
3. REPTILES: Crocodile, Turtles, Iguana, et cetera.
Lots of reptiles present in the zoo. Find the at the House of Reptiles.
4. FISHES:
One of my favorites would be the ARAPAIMAS, known as the pirarucu in Brazil and the paiche in Peru. A huge fish that could grow up to a size of a human and is one of the largest freshwater fish in the world. According to the Avilon crews, it came from the Amazon river and could have probably swam with the anacondas present in that same river for it both have the same carnivore diet. They warned us not to be startled when we are about to feed the giant fishes, but how on earth could I have prepared myself if those gigantic fishes had been so monstrous! They suck the thrown food with a cough-like sound which is 10 times louder. Just imagine the Anaconda movie, a hidden carnivore-creature living underwater. It is pretty scary and beautiful at the same time.
INVERTEBRATES: Spiders and scorpions, et cetera.
At the house of reptiles, we thought some cages were empty but it ain’t. Some reptiles are hidden and some are in camouflage.
Aside from the diversity of faunas, the existence of diverse floras is very evident, too. There are examples of plant adaptations. Plants have roots to absorb water and nutrients but if those are not present they adapt by allowing their roots to gather moisture from the air. While the wild ferns can grow to moist and cool places, the zoo do look like a forest to me.
I would sum up this visit, two thumbs up. I am exploring, appreciating nature and existence, and at the same time learning.
Map of Avilon: click here
For more stories and pictures, kindly visit my facebook page: violetxplorer at avilon zoo
For Sample itinerary, How to get there and for the rates, kindly check in here: DIY RIZAL DAY TOUR
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